2025 The Peru Stater (Nebraska) - Spring issue

Overwhelming Support, and A Bright Future

Dr. Wendy Waugh Interim President

Since being appointed Interim President, I have been humbled by the overwhelming support I have received.

As a first order of business, I expanded the campus leadership team to ensure broader input as we work to continue moving important campus initiatives forward. In our first two meetings of the leadership team, we started planning initiatives around Marketing, Technology, and Enrollment Management.

Progress is good and we are beginning to gain clarity on priority activities, duplication of efforts, opportunities to leverage efficiencies, and goal setting. The leadership team will continue to meet weekly to ensure we stay on track toward our overarching goals of enrollment growth and improved academic retention.

Fall ‘25 Projections

The enrollment management team is working diligently on fall recruitment and projections indicate a strong outlook. The FAFSA application is open and in a proactive move, we have opened our housing application and invited students to sign up now.

Additionally, many efforts are underway to improve student retention. To ensure we stay competitive, everyone on campus has played a significant role in making Peru State College a welcoming and supportive place for students.

The Director of Institutional Research shared the official enrollment demographic breakdown, and a few highlights follow. The total fall 2024 headcount was 1,291, with 1,107 undergraduate and 184 graduate students.

Of those, female students accounted for 54 percent of the undergraduate population and 69% of the graduate population, while first generation students accounted for 54.2% of the fall class.

Opportunities in Law

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jodi Kupper, has been working to finalize the updated Rural Law Opportunity Program (RLOP) agreement that, if approved, would now include Peru State College. The agreement would allow for two Peru State students to enter the program with a full tuition scholarship and a reserved spot in the University of Nebraska Law School upon graduation. (See related story).

The updated agreement includes several improvements and is close to being ready for review and approval at the January Board of Trustees Meeting. We are hopeful we will be recruiting for these spots soon.

Thanks to a private donor grant, each of the state colleges has kicked off implementation of four key technology software applications that will enhance operations and create time and cost-saving efficiencies, not to mention, help students gain greater control over their scheduling and progress toward graduation. The technology grant includes the following programs: Stellic, EDSIGHTS, Pathify, and Coursedog.

The future looks bring for Peru State College! We will remain focused on our campus goals and committed to supporting each and every student as they work toward the accomplishment of their academic goals.

The Peru Stater

Interim College President

Dr. Wendy Waugh

Managing Editor, Sports Editor Ted L. Harshbarger (’77)

Graphic Design ................................ Rebecca (Oetjen) Johnson '05, Masters '18

Contributors and Photography

Rachel (Rippe ’12) Meiergerd

Rick Avard, JR Chaney Photography, Jon Firmature, Makenna Hammond, Stephen Hassler, Kelcie Keeling, MerzInk, Amy Mincer, Dr. Amanda Oppel, Kent Propst (‘81), Bekka Rinne, Kim Regan, Susan (Lunzmann ’94) Unruh, Gwyn Williams, and Dr. Evi (Steffens ’06, Masters ’08) Wusk

Peru State College Foundation Board of Trustees

Chair, Jeff Greenwald ’71, Lincoln, Neb.

Vice Chair, Jeff Smith ’83, Lincoln, Neb.

Secretary, Al Urwin ’82, La Vista, Neb.

Treasurer, Julie (Ramsey) Bauman ’95, Falls City, Neb.

Lonnie Bane ’80, New Braunfels, Texas

Dr. Dan DeFreece, Nebraska City, Neb.

Mike Gerdes ’88, Auburn, Neb.

Alec Gorynski ’07, Omaha, Neb.

Jack Moles ’80, Lincoln, Neb.

Audra (Williams) Schawang ’95, Waverly, Neb.

Lori (Vrtiska) Seibel ’84, Lincoln, Neb.

Fritz Stehlik ’74, Omaha, Neb.

Published twice annually for alumni and friends of Peru State College by the Peru State College Foundation. Submit address changes, name changes, information for class notes, stories, suggestions, and corrections by email to pscfoundation@peru.edu, by phone at (402) 872-2304, or by mail at: The Peru Stater, c/o Peru State College Foundation, PO Box 10, Peru, NE 68421-0010.

The Collective Power Of Peru State Alumni

Ted L. Harshbarger '77

Executive Director

Peru State College Foundation

As a member of the Peru State College family, you understand the transformative power of education and the lasting impact of our small but mighty community. Over the years, we have faced challenges with resilience, creativity, and a shared commitment to our mission.

Today, our college Foundation – a private non-profit corporation - is navigating a particularly challenging period, and we’re reaching out to you with a heartfelt invitation to help us continue making a difference.

Running a small college foundation comes with unique challenges. Rising costs, increased competition for charitable gifting, and the need to provide ever-expanding resources for our students make it more important than ever to ensure our foundation’s financial health.

Your alma mater has always strived to create opportunities for bright minds to thrive, regardless of their financial circumstances. However, maintaining that promise requires the collective support of our alumni community.

This is where you come in.

Alumni participation is not just about dollars and cents—it’s about solidarity, pride, and shared purpose. Every contribution, no matter the size, signals to current and future students that our alumni believe in the value of a Peru State College education.

It also demonstrates to external partners, grant organizations, and potential donors that our alumni community is deeply invested in our college’s mission. In other words, your participation inspires confidence and unlocks additional funding opportunities.

A gift of $50, $20, or $5 may feel small, but the collective power of many alumni giving together can create ripples of change. Contributions like yours help us:

• Provide scholarships that open doors for students who might otherwise be unable to attend.

• Maintain and improve facilities where students learn, innovate, and grow.

• Support faculty who inspire and challenge students every day.

• Fund programs that prepare our graduates to lead meaningful lives and make an impact in the world.

When you choose to give back, you’re not just donating; you’re making a statement. You’re saying that Peru State College matters, that its mission matters, and that the education and experiences you gained here continue to shape your life.

We are proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited about the future we can build with your help. Imagine the difference we can make if every alum joins us in this effort. Whether it’s your first gift or one of many, your contribution—in any amount—is deeply valued and greatly needed.

Please visit https://www.givecampus.com/ campaigns/31985/donations/new to make your gift today. Together, we can ensure that Peru State continues to thrive and inspire generations to come.

Thank you for being an integral part of our community and for considering this opportunity to make a difference.

With gratitude,

Alumni and Friends – PSC Events!

Alumni Event Calendar

Mark your calendar and take part in activities for Peru State alumni and friends. Check out the Foundation website for additional information and updates. Check out peru.edu/events-calendar/ for other College events and activities. For sports-related events, please go to pscbobcats.com.

2025

February 8 - Alumni & Friends Chili Feed, Al Wheeler Activity Center Serving to begin at 2:30 p.m.

February 13 - School of Professional Studies Career Fair, Student Center Live Oak Room – Open to alumni and community

February 15 - Football Boosters Powerlifting Meet

April 6 - Baseball Alumni Reunion, Centennial Complex Field

April 15 - 1000 Oaks Alumni Excellence Presentation and Reception

April 19 - Diamond Dome Ribbon Cutting, Centennial Complex Field

May 3 - Recreation Dome Ribbon Cutting, Oak Bowl

May 10 - Commencement @ Al Wheeler Activity Center, 10 a.m.

May 23 - Athletic Department Bobcat Golf Classic, Table Creek, Nebraska City

June 5 - Omaha Alumni Event

June 6 - Baseball Barbecue

June 20 - Charter Day Scholarship Drive Begins

July 7 - Baseball Top Golf

July 18 - Football Boosters Annual Golf Tournament, Shenandoah, Iowa

July 31 - Lincoln Alumni Event

September - Back To School Giving Week

October 3 - All College Banquet (honoring Classes of ’65, ’75, and ’85)

October 4 - Homecoming Parade and Football Game

October 24-25 - Hall of Fame Weekend

Calendar dates are subject to change. If you have questions or are interested in participating in an event for Peru Staters, reach out to us at pscfoundation@peru. edu, (402) 872-2304, or Peru State College Foundation, PO Box 10, Peru NE 68421-0010.

Project ROAR: First Phase Almost Done!!!

The first phase of Project ROAR (Renewed Opportunities for Activity and Recreation) is almost complete!

Peru State’s milestone Indoor Recreation Complex reached substantial completion on January 20, 2025. The Nebraska State College Board of Trustees'-approved committee signed substantial completion documents, allowing students, coaches, and staff to begin using the new facilities.

These include the Diamond Building at the Baseball/Softball Complex and the Indoor Recreation Dome, located just north of the Oak Bowl Stadium. However, additional funding is still needed to fully equip these spaces with the necessary sports equipment.

The journey to complete Phase A spanned more than two years, navigating challenges like significant construction cost increases due to international supply chain issues. The overall project was divided into two phases, with Phase A costing $13.2 million, over $2 million of which was funded by donors.

When the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for Phase A was finalized with Sampson Construction in August 2023, financial constraints deferred the installation of two multipurpose courts and weightlifting area flooring in the Dome to Phase B. Fortunately, through efficient construction management, sufficient savings were identified in late 2024 to include these elements in Phase A. This shift, however, requires reallocating funds to cover equipment for these spaces.

Current estimates indicate approximately $425,000 is still needed to fully outfit the Dome and Diamond Building for recreation and athletic activities.

Substantial completion applies to the physical construction but does not cover furnishings or equipment provided by the project owner. It is common for major projects

to finalize these elements within the year following substantial completion.

Peru State College Athletic Director Kyle Pond views this equipment challenge optimistically, stating, “We’re getting three athletic floors completed in the Dome, making it fully operational months or years ahead of Phase B.”

He expressed confidence in addressing the shortfall, saying, “With a little help from our friends and supporters, I’m sure we will get there.”

Interim President Dr. Wendy Waugh echoed this positive outlook, noting, “I’m not seeing Project ROAR’s first phase as a glass half full—it’s 99% full!”

She highlighted the broader impact of the new facilities: “These spaces will transform student life, health, and recreation while providing much-needed indoor practice areas for our student-athletes.

“They will benefit our college community and the region for decades to come,” Waugh added.

Nebraska State College System Chancellor Paul Turman emphasized the importance of securing additional funding to complete Project ROAR. He has been meeting with state officials to advocate for the NSCS Capital Plan, which includes $8 million for Phase B of Project ROAR.

“We’ve been working diligently with state budget leaders to address our capital needs,” Turman said. “At the top of these priorities is the athletic and recreation project at Peru State, which has a significant scope of the project deferred due to escalating construction costs. It only makes sense to finish what we started at Peru. The proposed Phase B Support Building for the Dome is a critical component that needs to be built sooner rather than later.”

Ribbon Cuttings and Celebrations

Planned

Two celebratory events are scheduled for the completion of Phase One for Project ROAR. Saturday, April 19, will be the ribbon cutting and celebration for the Diamond Building. It will be held in conjunction with baseball and softball games at the Centennial Complex.

The baseball team will be hosting MidAmerica Nazarene in a double header while the softball team faces Baker.

On Saturday, May 3, in conjunction with the football spring game and alumni activities, there will be a ribbon cutting for the Recreation Dome.

All alumni, family, and friends are invited to the events. Watch for more information coming from the Foundation Office.

Panorama inside the Dome

Campus News

President Evans Reflects on Honor and Joy

By Michael Evans, President (Retired)

Peru State College is a very special place. Excellent faculty and staff, a top-notch academic program, athletics teams that are surging ahead in exciting ways, a beautiful campus, wonderful students—this College has a great deal to offer.

Serving as Peru State’s President has been an enormous honor. It has been a joy to work with everyone here to give our students the best possible college experience. Joanna and I are grateful for the warmth and support we have felt here since the very beginning.

People often say that when the time to retire arrives, you’ll know it. After a great deal of reflection and conversations with Joanna, I made the decision to retire at this time. My last day in the office was Nov. 22, and we moved out of the President’s House in midDecember.

We are very excited about this new chapter in our lives. We are moving back to our home in Maine—we kept our house there with the intention of retiring there when the time came—and we are looking forward to settling back into the home we love.

The house is in Belfast, Maine, overlooking the beautiful Penobscot Bay. Belfast has a vibrant arts and music scene, and we are eager to reconnect with our friends and immerse ourselves in the town’s culture.

We are also looking forward to spending time on activities we deeply enjoy. We have a lot of travel lined up, starting with a week on a sailboat in the Caribbean, and I am eager to turn my attention back to my book projects. I have published five books so far, but I have a novel and a nonfiction manuscript that have been languishing in recent years. It’s time for me to wrap them up and get them off to publishers.

And like most parents of grown children, we are excited to spend more time with our sons and their partners. Dylan lives in Colorado and Miles lives in California, and we will enjoy visiting with them more often.

Meanwhile, the College is in very good hands. Vice President for Academic Affairs Wendy Waugh graciously agreed to step into the Interim President role, and she will lead the College well. Dr. Waugh came to us a year ago from Nebraska Wesleyan, and before that she spent three decades at Chadron State. She is very familiar with the policies and procedures she will navigate in the coming months.

Joanna and I will enjoy watching Peru State thrive from afar. The College has a very bright future, and I am confident it will soar. We are grateful for the outpouring of kind words and best wishes, and we will always keep Peru State close to our hearts.

Waugh Steps Up As Interim President

Dr. Wendy Waugh was appointed Interim President of Peru State College by Dr. Paul Turman, Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System. The appointment was effective in early December.

Currently Vice President of Academic Affairs at Peru State, Dr. Waugh brings 33 years of experience in higher education, including five years in administrative leadership. She is a Nebraska State College

person through and through, with degrees from Wayne and Chadron State Colleges along with her work at Peru State.

“Dr. Waugh’s leadership and knowledge of the College will ensure a smooth transition as we prepare for and conduct a search for a permanent president,” said Bob Engles (‘73) of Auburn, Neb., Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges.

Turman, Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, added, “Dr. Waugh’s extensive experience at the Nebraska State Colleges combined with her deep understanding of Nebraska’s educational landscape and strategic partnerships make her exceptionally well-suited to lead Peru State College through this transition period.

Before joining Peru State in Sept. 2023, Waugh was the Dean of Graduate and Adult Programs at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she successfully expanded graduate offerings. Prior to her tenure at NWU, Waugh had spent 30 years at Chadron State in a variety of capacities.

Her resume’ reflects broad experience in higher education including faculty positions, administrative leadership, financial records analysis, database management, and student services.

Dr. Waugh holds a Ph.D. from Capella University, an MBA from Chadron State College, an MSE in Education from the University of Nebraska–Kearney, a BA in Secondary Education, and BS in Management from Wayne State College.

Nearly Fifty Years Later, Searching

for Class of ’75 Lost

Peru State College and the Foundation would like to find the members of the Class of ’75 who populate our “lost” alumni list. Their golden anniversary of graduation comes up this year during Homecoming in October! We ran the list in the fall and had several updates, but we still have some more to find!

Help us be sure all class members get their invitation; email information to pscfoundation@ peru.edu, call 402-872-2304, or send to: Peru Stater, c/o PSC Foundation, PO Box 10, Peru, Neb. 68421-0010. Thank you!

Mary (Vandeloo) Brooks

Perry Burwell

Dana Davis

Greg Derks

Carnell Durant

Yaser Eddmeiri

Vicki Emken

Warren Goos

Connie Gregg

Janice (Clark) Johnson

Evelyn Niehaus

Robert Olson

Gary Parrish

Jim Person

Dennis Rhodes

Phillip Richter

Nancy (Hahn) Rodgers

Ronald Storant

John Vaughn

Harrietta (Thresher) Young

Susan Zimpfer

Dr. Wendy Waugh

The former first lady and former president at their first homecoming

Kathy Tynon, Peggy Groff End Long Peru State Careers Campus News

Peru State College has bid the fondest of farewells to a collective 87 years of exemplary service with the recent retirements of Peggy Kreifels Groff ‘75 and Kathy Vana Tynon ‘15. Groff, who retired last August, worked at Peru State from 1976-79 and again from 1984-2024. Tynon’s service was uninterrupted, beginning in 1982 through her January retirement.

Their roles with Peru State were different; Groff worked primarily in student services, while Tynon focused on business services and information technology. Yet there were a lot of parallels and common themes embraced by the duo.

“The goal has always been to do a good job and to help students,” Tynon said. “So many great employees and students turned into great friends.”

“I stayed for the students,” Groff echoed. “They were my strength and purpose. I always told them I hoped they would have a job they loved as much. I have been blessed with amazing and wonderful college friends and I treasure all of them.”

As is the case when someone retires, the memories flood back for both. The names, and the incidents – at least the ones that can be reprinted in The Peru Stater – flow easily. Both women were known for their tireless efforts on behalf of the college, its students, and staff, but the word “fun” pops up most often as they reflect on the years.

Peggy Groff

Growing up near the unincorporated village of Paul not far from Peru, the former Peggy Kreifels went to “country schools” until attending and graduating from Nebraska City Lourdes Catholic High. She enrolled at Peru State to get an Associate of Arts degree in secretarial technology, then continued to obtain bachelor’s degrees in both business and education in 1975.

She came into bloom at Peru State, serving on the residence life board, as a cheerleader, residence hall board, and as a class officer when those were still in vogue. Also, she was a member and officer of Phi Beta Lambda (now FBLA Collegiate). In the fall of ’74 she was crowned Homecoming Queen.

Her service to Peru State began in July 1976 when she was hired as administrative assistant in the athletic department, when the coaches’ offices were in the Old Gym/Library. She married former student Rodney Groff, and they began a family soon after.

Groff left employment at the college in 1979, then returned five years later – though

the Groff family lived near Peru. She came back through a federal Title III grant program in the financial aid office, and while her role in the department changed, she stayed in financial aid for a dozen years.

Whether it was assisting student-athletes with a variety of needs, or helping students get the best aid package for which they qualified, students always knew Peggy Groff had their backs.

“I stayed because I was able to see the value and opportunities Peru State College presented to students,” she said. “As with all colleges and universities there were ups and downs, but bottom line, we hung together through thick and thin.”

After more than a decade in the grueling field of financial aid, Groff switched gears and became what she refers to as “the fun lady.”

Two years coordinating special events led to 15 years as Director of Student Programs, a position responsible for recreational and extracurricular activities and overseeing clubs and organizations.

Groff was advisor for Student Senate and the Campus Activities Board, coordinated events like Homecoming and Spring Fling Week, and oversaw the operation of the Student Center, to name a few tasks.

By 2003 Groff was ready for a new challenge, and she found it in Student Support Services under the college’s TRIO federal grant program. Its aim essentially is to take students statistically at higher risk of not completing their college degree and helping them succeed. Monitoring student academic, financial, career and student life activities of these at-risk students was in many ways the culmination of all she’d learned before.

“I feel I went full circle, from athletics, administrative duties in financial aid, the fun lady in student programs, and ending in Student Success Services,” she said. “I loved every position I held.”

Though her Peru State career has ended, the connections will not. A group of fellow retirees gets together regularly to laugh about hijinks – their own and others – back in the day. She enjoys seeing old friends like Dr. Daryl Long, one of the few whose service years to Peru outlasted hers.

Now she has more time to spend with her family. Daughters Brandi Groff ‘04 and Bailey Mazzulla ‘10 both graduated from Peru, while sons Seth and Garrett both attended. Groff is extremely active in various service organizations in Peru, Auburn, and Brownville.

And she’s not the least bit afraid to note

that when her time comes, she’ll end up with a lot of former colleagues in Peru’s Mt. Vernon Cemetery.

“My plot is on the east end with legends like John Hahn, Bob Lewellen, Lyle McKercher, George Schottenhamel, Al Brady, Clyde Barrett, Jack Hamilton and Daryl Wininger,” she said.

“As a student, an employee, and an alum, I always had, and still do, a sense of belonging and purpose,” Groff said. “To have a good life, a person needs good friends, and I had that with the students, my supervisors, and the people I worked with. The relationships I built with students and others are treasured. I learned so much from students and supported and served them as best as I was able.”

Kathy Tynon

When Kathy Tynon joined Peru State College in 1982 as a secretary for the federal Title III grant program, pretty much everything involved paper.

“In the beginning all payroll, accounts payable, journal entries, etc. were done by completing handwritten forms and mailing them to the State,” she said. “I think we began using our first computer by the fall of 1986.”

Oh, how things have changed over her 42 years at the College. She remembers “students had to stand in long lines” for fee payment, and everything was done with paper checks.

“The biggest changes over the years by far, have been with technology,” Tynon said. And she was always on the front line when it came to implementing new practices, and training colleagues. Fortunately for all, “I am always curious and have the desire to dig until I figure out the answer.”

Over the years Tynon moved from the Title III program into the Business Office, first as clerk for the National Direct Student Loan program where she maintained federal funds to award and disburse low interest loans to students.

“I got my first taste of federal reporting with this position,” she noted, a skill that came in handy over the years.

Tynon also served as cashier, payroll clerk, accounting clerk, office supervisor, Business Office manager from 2003-09, and Director of Business Services from 2009-19. She also continued working on her business degree, completing it at the ripe young age of 57.

She remembers that until 1986, all financial transactions involved handwritten receipts. “It wasn’t until then, after Becky (Hoffman ‘85) Kohrs was hired as cashier, she convinced her husband Lee (‘82) - a computer science instructor at the time - that we needed a computerized receipting program.”

Changes came fast and furious after that as computers increasingly became the way business was done.

“As the years went by, it was easy to see how much more complicated work duties were becoming, sometimes just driven by changes in state policies or the changes in software we used,” she recalled.

The biggest change came in 2008 when Peru and the other state colleges and universities upgraded to a new student information system. College and university officials were told the state would only pay for one system and “that we all needed to play nice together.”

Tynon was, for two years, immersed in the acquisition, installation and “crash training” for the complex new system. Then she had to teach all her colleagues on campus how to use the revolutionary new software.

“Needless to say, our hair was on fire through the first couple of years,” Tynon laughed. “Ways of doing our jobs changed.”

In 2019, 43-year Peru State veteran Yvonne Chandler retired from the Computer Services department, and Tynon “saw an opportunity to move to the IT position. She’s been responsible for helpdesk support, technical and analytical duties, and assisting students, faculty, and staff.

continued on page 35

Peggy Groff and Kathy Tynon admire Paul Hinrichs' invention which plays the College's Color Song

Education Dean John Jones Takes Practical Approach

The new Dean of the School of Education at Peru State College, Dr. John Jones, knows full well the hype surrounding the teacher education profession in general and Peru State in particular.

The first college or university established by the brand-new State of Nebraska in its infancy (1867), Peru State has always emphasized teacher training. It’s a profession built on the noblest of causes, developing minds, especially young ones.

As the story goes, a teacher historically is rewarded not by lucrative compensation, but in less tangible ways like watching their students grow and succeed. Jones gets it, and believes it, but he has a more pragmatic and practical approach to the profession.

“If you want a career where each day is different, if you want to make a difference, this is it,” Jones said. “You get to follow the impact you make and live on in the minds of your students for life. At the same time, it doesn’t have to solely define you – it’s more important to find something that lets you live your life,” he said.

Jones came to Peru State last summer after 11 years at Truman State University in Missouri, the last two as Chair of its Department of Education. Previously he taught special education and elementary education in South Carolina and Texas. Jones also taught part-time at the College of Charleston (S.C.).

His own academic credentials are impressive, with his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a master’s from George Washington University, both in Washington D.C. Jones gained his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

Yet Jones proclaims, “I’ve always been a regional public college guy,” especially when it comes to teacher education.

“They (regional colleges) are the real builders of the middle class, providing opportunities at an affordable cost,” Jones said.

“In a profession that historically doesn’t pay a lot, affordability is key. I love the idea that we can provide the most affordable education at the same high quality as expensive private colleges”, he added.

Jones’ approach, even more than his credentials, convinced Peru State he was the best candidate for the Deanship.

Jones was raised in the Boston suburb of Medford, Mass. When he was 14, the family –his parents were educators – moved to Tokyo, Japan, where he attended an international school. He began college as a nursing student, but switched to a major in Theology, while never intending to follow the ministry.

As the son of teachers, it wasn’t a stretch to turn to education as a career. Graduate school saw Jones develop an interest in educational policy. Next came teaching special education and elementary education, before moving into higher education and the training of educators. Jones’ philosophy, for himself and those around him, is work-to-live, not the other way around.

“We have an excellent faculty – not just their proficiency, they get along and work well together,” he said. “I’m extremely lucky to have stepped into this; I want to keep them together, give them the tools they need, and get out of their way.”

As far as students go, “I don’t care if you’re 18 or in your 50s, if you’ve ever thought about teaching, I want you in our classroom. I know most school administrators would rather have an excellent teacher for a few years, than a mediocre one for many,” Jones said.

Outside of work, Jones and his family, including two daughters, live in Nebraska City.

Seeking '85 Lost Alumni

It may be hard for members of the Class of ’85 to believe, but it’s been nearly 40 years since you finished up at Peru State to make your marks on the world. Unfortunately, many of your classmates are on our dreaded “lost alumni” list. If you know of the whereabouts of any of the following, please share the information with us. We ran the list in the fall and had several updates, but we still have some more to find! You can email pscfoundation@peru.edu, phone 402-872-2304, or send a note to The Peru Stater, PO Box 10, Peru, Neb. 68421-0010.

Catch ‘The Lightning Thief’ –First Musical Theater in 10 Years

For the first time in many years, there will be musical theater in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) on the Peru State College campus.

From April 10-13, The Lightning Thief – The Percy Jackson Musical will be performed under the direction of Laura Gold. Gold, Associate Professor of Theatre, is beyond excited to showcase the talents of the Peru State students.

Gold looks forward to collaborating with Dr. Tanner Harrod, Assistant Professor of Music, who will serve as the show’s music director. Harrod’s music team will include Dr. Rachel Green, Adjunct Voice Instructor, who will assist with the teaching and coaching of music to the cast.

The music team will be rounded out by a live five-piece band consisting of professional musicians from the Omaha metropolitan area. Peru State is especially excited to welcome back Liz Stinman, who previously served as our staff accompanist, as the keyboard player for our production of The Lightning Thief.

This will be the first musical at Peru State since the 2015 production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show. The Lightning Thief, originally commissioned, created, and produced Off Broadway by TheaterWorksUSA, is a dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s 2005 bestselling book which opened on Broadway in 2019. The stage adaptation’s book is by Joe Tracz, with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki.

In the musical, when teenager Percy Jackson

discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods. It is a musical battle with a whole host of gods, and it ends with Percy declaring that there will be war no matter what happens and that he and his friends will be prepared to fight until the end.

The Percy Jackson books are also formative for all the cast and company.

Four of the lead performers are all legacy students with their parents graduating in the past 30 years from Peru State.

Nearly 30 students and a myriad of faculty and staff will collaborate to bring the play to life. Watch the Peru State College website (peru.edu) for details in early April.

Peru State Adds Law Scholarships

Beginning this fall, Peru State College will be partnering with the University of Nebraska College of Law to offer Rural Law Opportunity Program (RLOP) Scholarships. These scholarships will be awarded to students who apply for the program, meet initial eligibility requirements, and are interested in pursuing a career in law after graduating from the College.

This program is similar in nature to the existing Rural Health Opportunity Program (RHOP), which supports rural students who attend one of the State Colleges and wish to pursue a career in health care.

This partnership supports Peru State in awarding two RLOP scholarships annually, which will fund up to thirty 30 credits of undergraduate on-campus tuition each year and are renewable for up to four years.

Scholars can select from any existing major currently offered by the College and will be expected to participate in program activities which include visits to the College of Law and engagement with law faculty, students, and alumni.

Alex Appleton

Julie Baker

Kelley (Combs) Ballue

Cheryl (Holland) Carroll

Kimberly (Lavigne) Comstock

Janet Crume

Karen Dux

Rachel (Faulkenberry) Glinn

Becky Haynes

Diana Herling

Don Herschberger

Brad Hesser

Richard Irvin

Linda Jones

Lisa (Kellenberger) Mixon

Dawn Onisk

Jeff Parker

Kevin Rolf

Sharon (Lechner) Schroder

Perry Scott

Anita Searcey

Karen Sheldon

Linda Shepard

John Slater

Barry Smith

Thomas Wesley

Dr. John Jones

Governor Appoints Connie Edmond to State College Board of Trustees

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has announced the appointment of Connie Edmond, a distinguished alumna of Peru State College, to the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees.

This appointment recognizes Edmonds’ longstanding dedication to public service, her exemplary career in finance and compliance, and her enduring commitment to education and community development.

While attending Peru State, Edmond was an inaugural member of the first honors program, served on the Student Senate, served as a tutor, worked in the College Advancement office and was a member of Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity, placing first in the state Business Law competition and fourth in the nation.

A 1987 graduate of Peru State, the former

Connie Sims has served on the Peru State College Alumni Association and the Peru State College Foundation Board, helping to foster thriving vital initiatives for the support of the institution. She also served on the State College Systems strategic planning committee.

Connie and her husband Elton (‘88) started a first-generation college mentoring program for incoming Peru State freshman students, helping them with the transition to college life and focusing on their educational goal to obtain a college degree.

Throughout her career, Connie worked as a tax auditor for the Nebraska Department of Revenue, bringing decades of expertise in state compliance and regulatory processes. She has been in private practice as CEO of now E & L Associates where she co-developed a tax solution product that was acquired by Intuit.

Upon her appointment, Edmond shared her enthusiasm and vision: “I am deeply honored to be appointed to the Board of Trustees. Peru State College has been a cornerstone of my personal and professional journey, and I am eager to give back to the College system that gave so much to me.

“I look forward to collaborating with fellow trustees to shape policies that advance academic excellence, increase access to education, and support the needs of our students and communities, in addition to supporting the leadership of Chancellor Paul Turman for the execution of the desired outcomes of the State College system’s strategic plan,” she added. Edmonds’ goals for her tenure include strengthening pathways for first-generation students, fostering innovative internships and mentorship programs, and ensuring the Board’s decisions prioritize the long-term success of both students and faculty.

Her servant’s heart and dedication to creating opportunities for others are guiding principles she brings to this significant role.

Calling All '15 Lost Alumni

The distinguished Class of 2015 has a list of class members on our “lost alumni” roster that is lengthy. If you can help us reduce it, we would be grateful. Send updates via email to pscfoundation@peru.edu, or call (402) 872-2304, or drop us a note at Peru Stater, c/o PSC Foundation, PO Box 10, Peru, Neb. 68421-0010.

Foundation News

Dr. Clyde and Betty Barrett Scholarship Endowed

The Dr. Clyde and Betty Barrett Scholarship has been established in memory and honor of the Peru State College graduates and long-time employees of the institution.

Recently, Betty endowed the scholarship in memory of her late husband which will be for a full-time student who is either a pre-med or music major.

Dr. Barrett was born and raised in the area and graduated from Hamburg, Iowa. After high school, he attended business college in Omaha and worked as an accountant for Fairmont Foods in Omaha.

He helped his father establish Plainview Oil and Gas in Hamburg. After marrying Betty, they began selling fireworks in 1952 and continued to do this for 56 years in several locations. During this time, Clyde was an Army draftee during the Korean War where he served as a company clerk in the Fifth Army, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., for two years.

He graduated from Peru State in 1956 and then taught high school English and Literature in Dawson, Neb., Pueblo, Colo., and Mitchell, Neb. After completing his master’s degree, he continued his teaching career at Pittsburg, Kan., Warrensburg, Mo., and ultimately at Peru State College.

He completed his Ed.D. at the University of Arkansas in 1969. Clyde later served as Dean and Vice President of Academics at Peru State for 29 years. Barrett also served as a commissioner with the North Central Association and initiated Alpha Chi at the college.

Dr. Barrett passed away in 2021at the age of 91.

Betty arrived in Peru by train in April of 1952 to take the entrance exams to enter the twelve program, also called the “twelve-hour wonders.” She taught country school for a year and then later at Fort Leonard Wood.

The couple returned to Peru in 1954 to finish their degrees. Betty completed hers in the summer of 1957 and was fortunate to have received the Nebraska State Teachers College Scholarship. While at Peru State, she was a member of Sigma Tau Delta and the Home Ec Club.

While Clyde taught in Pueblo, Betty served as a substitute teacher. They later returned to Peru in 1965 where Betty substituted in the campus school and at the College. She also taught in the continuing education department.

Betty also helped to host many dinners and events in the President’s House and their home while Clyde worked at the College. Betty was the first woman to serve on the City Council. They enjoyed traveling to numerous countries over the years.

The Barretts have two children – Dr. Roland Barrett ’77 of Norman, Okla., and LaRhea Nichols of League City, Texas. They had been married for almost 68 years at the time of Clyde’s passing.

Danielle Aldrich

Chad Battershaw

Ryan Bauman

Kayla (Davis) Black

Caitlin Bos

Kimberley Brewer

Dillon Bruggeman

Brooke Bunten

Brook Davis

Chelsea DeLaCruz

Sydne Endorf

Matheus Fernandes

Charla Forbus

Matthew Fowler

Satarah Funk

Aja Henderson

Aaron Hendrickson

Alyssa Knodel

Yusheng Li

Natasha LudwigPage

Amanda Lyon

Monica Rains

Ashley Robertson

Marissa Sawyer

Breanna Scholl

Jiekun Shi

Shannon Stafford

Lauren Stewart

Darcy Weldon

Jessica Zelfel

Connie Edmond

Dr. Clyde and Betty Barrett

The 1867 Society: Plan Today, Change The World Tomorrow

The 1867 Society enables Peru State alumni and friends to give back to the College through an estate plan, ensuring future students have the same or greater opportunities than those available to you.

The 1867 Society recognizes those who have included a contribution to the Peru State College Foundation in a will or estate plan and have informed us of those plans.

Including one or more charities as a part of an estate plan can redirect or offset money that would otherwise go to the government in the form of taxes. Sometimes charitable giving through an estate plan can even maximize the amount that can be left to family members by reducing the tax burden on an estate.

When considering charitable giving as a part of an estate, it can be wise to look first at tax-deferred assets – those allowed to grow tax free until you need to use them. These often make the best gifts to your favorite tax-exempt charities.

Two of the most common ways to make a charitable gift with an estate plan, include:

1. A bequest in a will leaving a percentage or a specific amount of the estate to Peru State College Foundation

2. A beneficiary designation on an IRA, retirement plan, life insurance policy or commercial annuity

Burden on heirs

Some assets, when passed on to heirs, also pass along the tax burden of those assets. These could include retirement funds, savings bonds that have reached maturity or commercial annuities.

A gift from an estate to Peru State College Foundation can be designated to a specific purpose on campus, or it can be undesignated (“Greatest Need”).

Notifying the Peru State College Foundation of your estate intentions allows the Foundation to collaborate with you to create the legacy you want to leave at Peru State College. Peru State has nearly 100 living members of the 1867 Society.

Please call or email the Foundation, (402) 872-2304 or pscfoundation@peru.edu if you have questions about a future gift to benefit Peru State College or to find out how to become a member of the 1867 Society. We would be happy to discuss your goals and wishes to create your legacy at Peru State College.

Watch Your Mail

The Foundation will be contacting current 1867 Society members over the next few months to update records.

If you have a more questions, check out our estate planning information at https://peru. planningyourlegacy.org/

This article is not intended as financial, tax or legal advice. When making decisions about assets and estate planning, please consult an attorney or professional advisor.

After A Strong ‘24, Foundation Looking Ahead To 2025

Jon Firmature Development Director Peru State College Foundation

As the 2024 year has ended, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Peru State College Alumni, Students, Faculty, Partners, and Friends. We hope you enjoyed the holidays which allowed you to slow down, gather with loved ones, and appreciate the things that truly make life meaningful.

It’s during these moments that we’re reminded of what we value most: happiness, balance, and the freedom to enjoy what matters. Reflecting on 2024, here are a few highlights we are exceptionally proud of:

*Scholarship Awards: We awarded 85% of scholarships from the almost $800,000 available. Our scholarships provide financial assistance to Bobcat students to help them pay for their Peru State College education. This allows them to pursue higher learning without the burden of heavy tuition fees and student loans, especially for those who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Commendably, we have prioritized educating students from marginalized communities as we strive to be a college for all. Last semester alone we had 54.3 percent being from either first-generation college attendees, having immigrant parents and/or coming from lowincome households.

Project ROAR: We are nearing completion of structures for the Dome and Diamond building construction projects with anticipated occupation this spring, completing Phase I of the project.

Alumni Events: Engaged over 200 alumni and friends in Omaha & Lincoln, continuing alumni traditions. Our wish is to do more in other cities; if you’re interested in being involved, let us know.

Major Campaigns for 2024: We experienced various successes in our capital and individual campaigns throughout the year. Our best individual drive was our Charter Day Scholarship push.

Alumni Service Contributions: We had over 460 students and alumni/friends combined volunteering in 2024 for various events and programs, continuing Peru State’s legacy for community service.

With these successes we have been overwhelmed this year with gratitude for the Bobcat community. As we look forward to 2025, we are excited about the opportunities ahead, including the completion of Phase 1 of Project ROAR and implementing the Ambassador Program, which will be made up of Alumni, Family, Friends, and Community Partners. The Association will benefit and establish additional funds/ scholarships/endowments for current and future students.

To build on our successes and support new initiatives, we need your help. Your generous support will enable us to:

Expand Scholarship Opportunities: Provide financial assistance to deserving students.

Enhance Alumni Programs: Create more opportunities for alumni to connect and give back.

Support Student Success: Fund programs and resources for academic and professional growth.

Gifts of every size have a lasting impact. Together, we can ensure the Peru State College Foundation continues to be a source of pride and support. Will you join us in making a difference by donating at: https:// www.givecampus.com/campaigns/30313/ donations/new or use the QR Code below. Thank you for your continued support and for being an integral part of the Bobcat network.

Warm regards,

Talented Trio Join Foundation Board

Three alumni who have made their marks in their impressive professional careers now bring their time and talents to the governing board of the Peru State College Foundation.

Lonnie Bane (‘80), Jack Moles (’80), and Audra Williams Schawang (’95) have been elected to three-year terms on the Foundation Board, effective Jan. 1.

“My goal has been to attract potential board members that have strong ties to Peru State College, that have life experiences that will help the Foundation’s culture to continue to thrive, and as a volunteer be willing to combine their collective talents to provide opportunities for Peru State College students,” noted Foundation Board Chair Jeff Greenwald (’71).

“With the additions of Jack Moles, Audra Schawang and Lonnie Bane, needless to say, we are very pleased they have agreed to serve,” Greenwald said.

The PSC Foundation is a private, non-profit corporation whose mission is simple: To provide assistance and support for Peru State College. It seeks, acquires, manages, and distributes charitable gifts and grants in support of scholarships and academic and extracurricular programs at Nebraska’s first college.

Schawang, Moles and Bane replaced outgoing Foundation Board members Elton Edmond (‘88, Masters ‘16) and Connie Sims (’87) Edmond, Tim Hoffman (‘84) and Cindy Plantenga (‘82) Hoffman, and Ivan Wineglass (‘94).

After concluding an extraordinary career in human resources for several of the biggest companies across the U.S., new Peru State College Foundation Board member Lonnie Bane now enjoys spending time tending cattle. The retired executive raises longhorn and angus cattle on his ranch near Sweet Home, Texas.

A 1980 graduate of Peru State and Nebraska City native, Bane begins a three-year term on the college’s Foundation Board of Directors Jan. 1. The Foundation is a private, non-profit corporation to acquire, manage and distribute charitable gifts in support of Nebraska’s first college.

Bane and his wife the former Darla Bargenquast of Hamburg, Iowa, live in New Braunfels, Texas. He is now ready to help the college that gave him the opportunity to embark on his noteworthy career.

“Peru State has been very good to me over the years, providing me with scholarships years ago and a great education,” Bane said. “I feel it is my obligation to give back by helping this institution continue to thrive and provide educational opportunities in Southeast Nebraska and beyond.”

“Without Peru State College and the scholarships I was provided, I might not have gone to college” he added. “I got a great handson education that prepared me well for my career. Throughout my working years, I leaned on many things I was taught by some great professors at PSC.”

Imbued with a strong work ethic from his youth helping on the Otoe County family farm, Bane put himself through college owning and operating a retail clothing store in Nebraska City from 1976-80. He sold the business, Jean Heaven, just before graduation from Peru State.

Bane’s business degree had an emphasis in labor and employee relations and led him into a more than 30-year career in human resources. His resume’ reflects HR jobs with Singer Corp., PepsiCo/Frito Lay, Mobil Oil, America West Airlines, and Pride International. Pride, one of the largest offshore oil drilling firms in the world at the time, had $6 billion in assets and 26,000 employees from its Houston, Texas-based headquarters.

He left Pride in 2011 when it was acquired in a corporate merger and began Bane Coaching and Consulting, a Houston-based executive coaching/consulting practice. Clients in the automotive, manufacturing, legal services, gas and oil, and medical fields were clientele from 2011-15.

Bane spent the next three years as chair and chief executive officer of the Houston-based Sierra Institute, with membership including the top 100 human resource executives from across the globe.

For the last five years of his career, he operated Bane Development and Investments, a real estate development firm that built more than a half a million square feet of office space in seven different Texas complexes.

After his remarkable professional journey working for large firms across the country in the pressure-packed field of human resources, Lonnie Bane retired in 2023. He and Darla have eight grandchildren along with the cattle ranch and his volunteer work at a local shelter in New Braunfels, and now his new role with the Peru State Foundation.

“I think I can bring the Foundation a new and different perspective based on my diverse experiences and professional background,” Bane said. “I will bring energy and focused problem-solving skills. I plan to help the Foundation grow its funding and help to ensure the long-term viability of Peru State College.”

Looking back on his college days, Bane cites particularly important influences. “Two professors had a huge impact on my career of choice and my focus while at PSC,” he reflected, “Robert Lewellen and Russell Beldin

will always have a huge place in my heart. They were incredibly helpful and supportive.”

Now he is anxious to devote some of his time and energy to Peru State, where his journey began. He and Darla still have family and many friends in Southeast Nebraska and Southwest Iowa.

Educational Expertise Motivates Moles

From his days as a high school teacher and coach, through his time as a school administrator and beyond, Jack Moles has always been dedicated to educating and advancing young people.

A new member of the Peru State College Foundation – a private non-profit organization dedicated to generating, managing, and providing private funds for Nebraska’s first college – Moles brings a wealth of knowledge about what young people need to access and achieve a quality, affordable education.

Moles now resides in Lincoln with his wife Shelley. His three-year term on the allvolunteer Peru State College Foundation Board begins Jan. 1.

“My plan was always to be a history teacher,” Moles said. “Becoming a coach was also something I was interested in, but it was always my intention to do something with history.”

A native of Nebraska City, Moles graduated from Peru State in 1980 and embarked on

his career. His first stop was Bartley, Neb., in Red Willow County in western Nebraska, teaching social studies and coaching volleyball, basketball, and track and field.

After 10 years in that capacity, Moles moved into administration, serving Bartley as principal for two years. He relocated to Amherst as superintendent for the 1995-96 school year before heading back to southeast Nebraska as superintendent of Nemaha Valley Public Schools in Cook.

Moles held that position from 1996 through 2007, when Nemaha Valley merged with the newly created Johnson County Central Public Schools in Tecumseh. He was named as its first superintendent and stayed in that role for 11 years.

“I never had a plan to be an administrator,” Moles said. “That goal came later in my career at the urging of a couple of administrators who I worked under.”

In 2018 Moles was selected as executive director for the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, a position he holds today. The group serves 224 schools and an estimated 89,000 students in rural schools across Nebraska, as well as Educational Service Units and the three state colleges in 90 counties and 25 legislative districts across Nebraska.

Moles has always remained engaged with Peru State throughout his career, regularly attending college events and supporting various activities. His years in education give him a strong perspective on the role the Nebraska State Colleges play in educating Nebraskans across the state.

“Dr. George Schottenhamel and Dr. John Hahn were two of the more influential professors I had at Peru as I had so many classes with them,” Moles reflected. “Dr. Tom Fitzgerald was someone I looked up to, although I didn't have many classes with him. I worked for him in the intramural department and enjoyed him.”

Moles will bring his experience and energy to a volunteer board that supports Peru State through charitable gifts that support student scholarships and campus programs. The Foundation has approximately $23 million in assets.

Moles has both his master’s and his Educational Specialist degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He knows firsthand the role small public colleges play in the state’s educational landscape.

Bane Blazed Business Trail

Lonnie Bane

Jack Moles

“What I believe I bring to the table is a great connection with educators across the state,” Moles said. “I also have a connection with Dr. Paul Turman and the State College System and with the two other State Colleges as a result of my work in the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association.”

Now he’ll have a chance to help Peru State and its Foundation grow and increase its service to both young people and adults, many of whom take classes online. It’s an opportunity he’s excited to take on.

Schawang Brings Non-Profit Knowledge

Managing the business side of a non-profit organization involves unique challenges and rules that don’t apply to other businesses. In Audra (Williams ‘95) Schawang, the Peru State Foundation has added a new Board member well versed in those demands.

Schawang, Senior Vice President of Finance for the Greater Omaha Chamber, was elected to the Foundation Board effective Jan. 1. She’ll serve a three-year term with the corporation established 70 years ago to acquire, manage, and distribute charitable gifts to Nebraska’s first college.

“The Foundation and the connections we formed at Peru State played a significant role in our success,” Schawang said, referencing her husband Jeff (‘95). “Peru State is a special place to us.”

Non-profits must adhere to strict practices to maintain their tax-exempt status. Schawang, who lives in Waverly, Neb., brings a deep background in the field, having spent her entire career with the Omaha Chamber since

graduating from Peru State. The last 20 years she’s been financial vice president.

Schawang grew up on a farm outside of North Loup, and the family moved into nearby Scotia when she was 12. After graduating from North Loup Scotia High School, she came to Peru State to major in accounting and business management. It was there the former Audra Williams met husband Jeff Schawang, a Falls City native.

“It’s crazy to think about what led me to Peru State all those years ago,” Schawang said. “I am a first-generation college student, and I really didn’t know anything about PSC. The most important thing was finding a school that was affordable, and I also wanted a smaller setting.”

Like many before and since, Schawang found just what she needed and wanted in Peru State, noting “I loved it from day one.”

Schawang was Peru State’s 1994 Homecoming Queen, and was active in band and flag corps. She was a member of the campus chapter of Future Business Leaders of America-Collegiate, then known as Phi Beta Lambda. For her, Peru State meant “so many fun times just hanging out with friends.”

The Schawangs still work for the same employers they joined right out of Peru State. They have been dedicated supporters of the College and the Foundation through the years while raising a family and building their careers.

Their family – including two sons and two daughters – are all in college or beyond now. Her days going to their school activities are over, giving her “a chance to explore new opportunities. Joining the (PSC Foundation) Board felt like the perfect fit.”

Now she brings her expertise to the Foundation Board, which has approximately $23 million in assets and is a key source of scholarships and support for academic and extracurricular programs at Peru State.

Schawang manages an $8.5 million budget for the Great Omaha Chamber and its 50 employees. She is responsible for seven different organizations under the Chamber umbrella. Audits, monthly and quarterly fiscal analysis, tax returns, grant applications, retirement plans, budgeting and much more are all part of her daily routine.

Her skills in strategic financial planning, budgeting and compliance and her expertise in non-profit accounting standards, donor reporting and grant management all will be invaluable to the Peru State Foundation.

In Search of 1965 ‘Lost’ Alumni

Nearly sixty years after they left Peru State, it’s not surprising that some members of the Class of 1965 have lost touch with their alma mater. We ran the list in the fall and had several updates, but we still have some more to find!

If you can help us with information about any of the members of the class, information can be sent via email (pscfoundation@peru.edu), phone (402-872-2304) or by sending a note to: Peru Stater, c/o PSC Foundation, PO Box 10, Peru, Neb. 684210010.

Tom and Joannie Wilson Scholarship

A junior education major with financial need will benefit from a scholarship established by Tom and Joannie Wilson of Omaha. The award will be $2,500 per semester and is renewable up to four semesters.

The Wilsons established a similar scholarship at Wayne State and did so initially after Tom did some engineering work for the institution. Later, one of their sons and his eventual wife attended and graduated from the institution. They are both educators.

Joannie has been an educator since the mid-70s and worked primarily as a middle

school math instructor. She then became an administrator in the Millard and Omaha Public Schools. After retiring from full-time work, she now substitutes in the metro area.

Tom has been the owner and CEO of The Assessment Group since 1997. The Assessment Group specializes in engineering and environmental consulting.

Education has been a priority for the Wilsons, and they appreciate the teachers who inspired them along the way. Their goal at Peru State is to support future teachers.

Dr. Carolyn Bednar Scholarship

A former southeast Nebraska resident, Dr. Carolyn Bednar, is establishing an endowed scholarship that will aid an education major from the region.

Bednar grew up on a farm in rural Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska before working as a high school home economics teacher and getting married.

“As did many women in those days, I followed my husband in his career as an electrical engineer. We moved to Tennessee and lived there for nine years before returning to Nebraska when my husband was hired as an engineer for the Cooper Nuclear Plant in Brownville.”

Since their family included five children, she was very involved in community activities

Elsie Ahnen

Phillip Bateman

Helen Donovan

Richard Engle

Frances Engles

James Gregory

Jacquiline Griess

John Grotheer

that included 4-H leader, church activities, Home Extension, and editor of a community newspaper. While in Tennessee, she earned a master’s degree in home economics. Later, in 1978, she earned a degree in elementary education from Peru State College.

Her previously earned master’s degree proved fortuitous because in the summer of 1984 as the home economics instructor at Peru State College resigned, Bednar was offered a part-time job as an adjunct instructor, a job that she held for two and one-half years. She then decided she needed to earn a Ph.D. if she wanted to continue college teaching, and in 1989 earned a doctorate in nutrition from the University of Nebraska.

Bednar moved to Denton, Texas, in 1991 when she accepted a position as an assistant professor at Texas Woman’s University. Her career at TWU lasted 22 years, including nine years as chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences. While at TWU, she received the Leaders Award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in 2001 and the Texas Dietetic Association Distinguished Scientist Award in 2006.

After she retired from TWU, Bednar worked as Editor of the Journal of Child Nutrition and Research for five years and served as a SPAN Board member for five years. Bednar has also been a lecturer for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Texas on topics of food labeling and food safety. She and her husband, Lad Bednar, have been married for 65 years.

Linda (Bartels) Kotas

Fordie Lucas

Paul MacNeil

Suzan McKee

Calvin Miller

Larry Piper

John Schultze

Mary Sims

Kathleen (Krause) Sterner

Joyce (Wheeler) Tegtmeir

Dennis Teten

Peggy (O’Neill) Till

Larry Trimble

Enid Van Luven

Theresa Walker

Audra Schawang

Dr. Carolyn Bednar

2025 Alumni Excellence Award to Anderson, Donovan,

Silvius & Smith - Ceremony April 15

The accomplishments of a quartet of Peru State College alumni will be celebrated during its annual Thousand Oaks Alumni Excellence award ceremony on Tuesday, April 15.

Honored that day will be Dr. Todd Anderson ’86 of Lubbock, Texas, SaraBeth Donovan ’85 of Rapid City, S.D., Shawna Silvius, masters ’12, of Red Oak, Iowa, and Robin Nelson Smith ’83 of Lincoln, Neb.

First awarded in 2018, the Alumni Excellence program recognizes graduates who have excelled in their field and have demonstrated exceptional service to the College and/or

community, according to Ted L. Harshbarger ’77, executive director of the sponsoring Peru State College Foundation.

Harshbarger noted, “It is always a great day on campus when we can recognize some of Peru State’s finest alumni. These individuals were selected from among a slate of outstanding nominees and truly are deserving of the honor.”

Honorees are chosen from each of Peru State College’s three academic divisions - the School of Education, School of Professional Studies, School of Arts and Sciences - and from its graduate student alumni.

Dr. Todd Anderson School of Arts and Sciences

Todd Anderson came to Peru State from his hometown of Alma, Neb., to study biology and play baseball. Little did he know when he graduated in 1986 that 35 years later he would be recognized as one of the top 2 percent of the world’s nearly seven million working scientists, for career contributions.

That recognition in 2021 came from Stanford University and Elsevier, publisher of journals, books and data for research and health care professionals. Anderson received the same recognition each of the next two years as well.

He is the 2025 Peru State College School of Arts and Sciences Alumni Excellence Award recipient.

SaraBeth Donovan School of Education

Though her career as an educator took an unexpected turn into law, SaraBeth Donovan never forgot the lessons learned at Peru State College and never stopped giving back to her alma mater.

Donovan, 1985 Peru State alumnae now semi-retired and living in Rapid City, S.D., will gain the School of Education’s Thousand Oaks Alumni Excellence Award for 2025.

Family ties that spanned generations brought her to Peru State after graduating from Lincoln (Neb.) Northeast High School, where Donovan quickly flourished. The College’s student trustee to the Nebraska State College System, Student Senate President, and

Where Are You, Class of 2005?

The roster of “lost” alumni from the Class of 2005 – Peru Staters for whom the college has become disconnected – is far too long, as you will see below. We ran the list in the fall and had several updates, but we still have some more to find!

If you are able to help locate any of the following, please let us know. Email us at pscfoundation@peru.edu, call 402-872-2304, or drop us a line at Peru Stater, c/o Peru State College Foundation, PO Box 10, Peru, Neb. 68421-0010. Thank you.

Justin Ballard

Monica Barnard

Zachary Basye

Patricia Bejarano

Charles Benson

Kandi (Smith)

Bilslend

Jennifer Boyd

Garrett

Broughton

Keri Brown

Kathleen

Brunckhorst

Jonathon Brydson

Nominations are submitted to the Foundation, and top candidates’ biographies are forwarded to the Deans of the Schools for review. Selections are made by the schools along with a committee of Peru State alumni and Foundation staff and approved by the college President.

Recipients will be on campus April 15 to speak with students, visit classrooms, and attend a luncheon in their honor. An awards ceremony at 2 p.m. in the college Performing Arts Center caps the activities. Alumni, friends, and the public are invited to the ceremony.

Anderson is Professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech University. His teaching and research focus is on the movement and analysis of chemical contaminants and pollutants in the environment.

He credits his Peru State undergraduate research experience with mentors including Dr. David Pippert and the late Dr. Larry Pappas with cultivating his interest in environmental research to propel his early career.

His master’s degree along with his Ph.D. are both in environmental toxicology, and both from the University of Tennessee. He did summer research institutes at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases in Omaha while at Peru, and with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, later serving a graduate assistantship there.

softball player majored in math education with teaching endorsements in computer science and coaching.

Graduation took her to South High School in Omaha as a teacher and coach for three years. Donovan moved to San Diego, Calif., to teach for a year before returning to Nebraska after being admitted to the University of Nebraska College of Law. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree in 1992.

Then she began the first of multiple positions with the U.S. Department of Justice, the first nine years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska. In 2001 the Peru State College Foundation reached out to her, and she accepted a position serving her alma mater as Director of Planned Giving.

Donovan spent the next three years with the Foundation, a private non-profit organization

Sasha Chavez

Sheldon Cross

Becky Curtis

Raven Frederick

Tracy Froien

Gorica

Gramatikova

Amanda Hakenkamp

James Hale

Ashley Hoppe

Sara (Fischer)

Howard

Anderson next taught and did research at Iowa State University, then at Clemson University, before joining Texas Tech in 1997. At Texas Tech he’s been awarded the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, the Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Service Award, and the Faculty Distinguished Research Award. Anderson has received his department’s Outstanding Faculty Award in a vote by graduate students on a dozen different occasions.

Twice he has been awarded the Champion of Women Award for mentoring women scientists from the West Texas Association for Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics).

Anderson remains a loyal Bobcat and a supporter of the Peru State baseball team.

whose mission is to receive charitable gifts in support of Peru State. She departed in 2004, but her service to the Foundation was far from over.

Donovan rejoined the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights division in Washington D.C. and remained in the capitol for nine years. In 2015 she became Assistant U.S. Attorney for the DOJ’s District of South Dakota.

Meanwhile, Donovan served on the Peru State Foundation’s all-volunteer Board of Directors from 2008-2020, twice as its chair and twice as its vice chair. She returned to the Foundation staff as its Executive Director for a time in 2020 but had to leave due to family matters. She remains an active member of the South Dakota State Bar Association.

Gloria Miller

Hubbard

Ann Jelinek

Izaac King

Linda Kirkland

Colleen Kocsis

Ryan LaVigne

Sara (Holtmeier)

Lucking

Kimberly (Norton)

Charlotte Macecevic

Christine (Bulson) Maher

Adam Marriott

Cynthia Mollock

Rochelle (Davitt)

Morgan

Krystin Murray

Jennifer Newcomb

Lisa Parris

Jeffrey Parris

Jay Plugge

Donald Polivka

Andrew Riker

Jani Rogers

Jennifer (Shockey)

Rohlmeier

William Rothell

Denise (Rowe)

Rothwell

James Slisik

Joshua Steadman

John Svehla

Katie Tarwater

Clairese Taylor

Kathryn Tierney

Dustin Tobey

Mark Todd

Farai TsimbaChitsva

Nicole Tuxhorn

Dustin Vetrovsky

Matthew Wambold

Stephanie Weiss

Darcy Weldon

Kelly Wheeler

William Wixon

Tiffany Wlaschin

Bradley Wolansky

Robert Zeigler

Dr. Todd Anderson

SaraBeth Donovan

Robin Nelson Smith School of Professional Studies

Robin Nelson Smith has done a little bit of just about everything for Peru State College, and throughout her career. But that’s her approach – ever willing to take on, and excel at, new challenges.

The 1983 Business Administration and Management graduate of Peru State is the 2025 School of Professional Studies Thousand Oaks Alumni Excellence Award winner.

Smith came to Peru State from her native Lincoln, Neb., to study business and play volleyball. The Southeast High grad was active on campus and her talents quickly caught the

Graduate Alumni

Shawna Silvius may not use hammers and saws, but she is a builder – a builder of communities.

The current Mayor of Red Oak, Iowa, is the 2025 Thousand Oaks Alumni Excellence Award recipient for Peru State College, representing its graduate studies alumni. She received the Master of Science in Organizational Management degree in 2012. Communities large and small across central and eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa have benefited from Silvius’ skills and leadership. These days her focus is on Red Oak in Montgomery County, Iowa, where she has served as Mayor since 2022. For a time, she did double duty as its interim City Administrator.

eye of Peru State officials and upon graduation, she was hired by the college.

After four years as an admissions counselor, and by then married to former Bobcat basketball player and then-assistant men’s basketball coach Jeff Smith, she was appointed Director of Development and Public Relations for the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Nebraska.

Two years later Smith returned to Peru State as Director of Career Planning and Placement. She next spent two years as Director of Graduate School Admissions and Academic Advisor at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Wash.

Higher education remained her career focus when she returned to Nebraska as Distance

Silvius was a Community and Economic Development Planner for the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency for four years, where she used her expertise on projects like a 59-unit townhouse project, a residential fiber-optic project, and water, flood mitigation and wastewater treatment projects, among others.

Before that Silvius was Executive Director of Community and Economic Development for the Montgomery County Development Corporation for three years. She’s been Director of Economic Development for the City of Crete (Neb.), Director of Talent Solutions for the Lincoln (Neb.) Partnership for Economic Development, and Marketing and Program Coordinator for the River Country Economic Development Corporation in Nebraska City, Neb.

Silvius began her career in advertising

Learning Coordinator for the University of Nebraska’s East Campus. But after two years, Smith again chose to branch out into a new field and joined First Nebraska Trust Company in 1999.

She continues to service First Nebraska Trust as its President and Trust Officer. The firm provides trust administration, estate planning, and investment management services.

Robin and Jeff Smith’s son Connor is a Peru State alumnus and a former Bobcat studentathlete like his parents.

The Smiths remain involved with their alma mater and joined the Foundation Board of Directors several years ago. They were cotreasurers the past year.

and marketing for Morris Publishing Co. in Kearney, Neb., then remained in that community as Sales Division Manager for Curtis and Associates, and later Special Events Director and Marketing Coordinator for Kearney Hub Publishing.

Her lone detour beyond Iowa and Nebraska was a one-year stint with the American Cancer Society in Longmont, Colo., as Community Development Specialist and Economic Director.

Community-building and economic development, particularly in smaller and more rural states like Iowa and Nebraska, is highly competitive and challenging. Shawna Silvius’ skills in grant writing, marketing, design, training, and leadership have helped make her a success in one of the toughest disciplines there are.

Peru State Comes Up Big With Vegas-Themed Homecoming

What happened in Peru didn’t stay in Peru following the 2024 Homecoming which had the theme “Viva Las Peru.” There weren’t any secrets that needed to be kept – well, that we are aware of at this time!

Hundreds of alumni and friends experienced magnificent autumn weather on an October weekend which was capped off with a Bobcat football 28-21 victory over the visiting William Penn Statesmen.

Thirteen graduates from the Class of 1974 were feted Friday night, the highest number of attendees from a 50-year class in several years! Those attending included Roxann (Rengstorf) Albrecht, PJ (Schultz) Criger, Terry Criger, Tom Froehlich, Lloyd Glesmann, Jo (Fichter) Heermann, Barbara (Shroyer) Johansen, Richard Kohel, Steve Krajicek, James Landwehr, Evey (Heebner) Lesoing, Barry Reed, and Judy (Werner) Souder.

In addition, two class of 1964 graduates were in attendance. They were Thomas Buchholz and Bob Eichenberger. The class of 1984 were represented by Tim Hoffman and Diane (Coover) Thomas while current Peru State instructor of math and director of the honors program Cassie (Leonard) Tangen was present from the class of 2014.

A festive parade started things off Saturday morning followed by a party on the campus quad before the football game. Gloria Adams (’71) of Peru and Beverly Hills, Fla., served as the grand marshal for the parade. Adams also had the privilege of flipping the coin before the start of the football game.

Seniors Rylee Hellbusch of Plattsmouth, Neb. and Lander Imbimbo of Brighton, United Kingdom, were crowned queen and king at halftime of the football match-up.

Thanks to all the alumni and friends who participated. To those who didn’t, stay tuned to the Summer Peru Stater for details about Homecoming ’25 which will be held the first weekend in October – the 3rd and 4th!

Shawna Silvius

Robin Nelson Smith

Shawna Silvius

PSC employees (l to r) Brenda Trail, Beth Mitchell, and Maddie (Nichols) Dodge '23 rode the Staff Float along with Bobcat Bob in the Homecoming Parade

Science Flourishes at Peru State

By Kent Propst and Ted L. Harshbarger

When the Nebraska State Normal School in Peru opened in 1867 as the State of Nebraska’s first institute of higher education, teacher training was its mission. As the years passed and the College transitioned to Peru State Normal School, to Peru State Teachers College and, in 1963, Peru State College, its mission and scope have grown. Through the years Peru State has produced an enviable number of noteworthy science alumni. Unlike larger schools, where research opportunities for undergraduates are often limited and lab work alongside professors not the norm, Peru State students are able to engage in research almost from the start. Some follow a path into science teaching, no surprise coming from an historical teachers’ college. Others become research scientists, health care professionals, or professionals in other related disciplines. In the Stater’s ongoing series on successful alums in different disciplines, we’ll focus this time on a handful of more recent graduates who are making their mark in science. It is by no means a comprehensive list. This story is the first in a two-part series.

Dr. Joan

Christen

‘96: ‘A Passion, Not A Paycheck’

Considering Joan Christen didn’t enroll at Peru State until she was 38, she packed a remarkable set of achievements into her career.

She was Nebraska’s recipient of a Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. Another time Christen was Nebraska’s representative on a twoweek expenses-paid study trip to the Galapagos Islands – “an incredible experience…That trip changed how I taught biology from that day forward.”

Now retired and living in Johnson County, Neb., Christen is quick to credit Peru State’s role in her development.

“The quality of instruction at Peru was phenomenal. I would sum it up in three main areas,” she reflected. “Professors, quality instruction, and internships.”

“Experiencing multiple teaching styles molded my belief that students don’t necessarily learn the same way I liked to learn and subsequently how I first taught,” she said. “I learned to discover and implement different methods based on how classes were taught at Peru and as I matured as an educator.”

“Whether it was spending hours in the Qualitative and Quantitative Chemistry Lab with Dr. (Daryl) Long, collecting field stream specimens with Dr. (Thomas) Klubertanz, struggling through Organic Chemistry with Dr. (David) Pippert, taking advanced math classes with Dr. (Paul) Hinrichs, wondering at times what I was doing in Physics with Mr. (Stan) McCaslin, I was encouraged and challenged to do my best,” Christen said.

Having opportunities to apply what she learned beyond the classroom was a revelation.

“My first experience with doing real scientific research was with Dr. Carol Pappas. I remember presenting my research in Chicago and I was scared to death!” she said. “Participants included

researchers from across the United States including Stanford, MIT, etc.”

An environmental internship at nearby Cooper Nuclear Station was a great experience and “formed a background for later classes I would teach, and future research.”

Though science was her thing, Christen’s strong communication skills were a complement that paid big dividends.

“During my second year of teaching, I was ‘introduced’ – actually kind of tricked – into writing grants,” Christen said of her first teaching job at Southeast Nebraska Consolidated in nearby Stella.

“Dr. Long always said I was ‘kind of weird’ because I not only liked math and science, but I also loved English,” she recalled. “He predicted this quality would be an asset because it would enable me to write about science.

“Dr. Long’s prediction came true,” Christen said. During her 23 years teaching, first at Southeast Consolidated and later at Beatrice (Neb.) High School, she wrote and implemented $2.5 million worth of grants.

Between grants and fundraising ventures, Christen was able to take students on field trips across the country, from the Kennedy Space Center to St. Louis, San Diego, Padre Islands, the Bahamas, and one that was nearly infamous – white-water rafting down Class 4 rapids in Colorado.

“I had no desire to repeat that after being thrown out of the raft,” she added.

Christen was one of the first students to enroll in and graduate from a master’s degree program in Entomology from the University of NebraskaLincoln (“there was no way I could teach at Southeast and attend night classes in Lincoln”).

One of her masters’ profs suggested she pursue her Ph.D. at UNL, taking classes and conducting research during the summer.

“And to think, the opportunities for research that started in Peru enabled me to be successful at the doctoral level,” Christen said.

If it all sounds like a bit of a fairytale, far from it. The demands on an educator are immense, and science is a field that doesn’t always happen during a standard school day. Teaching is tough, and the rewards aren’t the material kind.

“After my first year of teaching at Southeast Consolidated, Cooper Nuclear offered me a job at over twice my salary,” Christen recalled. “I’ve never regretted turning it down, but it was tempting. Teaching is a passion, not a paycheck.”

Dr. Joan Christen

Dr. Joanna (Hays) Cielocha ’06:

‘Never stopped going to school’

There may be few better examples of someone who more fully embraced the opportunities for science studies at Peru State than Dr. Joanna Cielocha.

The former Joanna Hays put it succinctly: “My research experience at Peru led me to pursue graduate studies with the hope of becoming a college professor at a small institution focused on undergraduates.”

Cielocha is just that, as an Associate Professor of Biology at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo.

“One of the things that set my education at Peru apart from many of my peers in graduate school was the preparation for research and application of critical thinking skills,” she said. She took those skills to graduate school at Sam Houston State University, where she gained a master's degree in biology. Next came her Ph.D. program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas.

That led her back to Peru State for a threeyear stint as an assistant professor.

“I enjoyed those three years and gained a lot of teaching experience in classes like Human Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology,” Cielocha said.

In 2016 she was offered a position at Rockhurst, an institution “larger than Peru, but (that) still focuses on undergraduate education. Here I’m able to teach classes like Parasitology and Evolution while engaging students in research opportunities, like the ones that were so formative for my own career.”

Though that career is still in its early stages, things have “changed a lot, even in the past 11 years...From my perspective, students often

seem less engaged or interested…technology has allowed easy access and answers to almost any question.

“While those advances might help students more quickly understand a concept or get done with their homework sooner, it takes away from human interactions that build a rich classroom or community experience,” Cielocha said. “It diminishes the process of critical thinking and hands-on learning.”

Rapid change brought on by Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another technological change she believes is a double-edged sword.

“The use of AI will likely advance science at a pace that we have not previously seen,” Cielocha said. “With the advent of AI, many tasks and processes – from reading a paper to performing surgery – can be improved. It’s both exciting and a bit scary.”

Cielocha came to Peru State as a transfer and student-athlete (golf) and clearly has fond memories of her time on the Campus of a Thousand Oaks.

“The most important educational experience at Peru was being able to engage in undergraduate research,” she noted. “I worked with Dr. (Richard) Clopton for three years. He treated me like a colleague and a scientist which allowed me to grow in confidence, gain field and laboratory experience, and work on professional development.”

Another experience Cielocha believes sets Peru apart from many others is one of the last things its science graduates experience.

“Peru science grads undergo an exit interview process that is remarkably similar to a graduate school defense,” she said. “It allows students to highlight the knowledge they have acquired, but also helps students work on communication skills.

“I found that process gave me a leg up compared to other students in graduate schools,” Cielocha said.

Many of the lessons she learned at Peru are ones she instills in her students today. Her advice to students is simple: “Find something you enjoy, but also something that keeps you asking questions.

“I often joke that I never stopped going to school.”

Dr. Joseph Fauver ’13: ‘Dive into curiosities’

Dr. Joseph Fauver wasn’t intending to become a research scientist when he enrolled at Peru State College.

Now, a mere dozen years after graduation, he’s worked in West Africa during the Ebola outbreak, Mexico during the Zika virus epidemic, and worked on COVID-19.

“My career trajectory was set while at PSC working as an undergraduate researcher with Rich and Deb Clopton,” Fauver noted.

“Through their mentorship I was shown what this career could look like.”

Today, Fauver is an assistant professor in the University of Nebraska Med Center Department of Epidemiology. Previously, Fauver was an associate research scientist in Epidemiology and a postdoctoral research associate in the Yale University School of Public Health.

He was also a postdoctoral fellow in Global

Health at Yale University Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, and at the School of Medicine of Washington University in St. Louis.

“The science curriculum at PSC teaches you how to think about the world around you and how to learn,” Fauver said. “The specific skills came when I was further along in my training, but it was this foundation that has been most beneficial to my career success.”

Fauver added, “I knew I wanted to end up at a research-intensive institution while pursuing my Ph.D. and various postdocs, which is where I have wound up. I have been remarkably fortunate to have good mentors and colleagues.”

After leaving Peru State, Fauver attended Colorado State University where he earned his PhD in Microbiology.

“I’ve learned a lot in the decade plus since I left PSC,” Fauver said, noting “infectious diseases aren’t going anywhere, and we need to invest in robust public health systems to help us deal with these challenges.”

Fauver’s research interests are Genomic Epidemiology, Pathogen Genomics, Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Vector-Borne Diseases. To this point, he has published 84 articles.

Dealing with COVID-19 challenges was a major issue at Peru State in the early 2020s, and Fauver stepped up and gave significant time, energy, and counsel to his alma mater as it navigated those uncharted waters.

At the time, few knew of his contributions. In addition to working with Peru State, Fauver collaborated directly with officials of the National Basketball Association and the National Football League, among others.

His counsel to current students exploring their own opportunities at Peru State mirror his own experience.

“The best advice I can give is to pursue your interest,” he said. “Stay curious and take opportunities to dive further into those curiosities. That’s what I did while I was at PSC, and it has paid off.”

continued on page 34

Additional Comments and Editors’ Notes

An interesting tie to this story is that Christen taught Cielocha and Kolman while they were in high school respectively at Southeast Consolidated and Beatrice.

Four of these six were former Bobcat student athletes. Cielocha was one of the top golfers for the women’s program and was named as a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Fauver, Kolman, and Orcutt were all members of the Peru State football team.

Fauver’s time was cut short due to an injury. Kolman was a three-year letter winner and a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Orcutt ended his career as one of the most highly decorated and honored scholar-athletes at Peru State. His career was capped with being named to the 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® and represented the College and football program in the Sugar Bowl.

As we had such a good response to our request for information from many former science alumni, the feature will be continued in the next edition.

Dr. Joanna Cielocha

Dr. Joseph Fauver

Look At These Bobcats Go!

1970s

John Chaney ‘71 of Omaha, formerly of Auburn, Neb., recently retired from the Nebraska State College Systems Board of Trustees after 12 years of service. Peru State College and the Foundation would like to thank John for his many years of service and leadership!

Brothers Dennis ‘75 and Lanny Williams ‘71 and his wife Mary Jane ’93 of Stella and Auburn, Neb., respectively, received the Pioneer Farm Family Award in September. The award was presented by the Aksarben Foundation in partnership with the Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers to the Williams Family Farm for ownership of farmland held by the same family for 100 years.

Vicki (Hall) Beilke ‘72, Masters ‘88 of Stella, Neb., was the 2024 recipient of the William T. Gibble Award from the Child Saving Institute. This award recognizes individuals and faith- based organizations whose work uplifts children and families in the Omaha community.

Dr. Gary Lesoing ‘75 earned the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research Education Hero Recognition in July. Gary served as the Nebraska Extension educator in Nemaha County (Neb.) for over 18 years. Gary and his wife Evey (Heebner)’74 reside in Hickman, Neb.

Lorinda (Frank) Stoddard (attd. mid ‘70s) was inducted into the South Dakota Trapshooting Hall of Fame in July.

Dr. Scott McKercher ‘76 of Harrisburg, S.D., retired from his practice in pediatrics at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, S.D., in August after 41 years of taking care of children. During his time at Sanford, he served as chairman of pediatrics, as well as chairman of the South Dakota section of the American Academy of Pediatrics and as a member of the governor’s health advisory committee. He and his wife, Laurita (Tackett) ‘76 have been married for 48 years.

Foundation Executive Director Ted L. Harshbarger ‘77 of Humboldt, Neb., was humbled to be chosen to crown the royalty at the Richardson County Fair in August. It was especially meaningful for him as his mother Louise (Peterson) Harshbarger (attd. ‘40s) and his sister Rhea (Harshbarger) Spears ’82 were previous queens and he was one of the first escorts in 1973.

Linda (Uher) Kirkendall ‘78 of Falls City, Neb., was named the 2024 St. John Cantius Secondary Educator of the Year award winner in October. Linda recently retired after a teaching career that spanned 46 years at Falls City Sacred Heart.

1980s

Dave Uldrich ’82 of Allen, Neb. coached both boy and girl runners in the NSAA Class D Cross Country State Championships for TCNE (Tri County Northeast).

Lori (Vrtiska) Seibel ’84 of Lincoln, Neb., retired as President and CEO of the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln in December. Lori served as CHE’s leader for 26 years and has been its first and only President and CEO. The CHE named their conference room, the “Lori Seibel Community Room” upon her retirement. Lori serves on the Peru State College Foundation board.

The Branson, Mo., Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau announced their 2024 award winners in July. Craig Martinosky ’83 of Branson, received the Small Business of the Year Award. Craig owns and operates Crazy Craig’s Treehouse, Sports Bar and Grill and the Cheeky Monkey. Craig and his family established businesses that would be geared toward family and community that offered a fun, family atmosphere where customers could feel safe and have a good time. The Martinoskys also provide multiple benefits to their employees including a meal at every shift and yearend bonuses. The Branson Chamber stated the award is given to business owners who “see beyond their own bottom line and remind us of what’s possible with an entrepreneurial spirit in America.”

Shawn Ostransky ’86 of Fullerton, Neb., coached a Fullerton High golfer in the NSAA Class C Girls State Championship.

Brian Levin ’88 of Swisher, Iowa, was named as the interim head coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes Softball program in December. Levin has been with the Hawkeye program for two years and has had a highly successful coaching career. He played both football and baseball for the Bobcats and earned All-American honors as a placekicker in football. Levin is in the Peru State Athletic Hall of Fame.

1990s

Kelly (Tynon) Bequette ’90 and husband Bryan of Nebraska City, Neb., were selected as the 2024 Philanthropists of the Year by the Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund in November. The foundation recognized Bryan for his work on city government and Kelly for her service on the Nebraska City Area Economic Development Board and Nebraska City Creative District.

Lori (Speckman) Broady ’90, Masters ‘03 of Johnson, Neb., accepted a position with the Nebraska State Bar Foundation in July.

Kyle Finke ’90 of Battle Creek, Neb., was an official in the NSAA Class D1 State Football Championship Game.

Sherri Furnas Cottrell ’93 of Auburn, Neb., has a new position as the office and patient coordinator at Psychiatric Medical Care.

Steve Epler ’94 of Auburn, Neb., completed the Nemaha County (Neb.) Leadership Class in August.

Angela (Bischoff) Mandl ’94 of Tecumseh, Neb., is the new business teacher for Nebraska City (Neb.) Public Schools.

Jamie Abbott (attd. mid ‘90s) Lincoln, Neb., received a Junior National Referee patch.

Rachel (Rathe) Goracke ’95 of Sterling, Neb., is the new ag science teacher as well as the provisional FFA sponsor and Jr. High track coach for Sterling (Neb.) Public Schools. This is Rachel’s 30th year of teaching. Rachel’s father Larry Rathe ’63 worked most of his career as an educator and guidance counselor at Sterling.

Daniel King ’96 of Lincoln, Neb., was inducted into the Lincoln High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September.

Tera (Norvell) Stutheit ’96, Masters ’03, of Johnson, Neb., was the director of the Johnson-Brock One-Act Play Team which qualified for the NSAA Class C2 Championship. Her crew finished third.

Misti Munson ’97 of North Branch, Minn., recently began a position as a solar specialist with Wolf River Electric of Isanti, Minn. Munson, a former Bobcat volleyball player, is still playing volleyball twice a week.

Holly (Humm) Riley ’97 of Lincoln, Neb., accepted a position as an office specialist with the Nebraska State Patrol in July.

Sean McLaughlin ’98 of Albuquerque, N.M., recently obtained a new certification: 2025 Trends in Digital Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute.

Teresa Breazile ’99 obtained a new certification in proposal writing boot camp from Candid in August. She and husband Jerry ’96, Masters ’11 live in Lincoln, Neb.

Kendra (Jacobsen) Craven ’99 of Alvo, Neb., is the new board member for The Teen Center. Kendra is the dean of health professions at Nebraska Methodist College. In addition, Craven recently earned her education specialist degree in school superintendency from Doane University. She was a former Bobcat volleyball player.

Kara Engles ’99, Masters ’12 of Syracuse, Neb., is the new elementary special education teacher at Auburn (Neb.) Public Schools. Kara will also serve as the Bulldogs head volleyball coach. Kara’s late mother, Wendy, was a longtime APS teacher and her father, Bob ’73, serves on the Board of Trustees for the Nebraska State College System.

Author, event speaker and podcaster Joy Huber ’99 of Milford, Neb., has been invited to participate in season 15 of The Blox, a competition-based reality TV show that focuses on entrepreneurship. Joy spent

the summer filming in Tulsa, Ok., alongside nearly 100 other entrepreneurs. The season was scheduled to premiere at the end of 2024.

Louie Keim ’99 of Tecumseh, Neb., coached runners in both the boys and girls NSAA Class D Cross Country Championships.

Former Bobcat volleyball player, Kellie (Vallinch) Soloman ’99, of Papillion, Neb., was an assistant coach for Papillion-LaVista South which won the NSAA Class A State Championship.

2000s

Darin Garfield ’01, Masters ’16, of Marquette, Neb., was an assistant coach for Central City which finished second in the NSAA Class C1 State Football Championship.

Drew Davis ’02 of Lincoln, Neb., accepted a position with Auburn (Neb.) Public Schools as middle school and high school choir instructor. Drew will also assist with the spring musical, show choir and one-act play.

Megan (Temme) Howe ’02, Masters ’08 of Humboldt, Neb., and former Peru State assistant softball coach Whitley Albury (attd.) were recognized by Humboldt Table Rock Steinauer (Neb.) Public Schools for completing the requirements of the ESU 4 NCTM Math Project. Megan and Whitley attended the NCTM Math Conference in Chicago and presented at the ESU 4 Engaging Educators Conference in February. Megan and Whitley both teach secondary math at HTRS.

Dr. Matthew McNiff ’02 of Beatrice, Neb., has accepted the position of behavior consultant at Educational Service Unit 5 in Beatrice, Neb.

Kevin Tilson ’02 of Plattsmouth, Neb., is the new dean of students at Plattsmouth High School. Kevin has taught and coached for twenty years in the Plattsmouth school district.

Meghan (Scanlan) Jennings ’03, of Elkhorn, Neb., served as an official for the NSAA State Volleyball Championships. Jennings was the first of three Scanlan sisters to play volleyball at Peru State.

Emily (Maresh) Restau ’03, Masters ’16 of Milford, Neb., led the Milford Eagles into the NSAA Class C1 State Volleyball Tournament. Restau played volleyball and softball and ran cross country at Peru State.

Clayton Seeba ’04 of Kearney, Neb., served as an assistant tennis coach for the Kearney boys tennis team which participated in the NSAA Class A State Boys Championship.

Dustin Bents ’04 of Grimes, Iowa, started a new position as supply chain manager with Hach in September.

Jennifer (Blunt) Brettmann ’04, Masters ’10 of Elmwood, Neb., was promoted to director of people operations at Children’s Nebraska in October.

Jarod Meinheit ’04 of North Platte, Neb., coached participants for Maxwell in the NSAA Class D Cross Country Championships.

Jeremy Barnhill ’05, of Lincoln, Neb., started a new position as co-owner of Maid to Clean Lincoln (Neb.) in September.

Becky (Oetjen) Johnson ’05, Masters ‘18 was awarded a Presidential Volunteer Service Award for nonprofit volunteer service from American Connection Corps - AmeriCorps gathering in Washington D.C. in July.

Tony Johnson ’05, Masters ’07 completed the Nemaha County (Neb.) Leadership Class in August. Tony and his wife Becky reside in Auburn, Neb.

Sara (Holcomb) Paider ’05, Masters ’07 of Kearney, Neb., was appointed as the new director of special education by Kearney (Neb.) Public Schools in November. Sara will begin her new role on July 1.

Nick Weber ’05, of Tecumseh, Neb., coached participants from Johnson County Central in the NSAA Class C State Cross Country Championship.

Cara (DeBuhr) Williams ’05, of Tecumseh, Neb., served as the head coach for the Johnson-Brock Eagles which qualified for the NSAA State Volleyball Class C-2 Tournament. The Eagles finished in third place. Williams was a former Bobcat volleyball player.

Dr. Evi (Steffens) Wusk ’06, Masters ’08 was selected as a speaker for the Nebraska Storytelling Festival held in October in Lincoln, Neb. Evi is an assistant professor in the School of Education at Peru State. Evi is passionate about storytelling, education and making connections through shared experiences. She hosts a podcast “Tell Me a Teaching Story” available on Spotify and Apple podcasts. Evi and her husband Ralph ’06 reside in Sterling, Neb.

Brenda Lutz ’07, ’09, Masters ’18 of Rock Port, Mo., former Peru State athletic department project coordinator is the new assistant athletic director of business and finance in the Department of Athletics at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo.

Jay Rosane ’07, Masters ’17 of Lincoln, Neb., earned his Doctorate in School Administration and Supervision in October.

Dena Beck Masters ’08 of Minden, Neb., accepted a position with NE (Nebraska) Chamber. Dena will serve as regional navigator for the central region through 6 Regions, One Nebraska. Dena was the Peru State College Foundation’s Thousand Oaks Excellence Award winner for Graduate Studies in 2023.

Look At These Bobcats Go!

Robert Brooke ’08 was recognized as a Fellow of Educate Plus in September at its international conference. He is a resident of Auckland, New Zealand.

Shane Ryan ’08 of Greeley, Neb., was an assistant coach for Central Valley which won the NSAA Class D2 State Football Championship. Ryan played football for the Bobcats.

Jared Esquivel (attd. ‘09) started a new position as project consultant at Intra Management Solutions, Inc.

Skyler Johnson ’09 of Omaha, Neb., is the new assistant principal and athletics and activities director at Buffett Middle School in Omaha. Skyler played football for the Bobcats.

Constance Walter Masters ‘09 of Sturgis, S.D., retired as the external affairs project director from Sanford Underground Research Facility last July. Connie worked for the PSC Foundation in the mid-2000s.

Two former Bobcat football players Skyler Johnson ’09 and Fred Whitted ’11 of Omaha, Neb., officiated at the Nebraska Class A state championship football game in Lincoln, Neb., in November. Skyler and Fred were part of the first state final with an all-Black officiating crew.

Kelley (Scanlan) Steele ’09 of Plattsmouth, Neb., was one of the officials for the NSAA State Volleyball Championships. Steele was a former Bobcat volleyball player.

2010s

Chelsea (Bergman) Kuhn ’10 of Ithaca, Neb., started a new position as account manager with Ludi, Inc in July.

Shawn Sherman ’10 of Peru, Neb., is an instructor of criminal justice at Peru State. Sherman serves as a co-advisor of the College’s Criminal Justice Club, Kappa Omicron Rho (KOR), which participated in a regional conference this fall. Sherman earned first place in the physical agility competition for advisers.

Sam Polk ’11 of Spalding, Neb., was an assistant coach at Riverside which finished as runners-up in the NSAA Class D2 State Football Championship.

Andrew Conn ’12 of Bennet, Neb., coached both boys and girls from Palmyra in the NSAA Class C State Championships.

Quentin Edelman ’12 of Sabetha, Kan., started a new position with Albaugh, LLC as the key account manager in August.

Stephanie Holdsworth ’12 of Saint Paul, Neb., received her Master of Business Administration from Wayne (Neb.) State College in August.

Shyriah Marshall ’12, Masters ’15 of Riverview, Minn., completed her PhD from Walden University (Minn.) in December.

Congratulations Dr. Marshall!

Mike Mulroney ’12 of Harrisburg, S.D., started a new position in July as the store manager at Burlington Stores, Inc. in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Samantha (Sheldon) Tanner ’12 of Brock, Neb., is the new preschool teacher for Auburn (Neb.) Public Schools.

Kevin Tighe ’12 of North Platte, Neb., accepted a position as financial planning manager with Nebraska Public Power District in September.

Carrie Trecek ’12 of Bellevue, Neb., has been accepted into the Doctor of Arts program in English Pedagogy and Literature at Murray (Ky.) State University.

Eric Uher ’12, Masters ’17, of Western, Neb., was an assistant coach at Thayer Central which finished second in the NSAA State Volleyball Class C-2 Championship.

Amanda Arnold ’13 of Fulshear, Texas, is the new strategic account executive at Amazon.

Amanda Drier ’13 of Auburn, Neb., has accepted the position of mental health therapist with the Northside Behavioral Health Group.

Brendan Whitted ’13 of Omaha, Neb., started a new position with ADT Security Services as their residential sales representative.

Jon Holtz Masters ’14 of Elkhorn, Neb., was the head coach for the Elkhorn Boys team which participated in the NSAA Boys Class B Tennis Championship.

Brooks Ivey ’14 of Falls City, Neb., has been named the new softball coach for Falls City (Neb.) Public Schools. Brooks was a former softball assistant coach for the Bobcats as a graduate assistant. He also served as the sports information director and assistant softball coach at Graceland University in Iowa.

Amanda (Gilreath) Mancuso ’14 of Omaha was a Special Olympics of Nebraska Volunteer for the NSAA Unified Sports, Bowling State Championships. Mancuso, who works in marketing for the Special Olympics of Nebraska, was a former Bobcat volleyball player.

Rachel (Henry) Halstead ’15 of Lincoln, Neb., accepted a position with Cisco as the partner sales business development manager.

Mallory (Hull) Paben ’15 of Omaha, Neb., has accepted the elementary preschool teacher position at Cedar Hollow Elementary School in Gretna, Neb.

Megan (Carroll) Topete ’15 of Saint Joseph, Mo., was named as the Teacher of the Year for the Mark Twain Early Learning Center which is a part of the Saint Joseph School District.

Angela Zarybnicky ’15 of Maryville, Mo., has been selected to represent the MO-KAN-NE Chapter for EOA’s 2025 Emerging Leader Institute.

Millie Anderson ’16 of Elmwood, Neb., stepped into the role of channel launch project manager at Spreetail in August.

Alaina (Henzel) Coulter ’16, a paralegal 1 with the Lancaster County Attorney’s office, was honored with the July 2024 Commissioners’ Award of Excellence. It was noted that her dedication, willingness to assist, and ability to meet urgent needs highlight her strong commitment to the team and the office’s success. Alaina has worked for Lancaster County for five years.

Janessa Davis ’16 of Elmwood, Neb., received her State of Nebraska license as a mental health practitioner in November.

Melissa “Cecilia” Jasso ’16 of Washington D.C. is the new deputy director of project management at Teal Media. Teal Media is a full-service creative agency which serves nonprofits and mission driven organizations.

Ama Bikoko ’17 of Omaha, Neb., presented at the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiology national conference in July.

Michell Kaiser ’17 of Nebraska City, Neb., has earned a new certification of APMP Bid and Proposal Management Foundation 2024 from APMG International.

Trae Ramer ’17, Masters ’19 of Clay Center, Neb., was an assistant coach for the NSAA Football State Champions – the Sandy Creek Cougars. Trae played football for Peru State.

Dylan Reinhardt ’17 of Colman, S.D., started a new position as director of catechesis and evangelization at the Queen of Peace Pastorate Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D.

Matthew Sontag ’17 Miami, Fla., started a new position as luxury travel specialist with Keene Luxury Travel in September.

Jacob Coughlin ’18, Masters ’21, of Kansas City, Mo., started a new position as executive producer at Platinum XP in August.

Jennifer DeBord Masters ’18 of Kearney, Neb., has accepted the elementary principal position at Axtell Community School in Axtell, Neb.

Brianna Pfeiffer ’18, Masters ’21 of Brock, Neb., is the new third grade teacher at Johnson Brock (Neb.) Public Schools.

Codi Sailors ’18, Masters ’22 of Brownville, Neb., completed the Nemaha County (Neb.) Leadership Class in August.

Anthony De Abreu ’19 of Papillion, Neb., accepted a position with Circle as a financial integrity analyst in October.

Devin Adams (attd. ’19-23) was a candidate for the Canadian Football League 2024 rookie of the year. The former Bobcat All-American played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Chaz Dunn ’19, ’22 of Lincoln, Neb., took home the Bill Simon Memorial Cup as the men’s scratch club champion at the Falls City (Neb.) Country Club in August. This is Chaz’s second club championship.

Cam Schlender ’19 of Denver, Colo., was promoted to manager of propagation at PharmaCann Inc. in November.

Marissa (Wusk) Vinsky ’19 of Johnson, Neb., received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction–early childhood education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in August.

2020s

Amanda Cole ’20 of Lincoln, Neb., former Peru State office assistant in Admissions, was promoted to CTE Grant specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education. Amanda will be collaborating with school districts across the state, as well as joining an administration team to oversee the Perkins V Funds and State CTE grant funds.

Noah Kasbohm ’20 of Omaha, Neb., started a new position at Syracuse Area Health as a clinical pharmacist.

Jessica (Merrill) Marra ’20 of Remsen, Iowa, completed a six-month selfdevelopment program thru WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. in October. Jessica a was chosen by Staples Promotional Products to participate in the program.

Former Bobcat volleyball player Hannah Sexton ’20 of Lincoln, Neb., was an assistant coach for Lincoln Southwest which qualified for the NSAA Class A Volleyball State Tournament.

Former Bobcat football player Jordan Willis ’20 of Denver, Colo., was named to the 2024 Premier Flag Football Federation All Pro Team in October.

Delonte Hood attd. ’21 recently resigned with the Arlington Renegades football team after being waived by the Arizona Cardinals. Hood was one of the top cornerbacks in the XFL in 2024.

Taylor (Finke) Loudner ’21, Masters ’23 of Omaha served as an assistant coach for Gretna which had a participant in the NSAA Class B Girls Golf State Championship.

Sohail Mohsini ’21 of Brentwood, Calif., accepted a position with LinkedIn as an account executive in October.

Destiny (Maguire) Okpalefe ’21 of Omaha is enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program at Louisiana State University.

Panashe Jacha ’22 of Omaha started a new position as program director/case manager at Christian Outreach Program in Elkhorn, Neb., in October.

Henry Lickteig ’22 of Auburn, Neb., former assistant director of residence life and student activities and director of club sports and intramurals at Peru State, is the new coordinator of intramurals club sports and recreation at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo.

Blake Petersen ‘22 graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, in May with a Master of Science degree in exercise physiology. Blake is currently a strength and conditioning coach in Bradenton, Fla.

Gretchen Tharp ’22 of Owensville, Mo., accepted a promotion to assistant director at Crawford (Mo.) County Library District in September. In August, Gretchen started her second semester at the University of Missouri where she is working toward her master’s degree in library and information science.

Keyon Henry-Brooks attd. ’23 recently was signed to play for the Bay Area Panthers of San Jose, Calif., in the Indoor Football League. The Panthers’ season will start March 20, 2025.

Austin Martin ’23 of Salem, Neb., received his Master of Science in Education degree from Northwest Missouri State University in September.

Will Mueller ’23 of Springdale, Ark., accepted a position of universal banker with Generations Bank in October.

Cheyenne (Leach) Pinyan ’23 of Lincoln, Neb., accepted a position with Beatrice (Neb.) Public Schools as an elementary art teacher.

Marcus Ackley ’24 of Auburn, Neb., began teaching in the Sabetha, Kan., Public Schools in January. Ackley is teaching freshman and senior English, Yearbook, and Reading Intervention.

Carlos Austin ’24 of Raymore, Mo., successfully completed the process coach training in October and is now a plant process coach for Ford Motor Company at the Kansas City Ford assembly plant.

Reagan Connelly ’24 of Auburn, Neb., is the new reporter for The Pawnee Republican. While attending Peru State, Reagan interned for Senator Pete Ricketts and State Senator Julie Slama.

David Earhart ‘24 York, Neb., accepted the position of project analyst with Cyclonaire, Inc. David noted that without the help of the scholarship he received from the PSC Foundation his goal of achieving a college degree would not have been possible.

Azlyn Fendrick ’24 of Lincoln, Neb., accepted a position with the Nebraska State Patrol as a program analyst.

Look At These Bobcats Go!

Former Bobcat volleyball player, Sidney Peck ’24, is attending Harding University in Searcy, Ark. Sidney is seeking her master’s in strength and conditioning and is serving as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach while working with the softball, volleyball, and tennis teams.

Elaina Riley ’24 of Auburn, Neb., accepted a position with 6 News WOWT in Omaha as a digital producer/anchor.

Brett Soderlund ’24 accepted a position at Auburn (Neb.) Public Schools as a second grade teacher and assistant volleyball coach.

Isabella Watkins ’24 of Omaha, Neb., launched an online boutique, styled by paige, in August. The boutique offers clothing and accessories that can be viewed at styledbypaigeboutique.com.

Friends

Former Peru State head women’s basketball coach, Joan Albury, of Bonifay, Fla., was recognized by Union Commonwealth University (Ky.). Joan was Union’s former head volleyball coach when the program was established in 1992. Joan guided the Bulldogs to a 25-13 record in the program’s first campaign.

Former football coaching assistant Drew Burnham is the new receivers/special teams coach at Cisco College (Texas).

Mike Carr serves as the workforce liaison between Peru State College and the Tecumseh Correctional Center. Carr is a co-advisor for KOR – Kappa Omicron Rho – a student criminal justice organization on campus. KOR recently competed in regional competition and Carr finished in third place in the advisers’ physical agility competition.

McKeesport, Pa., native William Fields is the new defensive coordinator for the Ottawa (Ontario) Redblacks football team. William was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Bobcats in the early ’20s.

Dale Kelly of Thomasville, Ga., started a new position as a history teacher at Brookwood School in Thomasville, Ga.

Former cheer coach Robin Jensen of Westfield, Mass., retired from her position of executive director for the St. Mary’s parish and church in November.

Former director of residence life Cory Moen started a new position as academic advisor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln in November.

In June, Jennifer Rieken, former vice president of administration and finance at Peru State, accepted a position with the Nebraska State Education Association as the director of business services. Jennifer resides in Lincoln, Neb.

Former long-time athletic trainer Vickie Thomason recently completed her nursing program and began working at the Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn as a LPN in the surgical and emergency room departments.

Former Peru State assistant professor of education and technology coordinator Dr. Spencer Vogt obtained a NMHS certification form Canvas Credentials.

Dwight Wininger, a Peru native and former radio “Voice of the Bobcats,” started a new position as vice president, government and regulatory affairs at ALLO Fiber in October. He is a resident of Laveen, Ariz.

Faculty & Staff

The Kimmel Gallery at the MortonJames Public Library in Nebraska City, Neb., hosted an art exhibition of works by Susan Moore, associate professor of art at Peru State, in July. Susan’s collection title “Sumptuous Indulgence” is a translation of the anticipation of the first bite and fleeting sensations. Moore’s artwork was also displayed in Northwestern (Iowa) College’s Te Paske Gallery October through December. “Sugar Coated” features hyperrealistic oil paintings that provide stunning portraits of food. Susan lives in Peru, Neb.

Two Peru State faculty members presented research papers at the Northern Great Plains History Conference in Sioux Falls, S.D., in September. Dr. Kathi Nehls, associate professor of history, contributed her research with a paper titled “Seaman Knapp: Architect of the Modern Administrative State.” Dr. Jason Phillips, also an associate professor of history, presented his paper titled “A Tale of Two Women, Nebraska 1986: Kay Orr vs. Helen Boosalis in America’s First All-Female Gubernatorial Election.”

Two students and an alum also attended the conference. President of the Phi Alpha Theta History Club, Caleb Kozeny, attended and sophomore Lucas Hrabik of Louisville, Neb., and Becky Hupp ’24 presented papers.

Jeremiah Villeneuve of Peru, Neb., facility services employee, completed the Nemaha County (Neb.) Leadership Class in August.

Get a promotion? New job? Retire? Got an idea for a Stater story?

Send suggestions and news items to: The Peru State PSC Foundation PO Box 10 Peru NE. 68421 Or call (402) 872-2304 Or email pscfoundation@peru.edu

Wanted: Lost Alums, Class of ‘95

We hope you can help put the following members of the Class of ’95 back on the mailing list for the Peru Stater.

Help us update our records by sending information on any of the following. You can reach us by email at pscfoundation@peru.edu, by phone at 402-872-2304 weekdays, or by mail at Peru State College Foundation, PO Box 10, Peru, Neb. 68421-0010.

Paul Alexander

Kelly (Moore) Anderson

Machelle Arends

Lucy Bailey

Andrew Beckford

Kimberly Beebee

Amy (Hartgrave) Blech

Amy Bremers

Jo Britt

Stephen Case

Rose Claassen

Randy Edelmaier

Linda Estes

April Friedrichsen

Patricia Fugitt

Michael Galloway

Jeffrey Harris

William Hellman

Judith (Emerson) Jackard

Terri Jackson

Keri Jensen

Margaret Kelley

Kori Konopka

Derek Kretsinger

Jennifer Laflin

Daniel LaJoie

Wendy Livingston

William Muldoon

Yvette Neyland

Robert Perkins

Steven Ramer

Nikeesia Ranson

Stacy Sawyer

Dennis Schmidt

Christopher Schock

Dan Sloey

Laural Smith

Benjamin Smith

Kristy Snethen

Deborah (Trammell) Steere

Kent Stutheit

Heather (Cohrs) Stutheit

Lester Thompson

Ruth (McGuire) Varner

Mary (Sughroue) Weber

Debra Wherry

Randal Wymore

Verna Zaruba

Bobcats in Love! Bobcat Babies! Bobcats We Will Miss...

Bobcats In Love!

James Endorf ’96 and Lisa Caprelli were married in July.

Rhonda Lotter ’98, Masters ’15 and Mark Burch were married in August.

Wade Coulter ’08 and Alaina Henzel ’16 were married in July in Lincoln, Neb.

Sydney Wilkinson (attd. ’12-‘16) and Chelsey Sollars were married in November.

Matthew Ryan ’09 and Cherie Teague were married in August.

Derek Julian ’18 and Hannah Brust were married in November.

Elizabeth Robine ’18 and Kevin Valentine were married in July.

Elly Lempka ’20 and current PSC student DeShawn Phelps were married in November in Texas.

Rozlyn Cole ’20 and Ryan McNeall were married in October.

Isabelle Vanderneck (attd. early ’20s) and Mason Clobes ’22 were married in May. Isabelle was in the Rural Health Opportunities Program while at Peru and graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is currently a registered nurse at Altru Health System and Mason is a doctoral student at the University of North Dakota.

Mitchell Leininger ’21 and Jessiann Wiedmann were married on New Year's Day in Michigan. Mitchell is in his last semester of physical therapy school at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo.

Alyssa Brink ’22 and Nick Herron were married in August. She is teaching second grade in Fairfax, Mo.

Cade Heywood ’22 and Tyler Michelle Gernhard were married in Rock Port, Mo. in June.

Kristi Baker ’95, Masters ’00 and Robert Rasmussen were married in August.

Mattie Nichols ’23 and Garrison Dodge ‘24 were married in September in Adams, Neb.

Alison Hill (attd. mid ’00s) and Juliane Glasco welcomed a baby girl. Drue Cameron was born in September.

Micheal Macias ’05 and wife Brittany are proud parents of a baby girl. Raedyn Rosita was welcomed home by her big sisters in September.

Kyle ’10 and Alyssa (Mangum) Kidd ’11, master’s ’14 are the proud parents of Aspen Noelle who arrived in December. She has been welcomed home by big brothers Apollo and Khale.

Elizabeth (McKim) Ericson ’11 and husband Kaleb are proud parents of a baby boy. Colson David was born in September.

Kendra (Kratz) ’11 and Kyle Fredrickson ’12 are proud parents of a baby boy, Jasper Rye. Jasper was born in October and was welcomed home by proud big brother Lennox.

Jared ’11 and Rachel (Rippe) ’12 Meiergerd are the proud parents of a baby boy, Jace Geoffrey, who arrived on Christmas Eve. Jace is welcomed home by sister, Rory Mae. Rachel was a former Bobcat volleyball player and is one of the designers for The Stater.

Brooke (Earnest) ’14 and Dustin Gerdes ’16 are proud parents of a baby girl. Morgan Lynn joined the family, including big sister Kinsley, in October. Morgan’s grandfather is Peru State College Foundation board member Mike Gerdes ’88 and her greatgrandfather is Marvin Gerdes ’53 of Auburn.

Matt Buckley ’13 and wife Jayme welcomed a baby boy. Brecken James was born in June. Brecken’s great grandma is former long-time Peru State employee Barb George.

Alicia (Petak) ’14 and Jake Schaben ’13 are proud parents of a baby girl. Margot Judith was welcomed home by big sister and brother Murphy and Rhett.

Courtney (Ward) Weaver ’13 and husband Steven welcomed a baby girl. Sophia was born in July.

Alex Wessels ’15 and wife Taylor of Plattsmouth, Neb., are proud parents of a baby girl in December. Older sister Viola was incredibly happy to welcome baby sister Ivy Sue into their family.

Shannon (Liewer) Fisher ’16 and husband Kelton of Imperial, Neb., are proud parents of a baby boy. Callahan James arrived in October and was welcomed home by his big sister. Cal’s grandparents are Mike ’81 and Cindy ’06 Liewer.

Holly (Kurz) ’17 and Joe Hobert ’17 welcomed a baby boy. Jaxon Dean arrived in August.

Nicolas Lechtenberg ’18 and wife Cassie are proud parents of a baby girl. Maisie Dawn was born in October.

Ashlyn (Draper) Martin ’18 and husband Blaine welcomed a baby boy to their family. Zander was born in September.

Rian (Kirby) ’18 and husband Andrew Robinson ’18 welcomed Casey James in October.

Keri (Bensheimer) Wilhelm ’20 and husband Kyle are proud parents of a baby boy. Brendan Krug arrived in November and was welcomed home by big sister Charli and big brother Case.

Olivia (Welch) ’22 and husband Brandon Sullivan ’21 welcomed a baby girl to their family. Addelyn Dorothy was born in November.

Mike Lombardi ‘22 and wife Taylor are proud parents of a baby girl. Gia Lynn arrived in August.

Addie (Gyhra) ’22 and Noah Wynn ’22 of Syracuse, Neb., welcomed a baby boy. Wells Anthony was born in December. Well’s Gammie is former Peru State Foundation employee Amy Wynn ’01, ’03.

Jaelynn (Muhr) ’23 and Matthew Leininger ’24 are proud parents of a baby boy. Mordecai James arrived in August. Mordecai’s grandma, Becky Leininger is the project coordinator in the Peru State registrar’s office.

Staff

Head baseball coach Blake Beaber and wife Amie are proud parents of a baby girl. Sutton Banks was born in September.

Peru State’s associate athletic director Ashley Baldassarre and husband Kyle are proud parents of a baby girl. Barbara Emery joined the family in December.

Head volleyball coach Madison Kindle and assistant men’s basketball coach Reggie Kindle are the parents of Kayne James who arrived in December.

Friends

Former men’s basketball assistant coach Jeremy Esry and wife Whitney welcomed a baby boy. Wells Scott made his arrival in November.

Former men’s basketball assistant coach Andy McMahon and wife Kells are proud parents to a baby boy named Callahan. Cal joined the family in November.

Bobcats We Will Miss… 1940s

Helen (Stoddard) Mordhorst ’40 of Nebraska City, Neb., passed away in October at the age of 104. Helen taught school for 39 years, with 36 of those years in the Omaha Public School System.

Helen (Mastin) Moody ’42 of Auburn, Neb., passed away in August. Helen enjoyed reading, traveling, music, cards, and good conversations.

Eleanor “Judy” (Biere) Parish ’44 of Montrose, Colo., passed away in July.

Norman Denenberg ’45 of Omaha passed away in June. Norman was a WWII veteran and deputy district attorney. He was a PSC Hall of Fame team inductee.

Irene (Russell) Fankhauser (attd. mid ‘40s) passed away in July. Irene and her husband owned and operated Chief Drug in Tecumseh, Neb. They were also extras in the mini-series AMERIKA filmed in Tecumseh in 1987.

Dr. William Mannschreck (attd. mid ‘40s) of Lewiston, Idaho, passed away in May. Bill served in the U.S. Navy. He attended Peru State as a member of the V-5/V-12 program. Bill played football for the Bobcats and was a Hall of Fame team inductee.

Dorthy (Burrows) Young ’45 of Adams, Neb., passed away in March. Dorothy was a dedicated, committed educator.

Dorothy (Baldwin) Aufenkamp ’46, formerly of Julian, Neb., passed away in July.

Frances (Grossoehme) Andrew ‘47 of Bentonville, Ark., passed away in February.

Nelle (Runyan) Pfister ‘47 of Falls City, Neb., passed away in June. She was well known for making her own wine called Whoa Nelle.

Marian (Rutledge) Elwonger ‘48 of Lynnwood, Wash., passed away in January. Marian was a medical records manager.

Vivian (LeCure) Lowe '48 of LaGrange, Ga., passed away in March.

Roy Meinen ’48 of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away in November. Roy served in the U.S. Army. He owned and operated an insurance and financial services business for over 50 years, including ventures in the oil and gas industry, as well as real estate. Roy played basketball for the Bobcats and was a Hall of Fame team inductee.

Dorothy Jane (Bippes) Coatney (attd. late ‘40s) of Las Vegas, Nev., passed away in August.

Dolores (Wittstock) Somer (attd. late 40s) of Papillion, Neb. passed away in July.

1950s

D. Babette (Kempton) Marten ’50 of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away in June. Babs was a lifelong educator.

Marilou (Warner) Wohlfarth ’50 formerly of Webster, Wis., passed away in May.

Delbert Littrell ’51 of Surprise, Ariz., passed away in September. Del served in the U.S. Navy and had a lengthy career in education. Del was an avid reader, incredibly handy around the house and lived a life filled with purpose and love.

Beverly (Houser) Coatney ’52 of Peru, Neb., passed away in November.

Eunice (Freed) Hartman ’52 of Glenwood, Iowa, passed away in July.

Word has been received that Thomas Bosworth ’54 of Pensacola, Fla., has passed away. Tom served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years and was stationed around the world as a Captain in naval communications. Tom is survived by his wife of 68 years Leta Rae ’56. Dr. Pete Karabatsos ’55 of Larkspur, Colo., passed away in March. Pete spent his entire career in the field of education.

Gay (Percival) Mason (attd. mid ‘50s) of Lincoln, Neb., passed away in November. Mason attended Peru State and received her associate’s degree. After marriage, she was a clerk at Family Drug in Lincoln.

Nancy (Taggart) Winseman ‘57 of Omaha passed away in May. Nancy had a 30-year teaching career.

Word has been received that Cloyce Abel ’59 of Campbellsville, Ky., has passed away. Jon Appleget ‘59 formerly of Fremont, Neb., passed away in August. Jon was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball, and track at Peru State. Jon had a storied coaching career. As head coach, Jon won two cross country and five track and field state championships. He was a five-time Nebraska Coaches Association Coach of the Year and the 1986 Omaha World Herald Coach of the Year. Jon was inducted into multiple Hall of Fames. The Fremont Public School named the track and field facility Appleget Field in his honor.

Leroy “Lee” Buchholz ’59 of Washington, Iowa, passed away in December. Lee was an educator and was simply known as Mr. B. After retiring he taught English as a second language at Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College. Lee also worked as a substitute teacher in the Washington Community School District until October 2024.

Wilma (Schroeder) Nelson (attd. late ‘50s) of Westminster, Colo., passed away in July.

(continued on page 20)

Bobcat Babies…

Bobcats We Will Miss...

1960s

Carol Ellenberger ’60, formerly of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away in December. Carol had a career in education and social work.

Milan Hawxby ’60 of Montrose, Colo., passed away in July. Milan enjoyed hunting, camping, feeding birds and making bird houses. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Carolyn ’61.

Robert Fisher ’61 of Hebron, Neb., passed away in October. Bob taught history for 33 years and was passionate about coaching.

James Joy Sr. (attd. ’61) of Stella, Neb., passed away in July. Jim was well respected for his work ethic, dependability, and loyalty.

Gerald Bippes ’62 of Norfolk, Neb., passed away in November. Jerry had a 30-year career in education.

Galen Conn ’63 of DeWitt, Neb., passed away in October. Galen taught and coached for 38 years at Tri-County (Neb.) High School. He loved the outdoors and spent countless hours camping, fishing, and boating.

Linda (Risley) Lawlor ’63 of Topeka, Kan., passed away in July. Linda had a passion for teaching and had a fulfilling career as an elementary school teacher.

Joseph Perina ’64 of Omaha passed away in June. Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years Susan ’63.

Darlene (Elliott) Wright ’64 formerly of Peru, Neb., passed away in July. Darlene had many passions, two of which were gardening and landscaping.

Donald Bates (attd. mid 60’s) of Elk Creek, Neb., passed away in June. Don owned and operated a mechanic shop.

Diane (Kennedy) Berlett ’66 of Plattsmouth, Neb., passed away in November. She taught for 39 years – seven in Plattsmouth and 32 years in Bellevue. She was actively involved in many community activities including the Cass County Historical Society, the Friends of the Library, and the Eagles Auxiliary.

Marvin Hopper ’66 of Kansas City, Kan., passed away in October. Marvin had a 40-year career with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a research chemist. He played basketball for the Bobcats and is a Hall of Fame team inductee. Marvin is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years Phyllis ’66.

James Jennings ’66 of Council Bluffs, Iowa, passed away in August. James played basketball for the Bobcats.

Karen (Hoemann) Lester ’68 of Tarkio, Mo., passed away in July. Karen worked as a teacher and bookkeeper.

Vera (Piper) Rieken ‘68 of Johnson, Neb., passed away in September. Vera taught school for over 20 years.

Gloria (Walker) Schmit ’68 of Steinauer, Neb., passed away in December. Gloria’s teaching career spanned 42 years. She and her husband of 54 years enjoyed traveling as snowbirds with their truck and camper.

Kent Dorste ’69 of Auburn, Neb., passed away in April. Kent was a talented carpenter and wood worker. He made over 300 Intarsia projects. Kent was also fascinated with flying machines and learned to fly in 1990.

Margaret Egger ’69 of Nebraska City, Neb., passed away in July. Margaret taught school and worked at local grocery stores.

Timothy Hendricks ’69 of Omaha, Neb., passed away in September. Tim was the head coach for the University of Nebraska at Omaha women’s cross country and track teams. During his career, the women’s team won the National Championships five times. He was named Conference Coach of the Year five times. Personally, Tim was a successful marathon and cross country runner and earned numerous titles. He ran for the U.S. Navy during his enlistment. Tim qualified for and competed in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He finished second in the 1976 marathon at the U.S. Track and Field Championships. Tim ran cross country for the Bobcats. He and his team finished third at the NAIA National Championships in 1965. That team was inducted into the Peru State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Jayne (Wymore) Marsh ’69 of Council Bluffs, Iowa, passed away in July. Jayne had a long teaching career.

Viola Rave-Snake LaPointe (attd. late ‘60s) of Winnebago, Neb., passed away in September.

1970s

Jim Beatty (attd. early ‘70s) of Lees Summit, Mo., passed away in July. He was an electrical engineer and was employed by Bendix-Honeywell in the aerospace division for 30 years. Jim is survived by his wife of 48 years Barb ’75.

Barney Danklesen (attd. early ‘70s) of Central City, Neb., passed away in November.

Bruce Quist (attd. early ‘70s) of Chesapeake Beach, Md., passed away in November.

Ronda (Craig) Johnson ’71 of Nebraska City, Neb., passed away in September. She taught for 35 years for Nebraska City Public Schools.

Thomas Kunkel ’71 of Hastings, Neb., passed away in October. Tom served as a Marine in Vietnam. He was a lifelong learner, his passion was helping others learn as a science teacher, principal, and superintendent. Known as a “car guy” Tom restored many cars. Tom is survived by his wife of 55 years Nancy ’69.

Steven Stemper ’72 of Omaha passed away in September. A native of Peru, Steve served in the National Guard and worked as an insurance agent and investment broker. He was an avid basketball fan and played the game into his 70s. He was the son of longtime Peru State teacher and coach Jerry and Elsie Stemper.

Stanley Ohnmacht ’73 of Nebraska City, Neb., passed away in July. Stan served the community of Nebraska City as a police officer for 26 years.

Carol (Zorn) Wheeler ’74 of Auburn, Neb., passed away in August. Carol and her husband Dennis built numerous businesses in Auburn. The Wheelers also founded a no-kill animal shelter, Hearts United for Animals, in the early 90s. Under her leadership, HUA has grown into a nationally recognized animal welfare organization.

Nancy (Golden) Wurtele ’74 of Nebraska City, Neb., passed away in November. She was a beloved art teacher at Nebraska City High School.

Janice Johnson ’75 of Shenandoah, Iowa, passed away in June. Jan loved reading and watching movies.

Mike Rowell (attd. mid ‘70s) of Robinson, Kan., passed away in October.

Judy (Martin) Pettigrew ’78 of St. Edward, Neb., passed away in October. Judy collected salt and pepper shakers; her collection reached nearly 2,000 in number.

George Weiland ’79 of Decatur, Neb., passed away in July. George taught at Omaha Nation Public Schools for 35 years.

1980s

Marlen (Gates) Houtwed ’85 of Ruskin, Neb., passed away in July. Marlene taught school for many years.

Teresa (Wiese) Keyes (attd. mid ‘80s) of Springfield, Neb., passed away in August.

Tom Gilbert ’87 of Ankeny, Iowa, passed away in October. Tom worked for Northern Natural Gas for 35 years.

Joann (Hollesen) McRell ’89 of Emporia, Kan., passed away in July. Joann was a teacher and coached volleyball.

Janice (Crow) Godinez ’89 of Weirton, W.V., passed away in June.

1990s

Tony Martin ’90, formerly of Nebraska City, Neb., passed away in November. Tony had an extensive career in the banking industry.

Eric Finke (attd. ’90–’95) of Riverton, Iowa, passed away in July. Eric was an avid outdoorsman.

Deborah “Deb” Breuer ’99 of Auburn, Neb., passed away in September. Deb was a math teacher and worked alongside her husband Dave at Auburn Chiropractic Clinic where she managed the business aspects of the office. Deb enjoyed crafting and was a huge fan of Elvis.

2000s

Mary (Hauptman) Dezort ’00 of Crab Orchard, Neb., passed away in August.

Stephen Spires ’01 of Ocala, Fla., passed away in December. Stephen served in the U.S. Airforce for 26 years.

Tommy Aldana ’04 of Nebraska City, Neb., passed away in July. Tommy worked for Budweiser as a sales representative. Tommy played football and baseball for the Bobcats. After graduation he played football for the Omaha Beef. Tommy coached his sons, Jaydin and Gavin, in many youth sports.

David Mooberry ’04 of Lincoln, Neb., passed away in June. David was a voracious reader and collector, specializing in Fred Stone equine prints.

Friends

Mary Joyce Hanson of Minneapolis, Minn., passed away in August. Mary is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, former Peru State president and first lady Dan and Elaine Hanson.

Richard “Dick” Newman of Lincoln, Neb., passed away in September. “Sarge” taught and was an assistant football coach at Peru from 1986-88 and maintained many friendships with his former players and colleagues at Peru for the rest of his life.

WW II Vet White Goings Jr. At Last Comes Home to Rest

After more than eight decades, World War II veteran White Goings Jr. finally came home to rest in peace.

Goings was a Peru native who attended Peru State from 1938-40 before enlisting in the Army. He died in 1942 on the island of Luzon in the Philippines and was buried there. DNA testing finally confirmed his remains, and he was reinterred last July in Glenrock Cemetery in his native Nemaha (Neb.) County.

Born on a farm south of Peru and a 1938 graduate of Peru Prep, Goings enrolled at Peru State for two years. After joining the Army in March 1940 prior to the outbreak of hostilities, he was assigned to its Army Air Corps 93rd Bombardment squadron.

Goings eventually was stationed at Clark Air Base on the Philippine island of Luzon. He was there on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered the war. Within hours, Clark Field also was under attack by Japanese bombers. By the end of the month, most of Goings’ squadron was relocated to Australia, but he and others stayed behind for the defense of Luzon, moving to the Bataan peninsula. Within two months, U.S. forces there surrendered.

Goings was among the POWs imprisoned at Camp Cabanatuan, and it was there in July 1942 that he reportedly died of malaria. Finally, 82 years and one week later, he was buried back home, with full military honors.

White Goings Jr.

Bobcat Brushstrokes: Rediscovering Peru State Through Art and Family

By Evi Wusk, Ed.D. (PSC ’06, Masters ’08)

My mom was a Peru student. I was a Peru student. Now, I am an assistant professor in the School of Education.

Recently, my mom, Holly (Barter) Steffens ’79, and I have been exploring The Artist’s Way, a book and 12-week course aimed at freeing creativity. One of the book’s challenges is to go on a weekly “Artist’s Date,” a solo outing to “fill the well” with new experiences or images through something spontaneous or creative.

Although it’s meant to be a solo activity, one of my favorite “dates” was shared with my mom, blending art, Peru State, and time together.

The day began with painting. As usual, I was in a hurry, rushing to get something down that was colorful–and done. For some reason, I am always such a go-go-go person. I painted two pieces in my mom’s dining room.

During that time, she painted two as well, but her slower pace and careful strokes annoyed me a bit. When we finished, my daughter pointed out that my mom’s paintings looked more like a “real artist’s.”

A date with Sherwoods

After laughing at the truth of this slight, I got thinking about how my mom had taken art classes at Peru. One of her favorite professors was the late Dr. Leland “Shorty” Sherwood ‘57. In the impromptu spirit of an artist date, we got to wondering about some of his paintings.

Following that creative impulse, we set off from her farmhouse outside of Auburn and headed to campus.

We met Ted Harshbarger ‘77 in the Foundation Office, and he guided us to a back room where some of Dr. Sherwood’s paintings are stored. My mom and I crouched down, moved a chair, and spent a chunk of the afternoon sifting through the collection.

There were finished pieces, studies, unfinished works–bits of paper where he’d clearly been experimenting and hadn’t completed. I was amazed by the sheer number. I wasn’t sure exactly what we were looking for, but by the end, I knew we had found it: inspiration from one man’s remarkable dedication to his craft.

As we turned paper after paper, my mom started reminiscing, telling stories from her courses with Dr. Sherwood, smiling at how he would encourage students with his gentle way. He painted the campus often, his works capturing the brick buildings against the trees and nature surrounding them. Many framed examples decorate buildings on campus.

Meticulously rendered

Before that day, I might have said all bricks looked alike–but not in a Sherwood painting. Each brick was meticulously rendered in watercolor, uniquely shaded and shaped. He was careful to think ahead and preserve the white he needed in the final piece.

It might sound silly, but he really saw bricks, and from our conversation, I could tell that he also saw teaching as he provided life-changing educational experiences in his classroom. Because of him, I see bricks better, I know my mom better, and I look at our campus with new eyes.

Driving in this morning, with fall settling onto Peru, I noticed the tree on the right that

always blushes the brightest orange. A new faculty member parked next to me, and I said, “Aren’t the trees pretty this time of year?” She agreed, and as we walked the steps up to the back of T.J. Majors, with crunching leaves blowing under our feet, I thought of how this place has been witness to years of learning, growth, and connections.

Peru is this unique mix of nature and academics, where small-town life combines with big ideas.

As a student, I loved the opportunity to be involved in so many activities. As a professor, I am repeatedly struck by this place–by its people, its rich history, and the way my mom smiles recalling her professors and the things they painted together.

I get that same feeling when I think back to a class with Dr. Bill Clemente, Dr. Sara Crook, Dr. Dan Holtz, and many others. I smile thinking of how Dr. Bill Snyder’s voice echoes across a room, somehow containing his smile.

They were faculty in different areas than art, but I feel that same Bobcat pride when I think of the things we wrote and read together. I may have always been a go-go-go person, but Peru State has a way of slowing me down, reminding me of the power of education, and its ability to connect us even after all this time.

Four current members of the administrative team at Plattsmouth (Neb.) High School are Peru State graduates.

From left to right: Todd Halvorsen '85 - Principal, Tina Harvey Masters '05 - Assistant Principal/Academy Facilitator, Luke Chadwell '09 - Activities Director, and Kevin Tilson '03 - Dean of Students

Holly and Evi reminisce about their PSC days and enjoy a couple of Sherwood watercolors

Honor Roll of Donors

Proudly Presenting the 2024 Peru State College Honor Roll of Donors

Each year we give thanks and recognition to the many alumni and friends of Peru State College who support students, faculty, and staff with their gifts. These people, along with many organizations, also included here, make an enormous difference in the lives of PSC students.

The following list reflects gifts received during the 2024 calendar year ending December 31 and who have not requested anonymity. While we strive to make it complete and accurate, errors and omissions do occur. If you believe you were inadvertently left off the list, or have any other corrections, please reach out to us in any of the following ways.

1940s

Nelda (Lynch) Peterson '42

Marian (Hunzeker) Smith '46

Lloyd '49 & Mary (Becker) '55 Hunzeker

Duane Jones '49

1950s

Kenneth Wolford '50

Barbara (Bragg) Clayburn '51

Jim Finkle '51

Charles Carlos Harrison '51

Verne Meier '51

Sherry (Clites) Penney '51

Grace Pfister '51

Otto Rath '51

Tom '53 & Patricia (Sailing) '53

Hopkins

Regina (Stander) Colbert '54

Gordon Carmichael '55

John Christ '55

Marilyn (Hawxby) Clements '55

Phyllis (Constant) Didleau '55

Greta (Evers) Holscher '55

Mary (Becker) '55 & Lloyd '49 Hunzeker

William '55 & Laverna (Roos) '61 Sayer

Bertis '56 & Georgia (Bauer) '56 Adams

Leta (Stucker) Bosworth '56

Phyllis Groves

Lois (Puppe) McMullen '56

C. Ann (Fellows) Moore '56

Charles '56 & Vickie (Lecure) '71 Pickering

John '56 & Gera (Powers) '55 Stilwell

Betty (Neil) Barrett '57

Keith Johnson '57

Harlan Oestmann '57

Fred Rothert '57

Mary (Nutzmen) Wenninghoff '57

Muriel (Rieke) Docker '58

Ray '58 & Patricia Ehlers

Robert Norvell '58

Marjorie (Peckham) '58 & Trimaine Scribner

Marilyn (Davison) Urwin '58

Francia (Larson) Witt '58

Ralph '59 & Kathy Aranza

Robert '59 & Mary (Riley) '66 Bohlken

Virginia (Ferguson) '59 & Richard Meyerkorth

Pauline (Kish) Osterholm '59

Jean (Ruyle) Rottman '59

1960s

Gary '60 & Marian (Schmidt) '60 Anderson

Marlene (Allgood) '60 & Robert Ballance

Charles Francis '60

Jan (Lillethorup) Krakow '60

Earnest '60 & Beverly Madison

Frederick '60 & Carlene Miller

Ronald Stoltenberg '60

Connie (Erisman) Biggers '61

Norman '61 & Susan Catlett

Leona (Christen) Dostal '61

Lamarr '61 & Mary Gibson

David '61 & Nancy Hoffman

Darlene (Critel) '61 & David McCord

Michael Roddy '61

Laverna (Roos) '61 & William '55 Sayer

Donna (Francis) Schwertley '61

Glen '62 & Patsy (Melcher) '62 Beran

Mail: Peru State College Foundation, PO Box 10, Peru, NE 68421-0010

Phone: 402-872-2304

Email: pscfoundation@peru.edu

Again, and on behalf of everyone at Peru State College, our heartfelt thanks. We hope you, as well as many others, will be included on our 2025 Honor Roll of Donors!

Ronald '62 & Patricia Carnes

Glenn '62 & Judith Irwin

Jon Iverson '62

Ray '62 & Myrna Meister

Gordon '62 & Jean Ohnoutka

Kenneth '62 & S. Jane (Kunkel) '64 Rhodus

Richard Stock '62

Lee Haeberlein '63

Milan Kloepfer '63

Charlotte (Wheeler) Lunsford '63

Linda (Beery) Moree '63

Susan (Hulbert) Perina '63

Robert Reitz '63

Larry '63 & Ramona (Grindle) '61 Swett

Russel '63 & Judith Workman

Judy (Hunzeker) Baker '64

Norma (Reiman) Clinton '64

Rocky '64 & Penelope (Hays) '65

Edwards

Robert '64 & Judy Eichenberger

Virginia (Adkins) Janis '64

Jerry '64 & Christina (Banks) '88 Joy

James Minor '64

Lloyd '64 & Betty (Painter) '64

Russo

Donald '64 & Ardith (Pratt) '63

Rut

Linda (Jeffers) Sims '64

Frances (Sanders) '64 & Gordon Steinbrook

Beverly (Parde) Weiss '64

JoAnn (Hauptman) Barry '65

Daniel '65 & Carol (Thornton) '68 Coffey

Gene '65 & Judi D'Allemand

Penelope (Hays) '65 & Rocky '64

Edwards

Ilma (Gobber) Gottula '65

Duane Haith '65

Alvin Henrichs '65

Dan '65 & Marilyn Leuenberger

Bruce '65 & Linda (Renz) '66 Mau

Mariedith (Greenlee) Pagel '65

Loretta (Kratochvil) Pillard '65

Frank '65 & Suzanne Spizuoco

George '65 & Barbara (Thompson) '66 Weiss

Donald Wright '65

Kenneth '66 & Rebecca Boatman

Gary Fritch '66

Louis '66 & Judy Fritz

Stanley Johnson '66

Robert Krofta '66

Peter Lynch '66

Jerry Sayer '66

Dorothy (Bock) '66 & Ray

Willis

Ray '67 & Connie (Rademacher) '67 Cain

Estate of John & Delores Clark, '67

Kenneth Gayer '67

Michael '67 & Janice Guilliatt

Carol (Henderson) '67 & Gary '67 Henning

Vernon '67 & Gail Krenzer

Nancy (McCullough) Nealon '67

Darrell Plumb '67

Carol (Hawley) Schmucker '67

James '67 & Linda Stanosheck

Leonard Tomlyn '67

John Witler '67

Carol Chandler '68

Douglas '68 & Diane Cotner

Douglas Cramer '68

Richard Daly '68

John '68 & Anita Duder

William Kerins '68

Carol (Crabtree) '68 & Robert

Martin

Mary Lu (Hicks) '68 & John '68

McCoy

John '68 & Mary Lu (Hicks) '68 McVicker

Teresa (Hummel) Minard '68

Gary '68 & Martha (Seibert) '70 Schaffer

Ralph Schawang '68

Bruce '68 & Kathy Vickrey

Donald Wassom '68

Charles '69 & Bonnie (Crook) '68 Arnold

John Bernadt '69

Renee (Eberhard) '69 & Leon '71 Bose

Richard '69 & Martha (Caldarulo) '97 Gibson

Patsy Harpster '69

Clarence '69 & Janet Haws

Larry '69 & Marian '93

Henderson

Mary (Martin) Kanter '69

Richard Linder '69

Estate of Gail Masonbrink, '69

Richard '69 & Romona (Ogle) '68 Moore

Elizabeth O'Connor-Gunn '69

Nick '69 & Cheri (Combs) '68 Petrillo

David Rainforth '69

Marilyn (Sugden) '69 & Robert Scheinost

Richard '69 & Margaret (Lutt) '70 Smith

Ronald Steiner '69

Gerhart Wehrbein '69

1970s

Gloria (Bean) Adams '70

Van Allen '70

Larry Cotton '70

Donald '70 & Claudia '71

Dougherty

Donald '70 & Charlotte Duncan

Barbara (Richard) '70 & Ron Easley

Berton Faulkner '70

Charlotte (Lash) Grone '70

James Head '70

Martin '70 & Ruth

(Leuenberger) '71 Paper

Gary Rosso '70

David Sackles '70

Martha (Seibert) '70 & Gary '68 Schaffer

John '70 & Rita Seeba

Margaret (Lutt) '70 & Richard '69 Smith

Mike '70 & Katherine '15 Tynon

Ray Uher '70

Roger Borgman '71

Leon '71 & Renee (Eberhard) '69 Bose

Evelyn (Hillers) Buethe '71

Steven Drake '71

Eldonna (Gobber) Forrest '71

Jeffrey '71 & Judy Greenwald

George Hanssen '71

Robert Kiser '71

Robert Lisec '71

Connie (Rausch) '71 & Jim Matson

Darwin '71 & Shelly McHugh

Ronald '71 & Susan (Ritter) '72 Meyer

Ivan Miller '71

Vickie (Lecure) '71 & Charles '56 Pickering

Thomas '71 & Margaret Pitts

Willa Jean (Sodmann) Stutheit '71

Sara (Johnson) Veigel '71

Mark '71 & Kathleen (Reuter) '81 Weiler

Lanny '71 & Mary (Kern) '93 Williams

James Bailey '72

Randy '72 & Diane Baucke

Vicki (Hall) '72 & Robert Beilke

Rodrick '72 & Wanda (McKim) '73 Bruce

Dan '72 & Connie (Fritsch) '73 Collin

Susan Hanley '72

Patricia (McConnell) '72 & Danny Hunsberger

Charles Klingler '72

Richard Mezger '72

Edward Myers '72

Robert '72 & Judy (Henning) '71 Peterson

Terry '72 & Deborah Ratliff

Joan (Bachenberg) Shurtliff, '72

Steve Stemper '72

Esther (Preston) Tegtmeier '72

Dean Teten '72

Jon Tritsch '72

Raymond '72 & Jean Waters

Kent '72 & Nancy (Schlange) '71 Wilson

Gary '73 & Joyce Adams

Rick '73 & Kyle Black

James '73 & Paula Desbien

Mark '73 & Kim (Fetters) '98 Hahn

Rena (Merritt) '73 & Richard Hall

Bonnie (Stemper) Hiykel '73

Barbara (Fritz) '73 & Dallas '72 Jones

Randall '73 & Jeanine Luther

Roger Michaelis '73

Carole (Rarick) Obermeyer '73

Jay Van Housen '73

Thomas Craig '74

Henrick '74 & Connie Frohling

Charles Heim '74

Mary (Hill) '74 & Jon Howery

Janet (Nixon) '74 & Bruce Kirkendall

Stephen Krajicek '74

James '74 & Elayne Landwehr

Dick '74 & June (Bottcher) '74 Morrissey

Terry '74 & Marlene (Meyer) '72 Neddenriep

Jack '74 & Sheryl Stanley

Fritz '74 & Charlene (Lutz) '74 Stehlik

Gayle Swisegood '74

Bob '74 & Lucienne (Giersch) '76 Winter

Russell '75 & Julie (Bredensteiner) '75 Barnes

Dennis '75 & Patti Brady

Gleora (McCage) Covault '75

Craig '75 & Susan (Henricksen) '78 Dallegge

David Laincz '75

Deborah (Barton) '75 & Mark Larson

Debra (Anderson) '75 & Glen Stinn

Theresa (Krontz) Symancyk '75

John '75 & Marie Trayer

Dennis Williams '75

Stephen '75 & Terry (Heinke) '70 Zimmers

Robert '76 & Dorothy Applegate

John '76 & Jean Chatelain

Anne (Tackett) '76 & Russell Collingwood

Linda (Doty) '76 & Douglas Dickeson

Ann (Boring) Martinez '76

Janie (Riepe) '76 & Rodney '71 Montang

Janet (Vance) '77 & Robert Barlow

Roland '77 & Marie Barrett

Ruth (Wolf) Bolin '77

Rhonda (Gobber) '77 & Steve Burbach

Joseph Cluley '77

Donald '77 & Ruth (Gottula) '76 Doxon

Kathleen (Pietzyk) '77 & Philip '85 Hall

Ted Harshbarger '77

Sharon Henricksen '77

John Herbst '77

Dale Hoepker '77

Joseph '77 & Stella Kotnik

Colleen (Burger) '77 & Vernon '90 Kreifels

David '77 & Kim Stemper

Carolyn Bednar '78

Rhonda (Ahl) '78 & Sandor Chomos

Robert '78 & Katie Garcia

Kevin Hart '78

Helen (Tynon) '78 & Tim Pugh

Jeffrey '78 & Joy Scanlan

Mary (Priefert) Scott '78

Shirley '78 & William Snyder

Sherry Taylor '78

Lance Wilson '78

Julie (Brinkman) '79 & Kip '83 Allison

Debra (Thomas) Killingsworth '79

Mark Shively '79 & Jay Genoa

William Snyder '79

1980s

Stacy '80 & Barbara Applegate

Lonnie '80 & Darla Bane

Don Hardekopf '80

Jack '80 & Shelley Moles

Delwinn Novell '80

Joseph '80 & Laura Primm

Scott '80 & Brenda (Wilkinson) '82 Schaefer

Kevin '80 & Carmen (Gerstenschlager) '80 Sterner

David '80 & Susan (Jarvis) '86

Thomas

Kent '81 & Becki (Young) '80 Propst

Stephen Stehlik '81

Kathleen (Reuter) '81 & Mark '71 Weiler

Charles '82 & Verissa (Ruenholl) '82 Beatty

Mick '82 & Katherine (Toews) '82 Haney

Cindy (Plantenga) '82 & Tim '84 Hoffman

Kathleen (Fleming) Pitzl '82

Dave Rossell '82

Rhea (Harshbarger) Spears '82

John Teten '82

Al '82 & Kristin Urwin

Kip '83 & Julie (Brinkman) '79 Allison

Russ Freitag '83

Kimberly Hill '83

Kimberly (Kuhlman) '83 & Brad Oliver

Rick Rummel '83

Jeffrey '83 & Robin (Nelson) '83 Smith

Ronda (Schroeder) Chab '84

Karen (Coover) '84 & Stephen Gay

Lori (Vrtiska) '84 & Bryan Seibel

Roselyn (Burd) Shaffer '84

Cara (Fritsch) '84 & Randy '85 Simpson

Diane (Coover) Thomas '84

Christopher '85 & Brenda Cerveny

Susan (Honea) Coonce '85

Wayne Dolezal '85

SaraBeth Donovan '85

Theresa (Polsley) '85 & James '86

Krajicek

Alan '85 & Carol (Brady) '82 Lunzman

Georjean (Schimke) '85 & Juan Perez

Todd '85 & Maggie Ross

Todd '86 & Brenda (Pawling) '86 Anderson

Carol (Wilton) Chappell '86

Ritchie Nelson '86

Ann (Scheitel) '86 & Steve Severin

Amy (Goering) '87 & Rick Clark

Mark Czapla '87

John '87 & Patricia '88 Ditto

Ron Pape '87

Mari-Ann (Henry) '87 & Milo Pesek

Kevin Rahner '87

Randy '87 & Katy Reeves

Susan (Balfour) '87 & Paul Rice

Anita (Downing) '88 & K. Downing-Hueftle

Elton '88 & Connie (Sims) '87 Edmond

Michael '88 & Stephanie Gerdes

Darwin '88 & Tricia Gushard

Christina (Banks) '88 & Jerry '64 Joy

Judith (Scheer) Ruskamp '88

Beverly (Hawkins) Schwab '88

Paul Bennett '89

Mary (Shaffer) Grimes '89

Andrew '89 & Shanda Hall

Ruth Larsen '89

Bradley '89 & Andrea Smith

1990s

Judy (Janssen) Bors '90

Rita (Loyd) '90 & Pat Brennan

Kevin '90 & Karen Caverzagie

Judy (Mullins) Hughes '90

Welton '90 & Doreen Juilfs

Thank You!

Philip '85 & Kathleen (Pietzyk) '77 Hall

Vernon '90 & Colleen (Burger) '77 Kreifels

Jonathan '91 & Bobbie Platt

Heather Waring '91

Wei '92 & Stan Chong

Denise (Meyer) '92 & Brian Daake

Honor Roll of Donors

Jean Everhart '92

Merri (Kolb) '92 & Brad

Johnson

John '92 & Renee Sayer

Jennifer (Kresak) '92 & Steven Wurzelbacher

Diana Conradt-Mullen '93

Marian '93 & Larry '69

Henderson

LoReese (Lowe) Tibbs '93

Mary (Kern) '93 & Lanny '71

Williams

Jason '94 & Dawn Fortik

Steven '94 & Erin (O'Grady) '91

Sayer

Christopher '94 & Carrie Stangl

Kristi (Scott) '94 & Mickey Tunstall

Susan (Lunzmann) '94 & Michael Unruh

Nancy (Ryan) Vogt '94

Ivan Wineglass '94

Julie (Ramsey) '95 & Matt Bauman

Branden '95 & Tesha Bender

Rhonda Brown '95

Matthew '95 & Stefanie (Wolfe) '98 Grewe

Pamela (Ritchie) '95 & Tyson Holcomb

Michael Maroney '95

Ben '95 & Jamie (Brownfield) '96 Royal

Audra (Williams) '95 & Jeff '95 Schawang

Jean '96 & Ken Anderson

Barbara (Brady) Beatty '96

Gregory Bentz '96

L. Scott Bullock '96

Joan Christen '96

Christopher Michael '96

Andrew '96 & Teresa (Goracke) '97 Plummer

Shawn '97 & Gayle '07 Exner

Martha (Caldarulo) '97 & Richard '69 Gibson

Tressa '97 & Kory Whittington

Kim (Fetters) '98 & Mark '73

Hahn

Jon '98 & Tricia (Boeck) '96 Kruse

Sean McLaughlin '98

George Reed '98

Teresa (Grooms) '99 & Jerry '96 Breazile

Teri Dorn '99

Celeste (Nolte) '99 & Lukas Jones

Kristina (Tatum) Larson '99

2000s

Steven Heine '00

Karen (Weber) '01 & Michale Horky

Judy Smith '01

Stacie (Sell) '02 & Shane Osborn

Darlon Rohlff '02

Ted (Kasha) '03 & Jonathan Kaufman

Marty Martinez '03

Stephanie (Arnould) '03 & Gary '05 Mercer

Krystal (Nolte) '04 & Ben Howard

Roger Virost '04

Andrew Adams '05

David '05 & Lesli Bremer

Karen Decker '05

Christopher '05 & Lindsey (Baumgartner) '06 Lindner

Gary '05 & Stephanie (Arnould) '03 Mercer

Joanna (Hays) '06 & Braden Cielocha

Kristin (Delaney) '06 & Joseph '06 Tynon

Kristen Boos '07

Jari (Wehmeier) '07 & Thomas '06 Dunekacke

Gayle '07 & Shawn '97 Exner

Brenda Lutz '07

Gregory '08 & Marcia Galardi

Christina (Wusk) '08 & Jason Wunderlich

Sarah (Smith) '09 & David Nedrig

Jacob Thompson-Krug '09

2010s

Raedeahna Gerdes '10

Adam Blaylock '11

Ryan Hinz '11

Gerry Hunter '11

Melissa '11 & Craig McLaughlin

Gerald Adamek '12

Antonio Edwards-Lenton '12

Gretchen Jorgensen '12

Steve Kotschwar '12

David Bierman '13

Joseph '13 & Taylor Fauver

Shawon Nixon '13

Devon Roesener '13

Cory Vasek '13

Jeremy '14 & Gina Bittner

Daniel Cunningham '14

Timothy '14 & Ariel Oehring

Cassie (Leonard) '14 & Zachary

Tangen

Susan '14 & Richard Witt

Katherine '15 & Mike '70 Tynon

2020s

Matthew Starkey '20

Daniel Gardiner '22

Regan Hoover '23

Barbra Jones '23

Kelli Kramer '23

Melody Sly '24

Jemal Westbrook '24

Friends, Businesses and Organizations

Ken & Jean '96 Anderson

Shirley Appleget

Patricia Bennett

Mark Benson

Gina & Jeremy '14 Bittner

Carolyn & Edgar Bredemeier

Nancy Brown

Joanna Carollo

Yvonne Chandler

Jane Cheek

Joan Christen

Anthony Citrin

Richard & Debra Clopton

Mary Coniglio

Mark Coniglio

Christopher & Krisann Coniglio

Ed & Phyllis Cox

Laura Croom

Carlene Cudney

Lawrence Curry

Lora Damme

Wayne & Betty Davidson

Spencer & Vivian Davis

Daniel & Kay DeFreece

Timothy Donovan

Robert Dougherty

Stephen Douglas

Joyce Douglas

JoAnn Dunn

Janelle Eaton

Mike Ely

Michael & Joanna Evans

Jon Firmature

Phyllis Fleharty

Richard & Jani Flynn

Greg Formanski

Ron Frede

Ken & Donna Frohlich

Monica Gardiner

Barbara & John George

DeAnn Hanson

Dan & Elaine Hanson

Janet Hawley

Terry & Wynetta Headley

Jean & Dave Hillyer

Paul Hinrichs

Stephanie & Kenny Holmes

Dan & Alice Holtz

Suzanne Houlden

Rogene Howard

Daniel Johnson

Belinda Kalata

Scott Kier

Kelly & Jim Kingsley

Barbara Kreifels

Karen Lamke

James & Beatrice Lammers

Craig Latscha

Jerry LeFever

Michael Leif

Grace Leu

Linda Lichtenberg

Denise Lickteig

Patricia Longley

Helen Lundak

Danielle Mathenia

Joyce Mclaurin

Veronica Meier

Philip & Rose Michel

Amy Mincer

Janis Mullins

Carolyn & Ken Murphy

Kathleen & Wallace Nehls

LaRhea Nichols

Kristi Nies

Katy & Nicholas Novak

Daryl & Jacqueline Obermeyer

Gary Ogle

Kathleen Ogle

Amanda Oppel & Derrick

Dinwiddie

Jan Passmore

Jim Peters

Cheryl Petty

Michael Platt

Cheryl Prater

Dave Radell

Kimberly & Donald Regan

Jennifer & Paul Rieken

Emily Roberts

Donna & B. Rook

James & Walta Ruff

Ralph Russell

Jeanne Schmelzer

Joni Schmidt

Gregory & Darolyn Seay

Lucille Sharp

Jessi Sherman

Lois Skalak

Kim Smith

Thomas & Michelle Smith

Tim & Sharon Smulling

William & Shirley '78 Snyder

Barbara Steck

Kim & David '77 Stemper

Keith & Marge Stemper

Ivan & Karol Streit

Linda Sundberg

William Swenson

Todd & Linda Thorson

Regina Toman

Jacqueline Uhri

Terri Vrtiska

Kaitlynne Wenzl

Paula Whitney

Tom & Joannie Wilson

Richard & Susan '14 Witt

Earl Wittmer

Aegon Transamerica Foundation

American Online Giving Foundation

American Society of Parasitologists

Arbor Day Foundation

Auburn State Bank

BNSF Railway Company

Bridges Investment Mgmt Inc

ConAgra Foods Foundation

Farm Credit Services of America

FBL Financial Group Inc

Forvis Mazars

Frontier Bank

Happy Life Nutrition

Home Depot

Justin Haystrand Memorial Scholarship

Nebraska Community Foundation

Nelson Family Foundation, Karl H. and Wealtha H.

Omaha Community Foundation

Rixstine Recognition

Thank You!

Jamie Wolbert '09

Vincent & Marie Kreifels Family Foundation

More Bobcat Greats Join Hall of Fame

Nearly 150 alumni, family, and friends gathered in the Student Center November 1 to recognize the 2024 Peru State College Athletic Hall of Fame honorees.

The 32nd Hall of Fame Class included individuals John Creamer, Jr. (Hampton, Conn.), Jerry Eickhoff (Lincoln), Pat Mertens (Hastings), and Sarah (Williams) Murray (Tarkio, Mo.). Also inducted were the coaches and players from the 1994 baseball team.

Creamer, a 1969 graduate, was a four-time letterwinner in football and a three-time letterwinner in baseball who earned the Swenson Award at the end of his career. Also a 1969 graduate, Eickhoff was a Nebraska high school coaching legend who at the time of his retirement was the state’s all-time leader in boys’ basketball victories with 670. A 1986 graduate, Mertens excelled both on the football field and in the classroom. He was twice named to the NAIA District 11 First Team Defense and later was the first Peru football player to be name to the then-GTE College Division Second Team, which is commonly known as an Academic All-American. Murray, a 2014 graduate, was Peru’s first women’s cross country competitor to compete in a national championship in nearly 30 years. She still holds all the major race records to this day for Peru State.

Each of the individuals thanked those who helped make their selection happen and all had a common theme which

they shared: high regards for the education and support they received while at Peru State.

A Worcester, Mass., native, Creamer noted Peru State College gave him his start to his life-long career in psychology and education. He told the current students in attendance that there are opportunities on the campus they need to take advantage of at any time they can.

Eickhoff, a Verdon, Neb. native, talked about how his college life shaped his career including his experience with Coach Jack McIntire and his Theory of Basketball class. He added that while he has received many different accolades, this one really got to him as it come from Peru State College.

A Lincoln native, Mertens thanked his coaches and teammates who all helped him become a better player and student. He also shared that three of his sons came to Peru State to receive an education and play football. One of his ending comments was, “Every time I come to Peru, I just feel like I’m home.”

Murray thanked her former Bobcat coach and later, husband, the late Dr. Johann Murray and current Bobcat cross country coach James Cole (‘07) for their support and motivation in her past and current running career. She noted “running is not only about your successes, but it is also about your failures.” Murray had her daughters Jaina and Aia join her during her speech.

The 1994 Bobcat Baseball team was Peru’s winningest team in 40 years with 34 victories. Its final winning percentage of .680 still stands as the second-best in 77 years of play. The coaches and players in attendance were head coach Dan Johnson, assistant coach Jerry LeFever, Greg Bentz, Tony Duffek, Shawn Exner, Matt Grewe, Scott Kier, Greg Larsen, Mike Maroney, Chris Michael, Matt Miller, Duncan Patterson, Andy Plummer, and Chris Raabe.

Coach Johnson and Matt Grewe spoke on behalf of the team. Coach Johnson noted that the opportunity for this team to help build their facilities was the piece that brought the young men together and to be successful. He added that he had not been back since 1996, and the evening was special as they bonded together as a team again.

Grewe thanked many people for the team’s honor. He noted everyone knew how good Peru State football was in the 90s, but he wasn’t sure how many knew how good Peru State baseball was. Grewe stated that being recognized was a tremendous honor and it gave him and his teammates a ton of pride.

In addition to the Friday night banquet, the inductees were recognized at halftime of the Bobcat football game with Culver-Stockton which Peru State won 52-21.

The Peru State Hall of Fame gallery is located on the second floor of the Al Wheeler Activity Center.

John Creamer, Jr. Student-Athlete

Jerry Eickhoff Meritorious Service

Pat Mertens Student-Athlete

Sarah (Williams) Murray Student-Athlete

1994 Baseball Team

Looking Ahead for Bobcat Softball

After a disappointing 2024 campaign, the Peru State softball team is gearing up for a much-improved 2025 season.

Under third-year head coach Renita “Toni” (Blackwell ’15) Closner and assistant coach Jaclyn Gray, the Bobcats will look to improve upon 4-44 overall and 1-21 conference records when the team begins play in February.

With a blend of returners and a host of newcomers, Peru State has worked hard in the fall to show that the team is much better than the record from last year. The coaches have added several new freshmen pitchers which should add more depth.

The returners include senior Ellie Ohlde, who has earned all-conference recognition each of her three seasons as a Bobcat infielder. Also returning is senior Leann Hawkins who earned honorable mention for her play in the outfield.

Ohlde led the team in batting with an average of .321 and had 43 hits. Hawkins added 24 hits and batted .286. Hawkins was also a Gold Glove performer in 2024.

Peru State will begin its spring season in early February in the Dordt (Iowa) University Tournament and then will start in earnest the first weekend in March when they compete in the Friends (Kan.) Tournament.

The Bobcats’ first home competition will be March 5 when they host Kansas Wesleyan.

Their first Heart double header will be March 22 when they face Graceland (Iowa) on the road. Culver-Stockton (Mo.) will be the first home conference opponent on March 23.

Heart foes Central Methodist (Mo.), Benedictine (Kan.), and Baker (Kan.) all are in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll.

Bobcat Baseball Seeks

Improvement in 2025

The Peru State baseball team will look to improve on last season’s 20-31 record and 15-17 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play under second-year head coach Blake Beaber. He will be assisted again this year by Chris Stout.

The Bobcats will return numerous players from the 2024 team including all-conference honorees Gustavo Rivera and Garrett Pavletich. Both earned honorable mention last year and Pavletich also made the conference Golden Glove team.

Peru State began play in early February in Oklahoma. The Bobcats’ first Heart of America Conference play is on March 1 when they travel to Baldwin City, Kan., to take on the Baker Wildcats. PSC’s first home game will be against the York Panthers, a non-

conference opponent, on March 4.

William Penn Statesmen will be the first home Heart match-up the second weekend in March.

On Sunday, April 6, the Bobcats will be hosting Graceland University; in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. This will be Peru State’s tribute game to the 1994 team which was inducted into the Hall of Fame this fall.

Peru State has its eyes on making the Heart post-season tournament in May.

In the Heart of America Athletic Conference pre-season poll, Central Methodist and MidAmerica Nazarene were picked as the top teams. They are both in the NAIA Baseball Coaches Top 25 Poll at 14th and 25th respectively.

Registration Soon Open For Bobcat Golf Classic

Spring Sports Previews

Golfers Ready to Swing into Spring

Under the direction of Head Coach Sue Owen, the Peru State women’s golf team finished fall play in late October and will resume play in early March.

The Bobcats golfed in five events during the fall season – the Mount Mercy Invite, College of Saint Mary’s Invite, Graceland Invite, Peru State Invite, and the Heart Conference Preview.

The teams’ best finish was at Graceland where they topped the limited field.

Peru State’s top golfers during the fall were freshman Alex Barnett and sophomore Chloe Clapp.

Spring Outlook

The women’s golf team will compete in five events this spring.

They will host their spring invitational on April 4 and 5 at the Table Creek Golf Course in Nebraska City, Peru State’s official home course.

The 2024-25 season will culminate with the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship at the Nicklaus Golf Club, on April 21 and 22, in Overland Park, Kan.

Competitive Cheer Looks To Have Repeat Success

The Peru State Competitive Cheer Team has its eyes on the spring competition season after the success they experienced in 2024. Last year, the Bobcats finished second in the NCA College Nationals in the Intermediate Small Coed NAIA Division.

Under the continued leadership of Cara Cudney and Carlene Cudney – who are in their fourth-year coaching - the Bobcats have one of their largest squads ever. The team has been putting in the hours in the gym to improve upon their 2024 success, along

with cheering on the Bobcat athletic teams throughout the year.

Peru State will begin its spring competition at the Midland Invite in January and will participate in two other invitationals before participating in the Heart Conference Championships on March 8. Their hope is to compete in the NAIA Championships in Ypsilanti, Mich., in March and in the National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate Nationals in Daytona, Fla., in midApril.

Peru State athletic department officials have announced the annual spring Bobcat Golf Classic will be held Friday, May 23 at the Table Creek Golf Course west of Nebraska City.

Ashley Baldassare, tournament director, and Kyle Pond, athletic director, are seeking alumni and friends to register for this popular annual event. Check-in begins at 8 a.m.

Lunch, a silent auction and other opportunities will be offered.

This is a fun tournament whose proceeds support all Bobcat sports. Come and meet with Bobcat coaches and college officials, connect with fellow alumni and friends, and compete for hole and flight prizes.

Watch for additional information coming from the athletic department in early spring.

For more information, please contact the athletic office at 402-872-2350 or by email at abaldassare@peru.edu. The registration deadline is Friday, May 9.

Bobcat Athletics

Strong Start for Men’s Hoops

The Bobcat men’s basketball team, under the direction of third-year head coach Roman Gentry, is off to a good start for the 2024-25 campaign.

Peru State started the season 7-0 before dropping two consecutive countable contests – one of which was to nationally-ranked Baker. The Bobcats then won three in a row to finish the 2024 portion of the season with a 10-2 mark. In the second NAIA Coaches poll, Peru State received votes.

The Bobcats were perfect at home in 2024 and went 3-2 on the road.

During the first 12 games, Peru State is averaging 76.3 points per game while making 46.7% of their field goals, including hitting 36.3% of their shots from long distance. They are grabbing 35.8 rebounds and dishing out 11.4 assists.

The Bobcat opponents are scoring 70.3 points per game while hitting 44.2% of their field goals. Peru State’s foes are rebounding 32.2 caroms per contest and are handing out 8.6 assists.

Peru State’s ultimate goals are a conference championship and to advance to the NAIA National Championships for the third year in a row.

Follow the Bobcats online at https://www.heartconferencenetwork.com/peru/ You can find their complete schedule at https://pscbobcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/ schedule/2024-25

Seven Bobcat Basketballers Playing

In the last Stater, information was shared on three former Peru State football players who were playing at the professional level. At least seven former Bobcat basketball hoopsters are or have been displaying their talents across the world at the pro level. Please note: information shared in the following is as accurate as could be found as most of the international competition does not keep their information as up to date as in the U.S.

L.J. Westbrook

L.J. Westbrook played for several years in multiple overseas countries where he was a part of three championships and earned two MVP awards. Two of those seasons were in the Basketball Africa League for the Abidjan BC Team in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

He presently is serving as a varsity assistant men’s basketball coach at Tualatin High School in Tualatin, Oregon.

Westbrook played for the Bobcats during the 2017-18 season where he earned NAIA Division I honorable mention after his senior season. He led the NAIA in assists with 197 and finished 16th nationally with a total of 614 points while averaging 18 points per game.

Lyle Hexom

Having three successful years playing in The Basketball League, a men’s professional basketball league which has 39 teams across the U.S. and Canada, is Lyle Hexom.

In 2022, Hexom was named the TBL Defensive Player of the Year and was also First Team TBL All-Central Conference while playing for the Beaumont (Texas) Panthers. He averaged 22.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game.

Hexom also had a successful 2023 season and was often matched up against the opposing team’s top scorer while still anchoring one of the TBL’s top defensive

units, playing for the Potawatomi (Shawnee, Okla.) Fire who won the TBL Championship.

In his third season in the league, Hexom was picked up by the Great Falls (Mont.) Electric and led the team to ten wins in their inaugural campaign in the TBL. He averaged 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and was named to the TBL’s West Conference Second Team.

The aspiring chef previously played overseas in Britain and Sweden.

While at Peru State, Hexom earned NAIA Division I First Team recognition after being named as the Heart’s Player of the Year. He finished the 2018-19 season with a double double as he scored 20.9 points per game and grabbed 10.29 rebounds per contest. In addition, he blocked 2.38 shots each game.

Henry Tanksley

A 2022 graduate of Peru State, Tanksley most recently played this past fall for the Kapfenberg Bulls in the Austrian BSL. In ten games, Tanksley averaged 16.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game as the Bulls went 3-7. He is now playing for the Bosco Bulls in the same league.

Previously, Tanksley played two years for the Slavija Istocno in Sarajevo, Bosnia. In his first pro year, he averaged 10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists for the team which went 6-5. During his second year with Slavija, Tanksley’s production went up to 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per contest while the team finished 7-18.

Tanksley earned all-conference honorable mention for Peru State after his senior season when he averaged 11 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest.

Jibril Harris

The 6-8 forward is presently playing for Apolonia Fier in the Albania Superliga. In nine contests this past fall/winter, Harris was averaging 15.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per contest.

Harris initially played for the GEPU basketball team in San Luis, Argentina.

Christian Tidiane is one of many seniors leading the Bobcats this season

Lyle Hexom has had one of the more successful pro careers following his Bobcat playing days

Playing at Next Level

As a senior at Peru State, Harris averaged 15.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and 1.4 apg in 29 games. He earned NAIA All-America Honorable Mention recognition while leading the Bobcats to the NAIA National Tournament. Harris had previously earned Heart First Team All-Conference.

Lorenzo Anderson

After helping lead Peru State to the NAIA National Tournament in 2022-23, Lorenzo Anderson was signed to play for the Irbis Almaty-Alatau in the Kazakhstan National League.

Anderson, a 6-3 guard, had a stellar rookie season, averaging 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while helping his team to the Kazakhstan National League Championship.

Anderson was then signed by the Valletta Lions and has most recently been playing in the Maltese BOV League D1. He has averaged 20.3 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2.7 steals per game.

During the 2022-23 season at Peru State, Anderson earned Heart Second Team All-Conference as he scored 518 points during the year.

Sayvon Traylor

A 6-5 guard, Traylor was signed this season to play in the BC Zapiorizhye-ZOG in the Ukranian Superleague. Traylor put up impressive stats last year while playing his senior campaign for the Bobcats, who won the Heart Conference Championship earning the team a national tournament berth.

He averaged 15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 31 games for Peru State as a senior as he led the team in scoring with 484 points. Traylor was named to the Heart All-Conference Second Team.

David Wingett

After helping the Peru State basketball team to a national tournament berth in 2023-24, David Wingett was signed to play for the Vitória Sport Club’s squad for the 2024-25 season.

In his first eight games, Wingett averaged 10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while playing 31 minutes.

During his senior season at Peru State, Wingett scored 17.3 points per game while grabbing 6.4 rebounds and dishing out 1.8 assists. He earned Heart All-Conference First Team recognition.

David Wingett helped lead the Bobcats to the national tournament a year ago

Henry Tanksley is now playing for the Bosco Bulls

Men’s Cross Country Runs Into Tough ‘24

The Peru State men’s cross country team went through a tough 2024 season according to head coach James Cole (‘07). Lacking the appropriate summer conditioning, along with numerous injuries, the team persevered throughout the fall.

As the team jumped into cross country practice and began conditioning for their standard 8k (4.97 mile) race distance, several had injuries, with some sitting out of competitions off and on throughout the season.

Eventually, the men were able to finish their season with an 8k race pace that was slightly faster pace than their 6k (3.728 mile) season opener and much improved from their first 8k race of the season.

Coach Cole is the consummate coach in terms of statistics which helps him determine a “Most Valuable Player” at the end of the season.

Sophomore Brady VanBoening led the team in many ways this season. VanBoening was the only male to complete a full summer of conditioning, which helped him

finish first for Peru State in all six races this season.

He became the third male since men’s cross country was reintroduced to break the six minutes per mile mark, running a personal best 29:26.5 (5:55.4) at the 2024 Heart Conference Championships. VanBoening served as one of the team captains for the fall and will be returning as the 2025 team captain.

Senior Gavin Smith was the team’s co-captain. Smith was one of the runners who battled injuries throughout the fall but was a top finisher in all six of the Bobcats’ meets.

Other runners competing for Peru State this fall included Ty Brockhaus, Brandon Kristensen, Steve Enriquez, Kyler Carraher, Jason Nguyen, Kohl Rutherford, Austen Janssen, Kaden Morton, and Carson Maas.

Coach Cole commented, “With the majority of the men’s team returning and several demonstrating promise for the 2025 season, I believe the men’s team can have a much stronger performance next year.”

Women’s Bowling Doing Well on the Lanes

From Milwaukee to Wichita to Rockford, Ill., to Sioux City, Iowa, the Peru State women’s bowling team continued to improve as they completed the first half of their season in early December.

Under the direction of third-year head coach Dwyane DaMoude, the ‘Cats finished their fall with one of their best performances in the Mustang Invite hosted by Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa.

At the end of the second part of the qualification process, Peru State was sitting fourth in total pins putting them into the match play. The Bobcats eventually finished second overall – one of the highest finishes in program history.

The Peru State varsity team was consistently led in the fall by Makenzie Millard, Kaitlyn Doyal, Mindy Bartels, and Abby Yates.

The Bobcats resumed their schedule in late January. They will be gearing up for the Heart of America Athletic Conference championship in late February and the ITC sectionals in early March.

Women’s Cross Country Hits its Stride in ‘24

Sixth-year head coach James Cole (’07) was optimistic about his Peru State women’s cross country team for the 2024 fall season due to the efforts of the runners with their summer mileage conditioning.

Six returners and six recruits made up this year’s squad – one of the largest in many years.

The Bobcats did not disappoint Coach Cole as the team had the fastest mile averages in the program since the 2012 season when two-time national qualifier and one of the newest members in Peru State’s Hall of Fame, Sarah (Williams) Murray, was on the team.

Fortunately for Peru State, unlike their male counterparts, the women’s team stayed fairly healthy throughout the season, and all saw improvements during the year as they headed into the conference championships.

Senior Amyra Moxey returned for her third season after completing summer conditioning for the first time with the program and it paid off. She led the team and finished first for Peru in every race. Her

personal best races are now among the top 15 of the nearly 100 runners we have had since the program was reintroduced in 2003.

Junior Lydia Lang completed her third and final season for Peru State, as she plans to complete her student teaching in the fall. Lang finished second in five of the six races and third in the other, making her the team’s second-best runner.

Serving as the team captain this past season was Emma Larson. Coach Cole noted that Larson was unsure about being able to compete at the collegiate level when she was recruited but finished as a consistent top five runner all four years.

Other returning harriers this year included Phoebe Wilson, Madison Wittwer, and Brenna Davis.

A strong core of freshmen – Ashley Carlton, Britany Lofton, Sophie O’Neil, Cassie Harrington, Lauren Wingert, and Phoebe Wilson – will be counted on to continue to improve and be leaders for the 2025 year.

2024 Bobcat Men's Cross Country Team

Volleyball Makes Postseason For First Time Since 2017

Under the leadership of Coach Madison Kindle, the Peru State volleyball team participated in the Heart of America Athletic Conference post-season tournament for the first time since 2017.

With an 8-10 Heart record, the Bobcats earned the eighth seed in the post-season event and faced the top-seeded Central Methodist (Mo.) Eagles in Fayette, Mo. Peru State fell to the Eagles 3-1 and finished their season with an overall 13-19 mark.

The overall number of wins and conference wins are the most since 2017 as well.

After a 2-7 start which saw the team face four ranked opponents, Peru State finished with nearly a .500 mark.

At the end of the season, four players earned Heart All-Conference honors.

Leading the way was senior Raevyn Russell who was named to the second team.

Senior Kennedy Miller earned third team recognition while senior Allie Schneider and freshman Eden Moore received honorable mention recognition.

In addition, Miller, Moore, and Russell were named to the Omaha WorldHerald All-Midlands NAIA/NCAA DIII Honorable Mention.

Seven Bobcats were named 2024 Daktronics NAIA Fall Sports ScholarAthletes. Allie Schneider, Miller, and Addison Schneider each earned their second award. Jenna Schott, Maya Brown, Peyton Witzel, and Emily Sherman were recognized for the first time.

Miller, the Schneiders, and Sherman

were selected for the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Volleyball Team. The CSC recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court, in the classroom, and in extra-curricular activities. Miller was also selected to be considered for Academic All-America honors.

Allie Schneider entered the Bobcat all-time records mark with assists as she finished her career with 1,696 moving her into eighth. Russell found her way onto the single-season serve receive attempts top ten with 933 receptions – good for sixth all-time.

Peru State will have to replace five seniors off the squad – Russell, Miller, Allie Schneider, Kalyssa Fox, and Ellie Williams.

Bobcat Football Goes 7-3, Best Record Since 2000

tackles – 33 solo. He added 1.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss of 13 yards.

Junior Amahd Baker and sophomore Ashley Thompson earned First Team AllConference offensive and defensive honors, respectively. Baker, an offensive lineman, helped the Bobcats amass 3,750 total yards. Thompson, a defensive back, accumulated 44 total tackles – 26 solo. He added five interceptions and broke up two passes. Also recognized on the offensive side of the ball were Stacian Livingston, a running back, and Jordan Kempf, a wide receiver. They both were named to the Second Team. Kempf was also named to the Second Team Special Teams as a returner.

On the Second Team Defense were Zahir Washington – defensive lineman, Jakari Starling – linebacker, and Duke McClinton – defensive back. Earning honorable mention were defensive back Caleb Jackson, tight end Dominic Winn, and offensive lineman Jackson White.

The 2024 Bobcat football team did something that hadn’t happened in 24 years – it compiled the best winning percentage record as they finished the campaign with a 7-3 mark. The 2000 team went 8-2 in Dick Strittmatter’s last season at Peru State.

Third-year head coach Phil Ockinga’s had an opportunity to win eight contests, but their contest with Missouri Baptist was cancelled to due to lightning.

One of the Bobcat losses was to the eventual NAIA National Champions – the Grand View Vikings. Peru State did finish 4-2 in the Heart of America Conference North behind Grand View and Graceland.

Peru State continued its offensive output as they averaged 375 yards per game. It was a balanced offense as the team rushed for 174 yards and passed 201 yards per contest.

The Bobcats had the exact same scoring average as in 2023 as they scored 29.5 points per game.

Eleven players garnered Heart North All Conference recognition.

Freshman Ja-Quez Oliver, a linebacker, was named the Heart North Freshman of the Year honors. Oliver, who also earned Second Team All-Conference, had 57 total

In addition to the all-conference recognition, Baker, Oliver, McClinton, and Thompson were named to the Omaha World-Herald All-Midlands NAIA/NCAA DIII First Team. Livingston, Starling, Washington, White, and Daylan Jones earned honorable mention.

Several Bobcats ended up with season or career marks. Quarterback Colin Shields finished with 332 passing attempts for 1,913 yards. His passing attempts are tenth on the all-time charts with his yardage just shy of the top ten. Shields moved into sixth alltime in career passing with 4,240 yards. Thompson recorded five receptions, matching his total from last season, which is tied for 11th in a single season.

Eight players earned Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition – Washington, Lander Imbimbo, and MJ Nelson earned the honor for the second time. Shields, Kemper Reed, Brody McBee, Jeremiah Collier, and Quinton Rowell were named to the list for the first time.

Peru State loses just nine seniors off its 2024 roster – Shields, Grant Gutschow, Kempf, White, Kolby Tibbets, Caden Luna, Nathan Barnes, and Jackson.

Three of the women's cross country runners were (l to r) Ashley Carlton, Amrya Moxey, and Lydia Lang

Quarterback Colin Shields led the Bobcats to one of their most successful seasons since 2000

Kennedy Miller was one of the top players on the 2024 Bobcat volleyball team

Road Success Fuels WBB In First Half of Season

The Peru State women’s basketball team has nearly the same mark at the end of the first semester as in 2023-24, primarily due to their success on the road. They are being led this year by first-year head coach, Mike Sybrant, who served as assistant coach last season.

The Bobcats headed into 2025 with a 5-7 mark, just one shy of their win total at break last season, while being fueled with a 4-2 road record. Peru State started the campaign with two road wins before dropping three at home. A semesterending win over Heart opponent Central Methodist on their home court sent the team home for the break on a good note.

In conference play, Peru State was 3-5 and sits ninth in the 14-team conference. The top eight teams will make the postseason tournament.

Peru State is averaging 67.2 points per game while they have given up 77.1

The Golf Club at Table Creek is a sponsor for The Stater for this year. The 18-hole golf course with a driving range and practice green is a Nebraska golf community hidden gem in southeast Nebraska. The scenic 18-hole course, located west of Nebraska City, features immaculate greens, fairways, and tees. The Golf Club at Table Creek is a terrific choice for your golf destination.

points each contest. The Bobcats are outrebounding their opponents by 2.6 boards per contest as they have averaged 37.3 caroms per contest.

The team has three scoring more than 100 with sophomore Kylie Diaz leading the way with 171 while seniors Hailey Ingram and Natasha Deal have added 146 and 129 respectively.

Defensively, Diaz is leading the way with 102 rebounds and has blocked 40 shots. Junior Savannah Bingham grabbed 55 boards. Ingram added 43 rebounds and has a team-leading 24 steals. Sophomore Eri Vonderschmidt has added a positive component to the team after joining the Bobcats following the volleyball season.

The Bobcats will need to play a full 60 minutes in each contest to make the postseason tournament again in 2025 – a team goal.

Men’s Bowlers Seek To Continue Progress

The Peru State men’s bowling team wrapped up the first half of its season in December under direction of third-year head coach Dwyane DaMoude.

Playing in some tough tournaments and battling some injuries, the Bobcats are gearing up for better results during the spring season.

The varsity team was led in most of the meets by Wyatt Woodward, Jett Tolentino, and Stephen Acton. Newcomer Will Fraser had the best finish of the fall placing 19th in the Mustang Invitational hosted by Morningside.

The bowlers resumed their schedule in late January. They will be gearing up for the Heart of America Athletic Conference championship in late February and the ITC sectionals in early March.

Seeking ’85 Lost Alumni

It may be hard for members of the Class of ’85 to believe, but it’s been nearly 40 years since you finished up at Peru State to make your marks on the world.

Unfortunately, many of your classmates are on our dreaded “lost alumni” list. If you know of the whereabouts of any of the following, please share the information with us. You can email pscfoundation@peru.edu, phone 402-872-2304, or send a note to The Peru Stater, PO Box 10, Peru, Neb. 68421-0010.

Alex Appleton

Julie Baker

Kelley (Combs) Ballue

Cheryl (Holland) Carroll

Kimberly (Lavigne) Comstock

Janet Crume

Karen Dux

Marilyn Earhart

Rachel (Faulkenberry) Glinn

Becky Haynes

Diana Herling

Don Herschberger

Brad Hesser

Richard Irvin

Linda Jones

Terry Matzen

Lisa (Kellenberger) Mixon

Dawn Onisk

Beth (Hauberg) Panko

Jeff Parker

Kevin Rolf

Sharon (Lechner) Schroder

Perry Scott

Anita Searcey

Karen Sheldon

Linda Shepard

John Slater

Barry Smith

Thomas Wesley

Kylie Diaz is among the leading scorers and rebounders for the Bobcat women's basketball team this season

Spreading Christmas Joy: A Mission of Love

This past Christmas, Daniel ’21 and Randee (Witt) Castillo ’23 of Auburn, Neb., fulfilled a dream to give back to Daniel’s childhood neighborhood in the South American nation of Colombia. After visiting last May, they felt called to bring joy to the children and families there.

The experience reminded us of the power of kindness and community.

With the support of several communities, they hosted a fundraiser at Happy Life Nutrition (Auburn) and Plattsmouth Nutrition, where $1 per drink and all tips were donated. Auction items, Venmo contributions, and donations from afar poured in.

They were especially moved by the generosity of Peru State College alumni, who donated and helped make the event and mission a success. Through all avenues, over $2,000 was generated.

With Daniel’s family working tirelessly to prepare for their arrival before Christmas, everything came together beautifully. On December 25, they celebrated Christmas

with over 300 Columbian children and their familes. Santa handed out gifts, they worshiped, played games, and shared a meal together. The smiles and gratitude witnessed were unforgettable.

Accompanying them on the trip were Randee’s parents, Rich (Santa) and Susan Witt ’14.

Randee commented,

“The experience reminded us of the power of kindness and community. We are so grateful to everyone who supported us— locally and from afar—and to Daniel’s family, whose help was invaluable. We are committed to continuing this tradition in the years to come, spreading love and hope to those in need.”

Daniel was a member of the Bobcat baseball team while Randee played for the Peru State volleyball team.

Top: Randee (Witt) Castillo '23 shared the joy of Christmas with several Columbian children and their families

Bottom: Over 300 Columbian children and their families gathered on the streets to celebrate Christmas brought to them by the Castillo and Witt families

Science Flourishes at

Dr. Jon Kolman ’14: ‘You sometimes have to get dirty’

For veterinarian Jon Kolman, the rewards and the challenges of working in a mixed animal practice are abundant.

Kolman, who practices in the southeast Nebraska communities of Tecumseh and Adams, said “Finding my cadence with clients, asking the right questions, and having good mentors helped tremendously.”

Nowadays there are fewer vets doing what he called the “food animal” side. “More and more veterinarians continue to migrate from rural communities and into larger urban environments” where care for “companion animals” – or “fur babies” as he calls them – is a big draw.

“It is difficult trying to diagnose and treat multiple species on a daily basis and it can definitely be overwhelming,” Kolman said of

the mixed-animal practice. “This is especially difficult by the fact that your patients can’t speak to you, the owners don’t always know what symptoms the patients are having, and financial restrictions of owners can make the job challenging.”

Continuing education to keep abreast of new trends, medications, and treatment options is a challenge, but an absolutely necessary one, he added.

Fortunately, Kolman embraced those skills early on.

“During my time in Peru there were many opportunities to do field work with the Clopton lab, which helped me love to be outside doing large animal work and adapt to unpredictable work environments. “The large amount of microscopy work helped prepare me for the daily use of these skills throughout veterinary school into my professional career.”

After graduating from Peru State, Kolman was accepted into a cooperative veterinary program involving the University of NebraskaLincoln and Iowa State University. He obtained his DVM in 2018 after which he spent a year in Wyoming at a mixed animal practice before returning to southeast Nebraska, and he’s now part owner of the clinic he serves.

Many rural vets are reaching retirement age, but getting accepted into veterinary school remains highly competitive. When he’s asked for advice from prospective vet students, he tells them it is “important to start right away with shadowing or working at vet clinics so you can get a good insight into how clinics work and to get the experience needed.

“Many schools require or advise that you have several hundred hours of shadowing or working in clinics,” Kolman noted.

“You can’t be afraid to try new things,” he said. “In the fashion of being a mixed animal vet, you sometimes just have to get dirty.

“Veterinary medicine can definitely be a difficult field to get into and challenging to work in,” Kolman said. “But the opportunities are endless and there is always something exciting to do.

“And there is always the added bonus of the occasional playing with puppies and kittens.”

Dr. Kate Trout ’11: ‘Turn dreams into advancements’

From her beginnings at Peru State conducting parasitology research, Kate Trout now finds herself doing research at a Tier 1 research institution. Trout is an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at the University of Missouri College of Health Sciences in Columbia.

“My career has blended academia, research, and practical applications in health sciences, focusing on public health challenges,” Trout said. Her work focuses on solutions in rural populations, both domestically and beyond.

“Working on large-scale grant-funded projects has expanded my network internationally, deepened my understanding, and highlighted the importance of adaptability and collaboration in driving impactful solutions.”

Collaboration with others is a theme Trout

returns to frequently.

“Team science works!” she enthused. “We can’t be experts in everything, but by working together asking the right questions, and striving to understand one another, we can turn ambitious dreams into tangible advancements.”

Trout obtained both her master’s and her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, then returned to Peru State as a member of the science faculty for three years.

“Working with PSC students in the labs were some of my most cherished moments as a faculty member,” Trout said. “Returning to my alma mater allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the community that has shaped me as a scientist.”

She departed Peru State for MU, where she is on the cutting edge of many scientific developments.

“The health sciences field is rapidly evolving with advancements in technology, personalized medicine, and an increased emphasis on useinspired and community-based approaches,” Trout said.

The business aspect of health sciences has been another learning opportunity for Trout.

“Right now, we are trying to move our Intellectual Property into a sustainable business model,” she said. “Looking back, I wish I would have focused on gaining more entrepreneurship skills.

“Gaining business skills, particularly in market-pitching and developing business models, has been invaluable in bridging the gap between traditional academic research and translating innovations into market-ready solutions,” Trout said.

Like many others, her advice to students starts with “Stay curious.

“We often don’t allow ourselves to fail enough,” Trout said. “Yet it’s through discomfort that we truly grow.”

Dr. Gunnar Orcutt ’18:

‘Leap of faith was springboard’

“Before medical school I never imagined leaving Nebraska, but as I would later learn, it was the best thing that could have happened,” Gunnar Orcutt said.

Orcutt is now a general surgery resident at Prisma Health at the University of South Carolina, but readily admits his road was not an easy one.

“The biggest hurdle I faced was actually getting into medical school,” he said. "Despite my grades and extracurriculars, I had an average entrance exam score and was offered one acceptance for medical school.”

So, after wrapping up a standout experience as a Peru State student and Bobcat football player, Orcutt was off to Lincoln Memorial UniversityDeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tennessee.

Two years later he finished his clinicals in Corinth, Miss., and joined the team at the

University of South Carolina.

“I grew exponentially both personally and professionally,” Orcutt reflects. “I met my nowwife, and I got to experience areas of the country and cultures I never imagined I would. What seemed like a leap of faith at the time, was a springboard.”

The run-up to his leap started at Peru. “The biggest skill Peru taught me was how to think critically and actually synthesize information rather than just regurgitate it,” Orcutt said. “I was shocked when I made it to medical school and watched many of my classmates struggle.

“Sitting in class with Dr. (Rich) Clopton and Dr. (Mike) Barger just lecturing taught me how to listen, comprehend, and pull the important information out quite quickly,” he added.

“Working in the research lab trained me to ask questions, read scientific articles, and improved my hand-eye coordination.”

In typical Orcutt fashion, the challenge of getting accepted to only one med school just increased his determination.

“Honestly, this drove me to prove everyone wrong and to earn my spot,” he said. “I still feel like I have something to prove, and it pushes me to be my best daily. The road is extremely hard, but damn it was fun.”

Like several others featured in this article, Orcutt was quick to emphasize the importance of being involved in extracurricular activities as an undergraduate – both in one’s own development, and in moving forward in one’s career.

“My time as a college athlete was invaluable,” Orcutt said. He learned “countless life lessons such as time management, grit, teamwork and leadership, and communications skills.

“It was also a HUGE talking point in interviews,” he added. “Applicants involved in college athletics, arts and music are very highly sought after in medical fields.”

Kathy

Tynon, Peggy Groff End Long Peru State Careers... Continued.

Tynon, who along with husband Mike ‘70 lives just a block from campus, has many fond memories of her days at Peru State. She recalls a Homecoming Spirit Week event called “backwards day” when she and Becky Kohrs walked into then-President Jerry Gallentine’s office wearing their clothes backwards, cracking up the President.

Fun memories of working with the college Support Staff on Homecoming floats (“I did not see a Homecoming parade for many years because I was in the parade”), a staff bubble gum blowing contest (“Linda Moody, secretary to the President, held the largest bubble for the longest time”), and the 1990 NAIA national championship football run are among her favorite recollections.

“I have fed more college students at our home than you can imagine,” she added. “Lots of kids over the years helped on our hog farm, so cooking every Saturday was a constant. Tim Herman (‘95), Kurt Hasley (‘92), Bob Hansen (‘92) and Jim Gilbert (‘93)” - all members of that national champion football team - “loved chili,” Tynon remembered.

She remembers taking a full year of Dr. Lester Russell’s (‘51) electricity classes in the ‘80s, thinking she might want to be an electrician. His wife, Esther (Holmes ‘51) Russell, taught Tynon how to quilt, and “I’ll always be grateful for the time we spent together quilting.”

After 42 years of dedication to Peru State, it’s time for Kathy Tynon to spend her days quilting, cooking, and “being able to spend more time with family.” That includes daughters Kelly Bequette ‘90, former student Tricia Adams, and son Andy ‘98 plus six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. office wearing their clothes backwards, cracking up the President.

Fun memories of working with the college Support Staff on Homecoming floats (“I did not see a Homecoming parade for many years because I was in the parade”), a staff bubble gum blowing contest (“Linda Moody, secretary to the President, held the largest bubble for the longest time”), and the 1990 NAIA national championship football run are

among her favorite recollections.

“I have fed more college students at our home than you can imagine,” she added. “Lots of kids over the years helped on our hog farm, so cooking every Saturday was a constant. Tim Herman (‘95), Kurt Hasley (‘92), Bob Hansen (‘92) and Jim Gilbert (‘93)” - all members of that national champion football team - “loved chili,” Tynon remembered.

She remembers taking a full year of Dr. Lester Russell’s (‘51) electricity classes in the ‘80s, thinking she might want to be an electrician. His wife, Esther (Holmes ‘51) Russell, taught Tynon how to quilt, and “I’ll always be grateful for the time we spent together quilting.”

After 42 years of dedication to Peru State, it’s time for Kathy Tynon to spend her days quilting, cooking, and “being able to spend more time with family.” That includes daughters Kelly Bequette ‘90, former student Tricia Adams, and son Andy ‘98 plus six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Thank you Peggy and Kathy for more than a combined 87 year of service!

Still having fun after a combined 87 years of work at Peru State College

Page 5

Inside this Peru Stater you’ll

Page 12

Page 21

Waugh Steps Up As Interim President

Alumni Excellence Awards

Bobcat Brushstrokes

Pages 22 Honor Roll of Donors

Pages 26 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

Page 28

Bobcat Basketballers at Next Level

The Peru Stater is published twice each year by the Peru State College Foundation. Send your comments, news items and address changes to:

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