UNK Today Fall 2015 Issue

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Karen (Couvillon) Goracke '88 Executive in Residence

Upcoming Campus Events The UNK Phi Delt alumni raced alongside current members of Karen the PhiMonson, Delta Theta fraternity during Janette Bier, Connie (Swanson) Franzen, the 36th annual Bike Bowl.Karen (Harrow) Butolph

BIKE BOWL: The UNK Blue and Gold Brigade put on the 36th annual Bike Bowl at the Nebraska Safety Center on Saturday, April 25. The winning team in the Student Division was Alpha Omicron Pi (pictured right) and the Phi Delt Retro captured the Alumni/Community Division title (pictured top right).

September 9/3 9/8 9/10 9/11 9/11 9/12 9/12 9/15 9/18 9/25 9/25 9/27

Loperville Tailgate prior to UNK vs. NWMSU football game Milton Mendel Keinberg - Holocaust survivor and author talk Volleyball UNK vs. Illinois Springfield Volleyball UNK vs. University of Mary Volleyball UNK vs. Chadron State Volleyball UNK vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball UNK vs. Sioux Falls Volleyball UNK vs. University of Saint Mary Soccer UNK vs. Fort Hays State UNK Homecoming through Sept. 26 (See details on pages 18-21.)

Soccer UNK vs. Missouri Southern State Soccer UNK vs. Southwest Baptist

October

10/2 Soccer UNK vs. Central Missouri 10/4 Soccer UNK vs. Lindenwood 10/6 Volleyball UNK vs. Fort Hays State 10/7 Studio Theatre, The Creation of the World and Other Business, produced by Alpha Psi Omega 10/9 Volleyball UNK vs. Washburn 10/10 Taste of Kearney, prior to the UNK vs. Northeastern State University football game 10/10 Volleyball UNK vs. Emporia State 10/16 Class of 1965 Golden Anniversary through Oct. 17 10/19 Fall Break through Oct. 20 10/20 Volleyball UNK vs. Bellevue 10/23 Volleyball UNK vs. Lindenwood 10/23 Soccer UNK vs. Emporia State 10/24 Loperville Tailgate prior to UNK vs. Pittsburg State football game 10/24 Volleyball UNK vs. Central Missouri 10/26 Soccer UNK vs. Washburn 10/28 Volleyball UNK vs. Peru State

November

11/6 UNK Volleyball vs. Northwest Missouri 11/6 UNK Gold Torch Society Women’s Mentoring through Nov. 7 11/7 Loperville Tailgate prior to UNK vs. Missouri Western State football game Bike Bowl fans voted, 11/7 Volleyball UNK vs. Missouri Western State student Allie McCann 11/13 Volleyball UNK vs. Southwest Baptist Peddlin’ Petunia and 11/14 Volleyball UNK vs. Missouri Southern State 11/16 Women’s Basketball UNK vs. University of Mary Tom Tye II Peddlin’ Pete.

11/18 Men’s Basketball UNK vs. Chadron State 11/18 Miriam Drake Theatre, Tartuffe through Nov. 22 11/22 Men’s Basketball UNK vs. Hastings 11/28 Women’s Basketball UNK vs. Wayne State

December

12/10 Blue Gold Brigade (BGBG) Operation Graduation, graduation party for seniors 12/18 Winter Commencement

Visit unkalumni.org for more UNK Alumni Association events and details and Lopers.com for more information on all sporting events.

Ward Schrack served as this year’s Bike Bowl race marshal.

Schrack played an integral role in the creation of the Bike Bowl.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Dear Alumni and Friends, By the time you read this, Senior Vice Chancellor Charlie Bicak and I will have presided over what we believe to be one of the most historic days in Nebraska: the opening ceremony for our new Health Science Education Complex. On Aug. 20, some 24 years after UNK joined the University of Nebraska system, we realized the full potential of our state. The power of the University of Nebraska is demonstrated in our unprecedented alignment with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, an alignment destined to enhance access to education and training opportunities for students in health careers, and to improve healthcare delivery for people in central and western Nebraska. I congratulate and thank Dr. Bicak and our colleagues at UNMC, especially Dr. Kyle Meyer, Dean of the College of Allied Health Professions, and Dr. Julie Sebastian, Dean of the College of Nursing. Together these three worked tirelessly to bring an idea to life. They made it happen. Our vision for the Health Science Education Complex, and the generosity and shared vision of the Nebraska Legislature and donors, have combined to profoundly impact UNK and Nebraska for generations to come.

In addition to celebrating the Health Science grand opening, we are excited to see work starting at University Village, another ambitious and far-reaching project that promises to change our university and place it in a national spotlight. Working in concert with the Kearney community, UNK is developing a neighborhood that will double the size of our campus and bring businesses, organizations, housing, services, recreation and academic buildings together in a unique village-like setting. I will keep you updated on our progress.

This fall began our 110th year as an institution of higher learning. As we welcomed some 7,000 students from all over the nation and the world, I was again struck by the importance of our work in helping them grow and develop. Our marketing brand, “We Are Difference Makers,” says it all. You, as alumni and friends, make a difference every day in your work and service, in your homes and communities, and through the generous support you provide our students — the difference makers of tomorrow.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition of UNK Today. Best wishes to you and sincere thanks.

It’s always a great day to be a Loper!

DOUGLAS A. KRISTENSEN, J.D. Chancellor

COM M ENCEM ENT PICTURES:

Each semester, UNK Alumni celebrate and welcome our new alums with a photo booth while they are preparing for the ceremonies.

VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & DEVELOPMENT Lucas Dart ‘97 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI COMMUNICATION Michelle (Thompson) Widger ‘90 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Tricia (Sunderman) Danburg ‘94 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Toni (Winsor) Meyers ‘93 EDITOR, ART DIRECTOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER Michelle Widger ‘90, UNK Alumni Association Assistant Director Communication EDITOR EMERITUS Jim Rundstrom ‘64, UNK Alumni Association Director Emeritus MANAGING EDITOR Dorothy Endacott, NU Foundation Vice President Director Marketing Communications ASSISTANT EDITOR Kelly Bartling, UNK Assistant Vice Chancellor Communications & Community Relations PHOTOGRAPHY UNK Alumni Association Corbey Dorsey/UNK Athletics UNK Communications

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: U N K To d a y University of Nebraska at Kearney Campus Box 21 Kearney, Nebraska 68849 Phone: 308.698.5271 Web: unkalumni.org facebook.com/UNKAlumni twitter.com/UNKAlumni linkedin.com/interests/groups/ University of Nebraska at Kearney Lopers@unkalumni.org

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UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Dennis Pool ‘70, President, Gretna Jack Kreman ‘04, President-Elect, Noblesville, Indiana Gary Reber ‘86, Past President, Lincoln Brenda (Snodgrass) Christensen ‘83, Ex-Officio Emeriti, Minden MEMBERS Herman Baptiste ‘90, Olathe,Kan. Lauren (Mollard) Brandt ‘09, Kearney Mark Felker ‘86, Adams Abby (Losey) Grenke ‘01, Aurora, Ill. Robin (Rubenthaler) Hines ‘88, MSE ‘91, North Platte Pat (Kelly) Hoehner ‘57 MSE ‘67 ES ‘82, Kearney Leah (Bruns) Holmberg ‘94, Jordan, Minn.

Todd Van Horn ‘93, Kearney Eileen (McDole) Jahn ‘96, Kearney Norman Lang ‘68, Mill Creek, Wash.

Mary (Buchanan) Mach ‘85, Fairbury Barry McFarland ‘00, MAE ’05, ES ’12, Lexington Curt Ott ‘07, Kearney Bill Peard ‘84, Waukee, Iowa Katherine Pollock-Peterson ‘79, Kearney Angela Reynolds ’09, MBA ‘10, Wood River Bethany Spilde ‘06, Olathe, Kan. Katie (Swett) Diediker ‘13, Seward Carolyn Wagner-Snyder ‘64, Carbondale, Ill. Heidi Weber ‘07, Hastings Vicki (Vetter) Zikmund ‘74, Kearney UNK Today is published twice a year by the Alumni Association and the University of Nebraska Foundation and is the official alumni publication of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Fall 2015

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IN THIS ISSUE 4

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UNK’s Executive in Residence

Karen (Couvillon) Goracke '88, giving back, direct to the students

Cyber-Defenders Competition

National event showcases UNK skills in niche’ industry

8 Proving There Is Strength in Unity

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UNK Alumni Association, NU Foundation now operating from one office

The Big Event

Students working together to give back to the Kearney community

From UNK to Norway

“Pride of the Plains” shares music, friendship

New Dean of College of Education

Q&A With Dr. Sheryl Feinstein

Building a Healthier Nebraska

UNK and UNMC celebrate opening the Health Science Education Complex

16 New University of Nebraska President

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Hank Bounds excited about UNK’s role in making NU a “giant in higher ed”

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18 Alumni Awards Announced

2015 award recipients to be celebrated September 25

22 Kropp Retires

After 39 seasons coaching UNK Basketball

24 Loper Legends and Alumni Notes

Lopers around the world in 2015

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The University of Nebraska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. Individuals needing accommodation under ADA should contact the ADA Coordinator at UNK, 308.865.8655.

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B y K elly B artling UNK C ommunications

UNK’s Executive in Residence Karen (Couvillon) Goracke ’88, giving back, direct to the students

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hen Karen Goracke ’88 was approached to be UNK’s Executive in Residence this fall she was at first surprised, then ecstatic.

“I could not be more proud! I hate to brag, but I would take out a billboard, I would,” she said. “This really just means so much to me. I absolutely adored my time there at UNK and I still have the very best friends from my experience in Kearney.”

Giving back, by sharing her knowledge and ideas with students, is something the Borsheims CEO has been waiting to do. The College of Business and Technology Executive in Residence will give her that chance in October: To talk to students, visit with faculty and play a mentor role to anyone who wants to Karen (Couvillon) Goracke ’88 learn more about retail, Berkshire Hathaway, working for Warren Buffett, merchandising, accounting, sales – her list of what she wants to talk about is long.

Growing up in Omaha, Goracke headed to then Kearney State in 1984 and became active in Gamma Phi Beta sorority, majoring in business administration and organizational communication. During college, she worked part-time at McDermott & Miller, which gave her a “great basis” – that combination of accounting and business, along with her education, was the winning combination to get her started in retail. Borsheims, the famed fine jewelry retailer in Omaha, was her first – eventually only – job.

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“It was a super entry-level job, then when Berkshire Hathaway bought it, they were looking for someone to handle their inventory control systems. I volunteered. I worked on the conversions they needed, then went into buying, then merchandise.”

Goracke went from a gift sales associate, to inventory supervisor, then to watch buyer.

In 1998 she took six years off to be at home with her family, but then CEO Susan Jacques convinced her to return as the ladies’ jewelry buyer in 2004. Next came a promotion to Director of Merchandise, then to CEO in 2013.

“Yes, Warren Buffett is my boss and people are quite curious about him. I don’t talk to him every day, of course, it’s just a few times a year. And yes, it’s pretty awesome to travel with Warren Buffett.”

Goracke believes the keys to her success are work ethic and diversifying her skills. Trying new things and being the one to step up and say “I can do that” helped her prove herself and get more responsibility. Eventually being responsible for buying for the entire store and overseeing four full-time buyers was thrilling.

“I was pretty vocal about volunteering for projects at work.

That’s what really set my direction. When Berkshire Hathaway bought it, there were no accounting systems. However, there

Feature was me coming in and volunteering, and the CFO saying ‘You figure it out.’ That was really the turning point here for me. That’s what got me where I am today, being vocal, getting myself noticed, all of those things. I attribute that to the atmosphere in Kearney and having a great social network as well.

“Living in a sorority with all those girls, you had to adapt to things,” she says, laughing. “I’ve never been shy, but my experiences at Kearney made me very confident and a gogetter. I often go back to those lessons I learned in Kearney, the academic and work experience. That has done it.”

She and her husband, Bruce ’87, have three boys. The youngest is going into eighth grade; the oldest is a junior in college and the middle son started college this fall. None has yet come to UNK. (Goracke jokes that there is still time to work on the youngest.)

At Borsheims, she has more than 200 employees and 25,000 square feet of show room, with an entire facility of 62,500 square feet. Imagine keeping all of it fresh, filled and staffed. At one time, there were two locations, with a Boutique that opened in 2013. That retailer recently closed and reintegrated its Nebraska Crossing near Gretna location back to its original spot at Regency. Retail and outlets can be difficult.

Goracke said trying the outlet location at Gretna was not a mistake, it was an experiment.

“I can’t say Nebraska Crossing was disappointing. We went into it with our eyes wide open ... a short-term lease to try it out. For a retailer like us who’s already discounting, it seemed like a lot of work for not a lot of return. We were 20 minutes away from our main location and always shuffling people back and forth. It was hard for us being so small. I’m not a super risk-taker, but you have to try some things. If you’re not failing at something you’re not working hard enough.”

Goracke wants to talk as much as possible with students during her executive visit, sharing in particular her views on retail and competing with the “Amazon experience,” where customers have all the options they would ever want at their fingertips but little opportunity to touch and talk about their purchases.

What’s Goracke’s future plans? Retiring anytime soon? “Oh my no. We have an employee here who works full time and she’s 93. She’s really a go-getter. I can’t see myself here at 93 but maybe somewhere between 60 and 93.

“I’ve thought about teaching, finding some way to give back. I’ve got a lot left in me and I’m glad to be here and look at how I can use all of what I have to give back.” n

History of the Executive in Residence Program The Ron Landstrom Executive in Residence Program brings successful business executives to the University of Nebraska Kearney campus to talk with students in the College of Business & Technology regarding “best business practices” as well as their personal career paths and lessons learned. Typically, the executive engages students in several classes, makes a campus presentation on their area of expertise, and participates in a session with the CBT Student Advisory Board and faculty, as well as participating in a networking opportunity with the Business Advisory Board.

This program was created as a result of a generous financial gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation by Jerry Taylor, KSC/UNK alumnus and former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Applied Materials, and his wife, Jeanne.

Taylor chose to name the program after one of his favorite business professors, Ron Landstrom, because of his profound respect and gratitude toward the man who helped and inspired him as an undergraduate. n

2014 2013 2012 2009 2008 2006

Richard Salmen ‘88

JoAn Scott ‘86

Kirk Stinson ‘91

Bill Bauhard ‘67

Larry Hall ‘64

Ron Williams ‘67

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College of Business and Technology

Cyber-Defenders Competition National event showcases UNK skills in niche’ industry

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hen thrown at them by a UNK group of professional Professor cyber-security experts and cyber-coach Angela and consultants from Hollman ’01 answered companies such her phone March 19, as TrustedSec and she was in for a surprise.

Raytheon.

The U.S. UNK’s first Department of Defense competing team – and had been watching her winning team – of six-member student security/hackers placed team that won the first in technical and North Central Regional second in business Collegiate Cyber injects categories to win TEAMWORK: Members of the Information Networking and Telecommunications team that Defense Competition first place overall. The placed first at the North Central Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition are, left to and qualified for the team included Michael right: Coach Angela Hollman, Devin McIntyre, Olivier Avande, Nery Cabrera, Jesus Moreno, national stage in San Odell of Alliance; Nery Doug Perez and Michael Odell.

Antonio in April.

Cabrera and Jesus The U.S. Moreno of Lexingon; Department of Defense told Hollman they want to recruit the Devin McIntyre of Odell; Doug Perez from Los Angeles, UNK students. All of them.

California and Olivier Avande from Benin, West Africa.

“What about internships for the students who have a couple “It was literally like a scene out of an old, cliché movie,” said years left?” she demanded lightheartedly. Apparently, those can be McIntyre, an Information Networking and Telecommunications arranged, too.

(INT) minor. “We continually faced adversity with calm, collected This was UNK’s first-year competing at the cyber defense action and stuck to our game plan. (To win) felt amazing.” competition. Consequently, it was Hollman’s first-year coaching Moreno said it was stressful manning the firewall against the team on how to handle hacking attempts and business attacks for so many hours, but he had confidence because of what injects — where business tasks were assigned to the team — he had learned in class.

“Dr. Hollman told us we already had the skills we needed WINNING: Olivier Avande from Benin, West Africa, was on UNK’s first competing to hold our own against the other teams who had already team – and winning team – of security/hackers at the North Central Regional competed in the competition,” said Moreno, also an INT major.

Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

“She told us to stay calm and just have fun.”

Still, the six said they were nervous when they arrived at the competition. They contrasted their humble apparel and basic laptops with other teams, who they said were dressed in uniforms, acted confidently and carried “lots of expensivelooking devices.”

Odell, a junior, recalled those first moments. “All I could think about was that I didn’t want our team to come in last, and I kept asking Hollman, ‘What have you gotten us into?’ ” But Hollman wasn’t rattled.

“It’s all about the fundamentals and learning how to solve problems on the fly,” said Hollman, assistant professor of INT. “That’s what we teach in the INT program.”

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College of Business and Technology “UNK’s program is unique,” said Adam Haeder, a Google employee who serves on the advisory board for Hollman’s program.

“No one else combines much needed components outside of computer programming like the INT program at UNK,” Haeder said.

Further, Hollman said, Kearney is becoming known for its technology.

In March, President Obama selected Kearney as one of 21 communities in the nation to participate in a new national training effort to fill technology jobs.

“Kearney has kind of become the tech capital of rural Nebraska,” Hollman said. “Our tech sector growth out here in central Nebraska exploded long before the recent TechHire Initiative.”

IT SUPPORT: Frontier Communications recently gave $4,000 to UNK’s Information Networking and And where there’s a need, Telecom program for scholarships and summer internships. The check presented by Frontier marked support follows. the 15th year of the company’s partnership with UNK and pushed the total given to $60,000. Pictured from Two weeks after winning CCDC left to right: Angie (Oeltjen) Pacheco '89 MAE '99, Frontier medium accounts executive; Tim Obermier regionals, Frontier Communications '83, INT department chair; Angela (Emrick) Hollman '01 MSE '09, INT assistant professor; Ron Tuttle, INT stopped by the INT lab to present professor; and Shayne Zwiener '91, Frontier general manager for Nebraska. another check for $4,000 to the program. The company unveiled a to anyone watching UNK’s students work together at the cyber new DSL connection in the lab that defense competition. This successful tactic eventually resulted in will allow INT students to set up simulations that would otherwise the phone call from the U.S. Department of Defense. be too much of a security or resource liability if attempted on the Although each of the six UNK members were either campus network. minoring or majoring in INT, Hollman said, she specifically Frontier is one of many companies lining up to help support recruited those six students because of their diverse skill set across the education of future tech employees in central Nebraska. disciplines and their ability to work together.

In November, Kearney-based technology company Intellicom “We were able to leverage students with programming skills, Computer Consulting donated $150,000 to the program in the networking skills, server admin, all kinds of skills, regardless form of cash, equipment and time. Dan Shundoff, president and of whether or not they were majoring in or minoring in INT,” CEO of Intellicom, said the donation is a smart investment.

Hollman said. “My primary advice to the students going into “Collaborating with the university, especially within the INT the competition was to work together as one unit, focus only on program, felt right,” said Shundoff. “We have the ability to build fundamentals, and have fun, knowing that if they beat just one something special here and I wanted to take advantage of that.” other team in their first year, they should feel very successful.”

All the technology programs at UNK are outstanding, Even before nationals, there was already talk about next year’s Hollman said, and she wants to help breed a culture of competition. The team competed well at Nationals; although they collaboration among students. didn’t place, the students gained confidence,” Hollman said.

“If I have a student who really wants to focus on “There is a lot of demand to be on next year’s team already, programming or on web design or business systems, then I’ll walk but we realistically will only have a couple new spots open for them down to computer science or multimedia, or Management that team,” Hollman said. “But, we still have seats open in the INT Information Systems,” she said. “And if those programs find a program and our door is open to visit with all motivated students student who is passionate about networking or cyber security, who are interested in this field. then that student needs to hear what my program is about.”

“All they have to do is call, email or knock. We’ll be waiting.” n A similar strategy of diversity and teamwork was apparent 7

Alumni News

Proving There Is Strength in Unity UNK Alumni Association, NU Foundation now operating from one office

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he University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association and the University of Nebraska Foundation are now working together from one office headquarters at 214 W. 39th St. in Kearney.

The organizations combined their operations in 2010 to fully integrate alumni relations activities and encourage even greater alumni engagement and philanthropic support for the university.

After evaluating options for one office that could accommodate all employees, networks and equipment, the office building leased by the NU Foundation was selected to serve as the combined headquarters for the organizations. The office was recently renovated to add more offices and a conference room.

“Successful university advancement today requires that broad constituent engagement take place alongside major gift development efforts,” said Lucas Dart, vice president for alumni relations and development. “By bringing our teams together, we are improving our ability to serve UNK’s many constituents and the campus itself.”

About the integration, UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen said, “This is a good model for UNK. It is similar to the one

used by many private schools of our size that have combined development and engagement activities under one umbrella. I believe it is a step forward for our campus.”

Alumni Association employees had previously worked from the UNK Alumni House. While no longer serving as an office, the Alumni House, located south of campus at 2222 9th Ave., continues to be a resource for both the university and Kearney community. As the oldest building associated with UNK’s history, it is used regularly by university groups and the public for meetings and events.

“The decision to move our staff from the Alumni House took considerable thought because it’s a special and sentimental place, but the demands of our operation have made it a must,” Dart said.

“We feel good knowing that such a historic place will continue to be part of the campus, even if its role has changed.”

Plans are being developed for a future, permanent home for the alumni association and foundation office. While the exact location has not been determined, the office will be located within the University Village development, south of Highway 30 on the west side of campus. n

UNITED: The UNK Alumni Association integrated with the University of Nebraska Foundation in December 2010 and moved to be under one room in one building in May 2015. Pictured from left: Dusty Jura '08 MBA '15, Michelle (Thompson) Widger '90, Toni (Winsor) Meyers '93, Kristin (Wittman) Howard '00, Pete Kotsiopulos '70, Tricia (Sunderman) Danburg '94, Anne McConkey '02, Laura (Bond) Miller '86 and Lucas Dart '97. Not pictured is Lisa Hoffman.

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Campus News

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ore than 700 students, the highest number to date, participated in the 10th annual The Big Event April 11 at 43 different sites around Kearney.

Volunteers completed various jobs around the community, including mowing lawns, painting houses and cleaning gutters.

Cacia Lyon, a senior communication major from Giltner, said students worked as needed, “Things elderly people might not be able to do for themselves. There are a lot of churches, schools

Students working together to give back to the Kearney community and non-profit organizations that registered to be job sites as well.”

Junior Katie Kuntz, an exercise science major from Otis, Colorado, has participated in The Big Event for the past two years, both times with the Alpha Phi group. “Service is a core value for Alpha Phi, and I am really passionate about doing community service events,” she said. “Kearney is such a great community to be a part of, and they support the college so much, I feel it’s important to give back to them in whatever way I can” n

GIVING BACK: More than 700 University of Nebraska at Kearney students are participating in The Big Event on April 11, volunteering their time to give back to the community by taking on service projects at 43 locations across the city.

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College of Fine Arts and Humanities

B y E llen L aird

From UNK to Norway “Pride of the Plains” shares music, friendship

UNK’s Pride of the Plains Marching Band traveled to Norway May 13-19 for a special trip abroad, tied to performances during Constitution Day on May 17, hosted by a marching band in Sandefjord. Percussionist Ellen Laird wrote this account.

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s the captain announced our descent into Oslo, I looked out the window of the plane to see the line between the water of the North Sea and the shores of Norway. Once we landed and claimed our luggage, we got onto the bus for a two-hour drive to Sandefjord. After going through multiple roundabouts and over what seemed like hundreds of speedbumps, we arrived at our home-base conference center, Strand Leirsted in Sandefjord.

It was twilight, and greeting us was the Haukerod Skolekorps (the Norway student band) in formation playing the sequence we would play in the May 17 parades. It was a warm welcome. All of the Pride members were happy and smiling despite just spending two days traveling.

The first day of rehearsal, Friday, May 15, we split into sectionals. I was with the drumline. One of the many interesting things we learned about the students from Haukerod is that they have been playing music since they were in elementary school, some had been playing for 15 years. Their English was also well-practiced.

As a line we played for each other our version of the cadence, called “Jiggy.” It was enjoyable to listen to the Haukerod line play and hear the differences in sound compared to our line. After we played “Jiggy,” they had big grins and you could tell they were excited to be able to play with a college-level drumline. We then played our cadence together and it fit together perfectly. The energy around us changed immediately. It was a feeling of such happiness that everyone was smiling so big after that first time we ran through the cadence. Parents and onlookers around us were in tears, loving the sound.

On parade day morning, everyone was sore and stiff from rehearsals but we were ready for what was in store. Once we

On May 15, these members of the Pride of the Plains Marching Band were touring Sandefjord, Norway, their destination to perform for the Constitution-Day parade on May 17. This sculpture honoring Norwegian whaling heritage was a nice spot to throw the Lopes.

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College of Fine Arts and Humanities

GETTING JIGGY: The Pride of the Plains brass march in the first of two parades on May 17 in Sandefjord, Norway. The crowd, above right, depicts the significance of the national day parades. Norwegians wear their finest, traditional costumes. The red-uniformed band members are students from Haukerod Skolkorps. We spent a lot of time together teaching them how to march and perform with pride and in unison.

stepped off as a band we started our march to the flag ceremony at Nygard Sykehjem, where we received gifts, and a warm welcome from everyone and cheers of “Hip hip! Hoorah! Hip hip! Hoorah!

Hip hip! Hoorah!” in celebration of the May 17 Constitution Day. As we marched down to the park to start the Children’s Parade, we had already marched more than three miles. Some of us (me!) were already tired and it was only 10 a.m.

We got to a stopping place to set our instruments down just before the first parade and already there were thousands of people around us. Everyone was waving Norwegian flags, dressed in traditional clothing and kids were running around with balloons strapped to their arms.

The first parade, we split up the bands and played on our own, just as the Pride of the Plains Marching Band. The narrow streets were packed with just enough room for the bands and children to march through. It was almost distracting for some of us seeing so many people in the area, with so much energy. We heard “Nebraska!” and “UNK!” as we marched. Clearly our band was a highlight for them and they knew to look for us, having been featured the day before in the local newspaper.

The second parade, The Town’s Parade, was a bit longer than the first, and this is when we played together. We taught the Haukerod students how to perform the “Pride way” dancing in unison during the “rock” part of the cadence with each section doing their own thing in unison. The Norwegians loved watching it.

The last night UNK students spent with the Norwegian students was bittersweet. We had a barbecue and scavenger hunt.

To end the night, we took a big group selfie. There were lots of tears as we were saying our last good-byes.

The friendships the Pride of the Plains made will be for a lifetime. Everyone is now connected through social media, but it was hard to leave Sandefjord without feeling like something in me had changed. It made me realize that music has the power to communicate through people and bring them together in ways nothing else can. That is something very special and an experience that no one should miss. n

Laird is a journalism major from Cozad . This was her first trip overseas.

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College of Education B y K elly B artling UNK C ommunications

New Dean of College of Education Q&A With Dr. Sheryl Feinstein

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s you’re settling in and getting to know UNK and the College of Education, what are your first impressions?

Your academic research and publishing is on adolescence and cognitive processes. This sounds fascinating.

Yes, this is the focus of my scholarly work. I’ve done research with middle school after-school programs, and we found once we started these programs, adolescent crime went down 52 percent immediately because of the additional supervision.

This was an exciting discovery.

I was also able to do research in Tanzania on adolescents, and along with that I’ve done a quite a bit on children and adults with special needs. One of the books I wrote was about women in Tanzania with chronic illness and disabilities. I have MEET THE NEW DEAN: Sheryl Feinstein started as dean in April You spent 16 years at a great deal of interest in helping and sat down with us during her first week.

Augustana College (Sioux Falls, under-represented populations. One South Dakota). How did your population in particular has been experiences there prepare you adolescent boys in correctional facilities. for this new role at UNK, and was it hard to leave?

One of my books is “At-Risk Teenagers,” and so I’ve done I was chair of a number of programs, and they were a great deal of work with that population and with Native structured differently, with the department chairs taking on American adolescents. It’s interesting that just this last spring more responsibility. I was in charge of six different programs: I had Southern legislators ask me to come speak to them at a elementary education, secondary education, special education, conference in Savannah to talk about teenagers. I also had a deaf and hard of hearing, communication disorders and sign request from a group in Ohio, where they are experiencing a language interpreting. Many of those translate easily into UNK’s problem with suicides. Teenagers went to the school’s parenting College of Education (COE). I also worked a lot with our human group after reading my book and asked them to have me come. performance department, so now I’m pleased to get to work with I’m going there in October. How could I not make that work? faculty where that’s their focus. I love the mind and body; it’s a powerful combination.

In Aberdeen, South Dakota and Luverne, Minnesota, Yes, it was hard to say goodbye. I had a great deal of where you were working on your Ph.D.; you worked administrative support there. A lot of faculty support, a lot of with public school systems. We know schools are facing many challenges today. How do you see your friends (laughing) ... There were a number of going-away parties. role as dean of one of Nebraska’s top producers of I felt I was on a goodbye tour. Sometimes it’s time for a change educators helping to meet these challenges? and time for new challenges. That’s where I was in my life.

I see myself as needing to be an advocate of all the There were things about UNK that drew me here. The footprint stakeholders: our undergraduate and graduate students, K-12 the College of Education has here in the state is big and that’s students, and the faculty and staff here in the COE. It is very exciting. The whole “Difference Makers” story of UNK fits in to challenging to be a teacher or administrator in this day and age. what we’re doing here, and into the field of education. To be a The realities are that we have national and state initiatives that part of that is exciting.

I’m struck by how very welcoming the faculty and staff are at UNK. I have to say it’s rare that you meet a community that makes you feel so welcome from the very start. It’s actually extended beyond UNK to the community of Kearney. I absolutely appreciate it. Everyone is very committed to UNK. It’s great to see this type of pride. I think the campus is beautiful. I was lucky to come at the time I came when it is so green.

It’s lovely to walk the campus.

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College of Education we need to abide by. Society is asking school systems to be very programs, which was interesting because often I had to have accountable to them. That’s fair, but we translators which made it a bit more challenging. But need to keep our focus on they were very eager to have what is helpful and best for an American on faculty. the students. We’ve seen a From my Moldovan lot of bashing of educators. I fellowship I co-authored don’t think you bash people to two different research greatness. I believe educators articles that were published deserve a different tack. in Romania.

I think Nebraska has done I collaborated with a good job of being cautious as a Moldovan professor on they adopted more standardized both and then we were able tests … taking these steps to involve a professor from carefully. I want (policies and Tanzania in one of the articles. testing) to be well-thought-out.

A Moldovan woman and I Not jumping on bandwagons. It’s wrote a children’s book about a a balance. Assessments need to be little girl who discovers she wants done; however, we want to make to be an engineer, “Elana the sure they enhance, not hinder Engineer. ” I’m particularly excited Dr. Feinstein’s books she has published include “Secrets of the Teenage Brain: Research-Based Strategies for Reaching and students and learning. about this book, our intention is Teaching Today’s Adolescents” and “Parenting the Teenage to donate 500 copies to the various Brain: Understanding a Work in Progress.”

Just prior to moving to schools and libraries in Moldova.

Kearney you were on a Fulbright fellowship in Moldova. What was that experience like?

My first Fulbright actually was seven years ago in Tanzania.

Recently, because of issues in Ukraine, Moldova has become a hotspot and there was a lot more interest in educational research and outreach there.

Also Unicef had come in with a strong recommendation on what needed to be done in their schools, and Moldova was interested in implementing UNICEF’s ideas. I enjoyed having those conversations with them. I also taught in their master’s

Free time. Do you have any? How do you like to spend it?

I like to exercise and read books. Those are probably the two hobbies I enjoy most. Getting together with friends is nice and I have four grown children that I am very proud of, so I greatly enjoy visiting them and having them visit me.

We think you look pretty good in Loper blue.

At Augustana, the colors were blue and gold! It’s good that I love those colors! n

One Room, One Teacher Sparks Memories of Life on the Plains After an article in the winter alumni magazine about one room schools, Donna Applegarth ’67 MAE ’84 recalled her years of teaching in western Nebraska.

“I was 17 when I began teaching in a one-room school known as the Elmer School in Hayes County for one year in 1943. The next school was District 13 in Chase County where I taught three years,” she said.

Applegarth said there was no electricity, no running water and, of course, no indoor plumbing. “The first year I walked three miles to school, carried in water and firewood to have the building warm when the students arrived.

“The second school was so poorly constructed, the wind practically whistled through the schoolroom. In fact, one day the stove pipe fell and everything was covered with black, sticky soot.

“The mice were so bad, I pulled the drawers out of my desk so they would not build nests in them during the night.”

Applegarth taught all classes.

“Almost all grades were represented with the exception of kindergarten. I was janitor, counselor, nurse, noon and recess participant, and any other role Donna Applegarth ‘67 MAE ‘84 that was needed.”

She eventually earned her bachelor’s degree in 1967 and master’s degree in 1984. She retired after teaching and subbing for almost 60 years in and around Chase County.

“I am very thankful and proud that I was able to accomplish helping children this many years,” she said. n 13

College of Natural and Social Sciences B y K elly B artling UNK C ommunications

Health Science Education Complex:  Square Footage: 45,673 on two levels  Total Rooms: 179  Offices: 55, including 21 on first floor, 34 on the second level  Classrooms: 7, largest accommodates 66 students; two classrooms — with capacities of 24 and 36 — divided by a sound-proof wall that can retract into the ceiling and accommodate 60 students as one room.  Nursing Students: 168 (112 undergraduate & 56 professional/graduate)  Allied Health Students: 132 (34 undergraduate & 98 professional/graduate)  Total Students: 300 in nursing and allied health upon full implementation  Staff: 46 administration, faculty and staff, which include 16 new faculty and 9 new staff  Labs: anatomy, rehabilitation, musculoskeletal, assessment, task training  Simulation Rooms: 4 clinical exam, 4 control rooms, 3 simulation, changing rooms, debriefing, energized radiography

“The building has a nice, open feel and is a comfortable space that is inviting to everybody using it. When you’re in these spaces, you don’t feel like you’re in a traditional classroom,” said UNK Campus Architect Alan Wedige of the new $19 million Health Science Education Complex.

Building a Healthier Nebraska UNK and UNMC celebrate opening the Health Science Education Complex

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hen UNK officially opened the doors to its Health Science Education Complex on August 20, the celebration may have appeared to be the end of more than three years of planning and collaboration by the university, community supporters and health care professionals to realize a new central Nebraska health science education learning center.

But UNK and University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Chancellors Douglas Kristensen and Jeffrey Gold were there to say: It’s still just the beginning.

“What might the future hold? It’s interesting to dream about the possibilities with UNMC and other university partners. This is the biggest change to this campus since our days as Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney,” Kristensen said. “The development of this Health Science Education Complex will become a national model for rural health-care delivery and will bolster our reputation by demonstrating that we can deliver on big dreams and big projects.”

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The grand opening of the $19 million, 46,000-square-foot education complex does mark months of dreaming, planning, coalition-building, fundraising, and fine-tuning of programs and clinical and outreach opportunities that will be offered in this wonderful building on UNK’s western-most edge.

Kristensen and Gold, in their keynote remarks to the grand-opening crowd, focused on the fulfillment of need for expanded education opportunities for nurses and new opportunities for allied health professions. Those professions include physicians assistant, physical therapist, clinical laboratory scientist, radiographer and diagnostic medical sonographer, in addition to new graduate nursing and expanded undergraduate nursing opportunities at UNMC. The idea for the project emerged late in 2011 just prior to the beginning of the legislative session in which the university was looking to strategize on high value and long-term investments in Nebraska. The Building a Healthier Nebraska initiative was created and introduced to the Legislature.

College of Natural and Social Sciences CELEBRATION: University of Nebraska officials celebrate the ribbon cutting at the grand opening celebration of the new Health Science Education Complex. Jeffrey P. Gold, University of Nebraska Medical Center chancellor; Hank Bounds, University of Nebraska president; Doug Kristensen, UNK chancellor; Charlie Bicak, Senior Vice Chancellor Academic and Student Affairs and Joe Lang, Principal at RDg Planning and Design.

The Health Science Education Complex is made possible with support from the Nebraska Legislature through “Building a Healthier Nebraska” as well as generous private support, including leadership and major gifts from the following individuals and organizations:

UNK Senior Vice Chancellor Charles Bicak and Chancellor Kristensen immediately focused on a partnership with UNMC to expand nursing and other health professions training to help curb current and projected medical care shortages in rural Nebraska. Hal Maurer (who since has retired from his position as Chancellor of UNMC) College of Nursing Dean Julie Sebastian, and (now) College of Allied Health Professions Dean Kyle Meyer quickly said “Yes.” The successful LB 1055, passed in 2012 by the Legislature, combined $50 million in appropriations for a new nursing building in Lincoln, the veterinary diagnostic lab at UNL, the cancer research tower at UNMC, and the Health Science Education Complex at UNK. The university was required to help fund the projects with private donations. UNK’s contribution requirement was $4 million.

The August 20 celebration launched a new era for UNK and Nebraska. Access to health profession education has now expanded at the Kearney campus, and people in central and rural Nebraska are assured greater numbers of trained and skilled health care professionals.

“This project has been so successful,” Chancellor Kristensen said. “It has gained the attention of the other NU campuses and now everyone is wondering: ‘What can we do together next?’ ” n

Sharron Altmaier Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska CHI Health Good Samaritan CHI Health St. Francis Ron & Carol Cope Foundation First National Bank Tom & Mary Henning Kearney Clinic John & Sharon Martin Wayne & Virginia McKinney Minden Exchange Bank J. Scott & Teri Nelson New West Orthopaedic and Sports Rehabilitation Phelps Memorial Health Center Jim & Faye Rasmussen John & Sonia Sahling Gloria G. Tye Family William & Ruth Scott Family Foundation Emma Jane Wilder Paul & Linda Younes Though fundraising for the building is complete, program excellence and scholarship funds will be vital to expand the impact of the Health Science Education Complex. For more information on how you can help, please contact Lucas Dart at 308-698-5272 or lucas.dart@nufoundation.org.

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Nebraska University News

New University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds excited about UNK’s role in making NU a “giant in higher ed”

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n April 13, Dr. Hank Bounds began his tenure as the seventh president of the University of Nebraska.

Bounds comes to Nebraska from his native Mississippi, where he grew up on a small family farm and rose from high school teacher to principal, superintendent, state superintendent and, most recently, commissioner of higher education. Bounds and his wife, Susie, have two children, Will and Caroline.

We talked with President Bounds about his hopes and dreams for the university, and UNK’s vital role in achieving them.

What is your vision for the University of Nebraska?

All my life, I’ve wanted to be in a position where I could help change the world. The University of Nebraska presidency is that position. We have an opportunity to be a real giant in higher education, doing even more to impact the lives of Nebraskans and people around the world. I’m humbled and honored to be a part of this university.

I’ve spent my initial months doing a lot of listening and learning.

I’ve immersed myself on our campuses and in communities around the state. I’ve talked to as many constituents – faculty, staff, current and prospective students, alumni, donors, leaders in education, business and agriculture, policymakers and other Nebraskans – as I can. And everything I’ve learned has only convinced me more that the University of Nebraska can become one of America’s great universities.

What about UNK has most impressed you so far?

I’ve spent quite a bit of time on the UNK campus, and the momentum and energy here is contagious. There’s a real passion about what UNK is doing to serve Nebraska and rural communities in particular. One of the most important things the University of Nebraska can do is make sure we’re accessible to all Nebraskans, including students who are historically underrepresented in higher education. UNK does an excellent job of that. Many UNK students are the first in their families to attend college and the support system they find here – from mentoring and advising services, to the closeknit campus, to generous financial aid – is outstanding.

What about UNK’s role in growing the regional economy?

All of our campuses are major economic drivers in their region and across the state and UNK is no exception. The physical development of the campus is expanding UNK’s footprint in the community in a way that will transform the way UNK engages with the Kearney region. The University Village project is an exciting public-private development that will position UNK to do even more to grow the area economy.

Another project that will impact Nebraska is the Health Science Education Complex, an innovative partnership with UNMC that I see as a model for cross-campus collaboration.

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Coming from Mississippi, I know a lot about the challenges rural communities face, and a shortage of health care workers like nurses, physical therapists and physician assistants is a big one. The health science complex will go a long way toward meeting workforce University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds needs in Nebraska and expanding opportunities for students from rural areas. I’m grateful to Nebraska policymakers and private donors whose support has made this project possible.

How can UNK contribute to the University of Nebraska becoming a “giant in higher education”?

The University of Nebraska’s best days are ahead of us. We have momentum, talented employees and students, and incredible support from the public and private sectors. If we want to become truly great, we need to pick a few areas where we think we can be the best in the world and then go own those conversations.

Take water and agriculture. Feeding a population that is expected to grow from 7.2 billion to 9.6 billion by 2050 is one of the great global challenges of the day. The University of Nebraska can and should be in the lead. Early childhood education, rural development, national security and defense, and engineering and information science are some other examples. We’ll need the talents of UNK faculty, staff and students to be successful.

To me, that’s one of the great strengths of a system like the University of Nebraska. Each of our campuses has a unique mission within the university. But we also have an opportunity to be better together – one university working to serve Nebraskans.

Anything else you’d add?

Next year we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of UNK joining the University of Nebraska system. I could not be more excited about the momentum on this campus or our potential to take our success to the next level. UNK alumni, who provide valuable support and guidance, are an important part of that, and I want to thank them for what they do for the university. It’s a great time to be a Loper! n

University News

Learning Early Childhood

Institute seeks to deepen understanding of the targeted investment educational needs in Nebraska

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eadership of The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at The statewide need for high-quality early childhood programs the University of Nebraska visited Kearney and Grand and services is urgent and growing, Meisels said. According to First Island in July. The trip was the second in a series of Five Nebraska, approximately 42 percent of Nebraska’s children community visits by the Buffett Institute, with the goal from birth through age five are considered at risk for failing in of learning about early childhood programs and the needs of school (based on U.S. Census data for household income level). vulnerable young children across Nebraska.

Census data also suggests that the at-risk population of young While in Kearney and Grand Island, Founding Executive children has grown faster in rural counties than urban areas.

Director Samuel J. Meisels and Buffett Institute staff talked There is tremendous potential in Nebraska, Meisels said. He cited with school district targeted investments in early superintendents, Educational childhood in the state and a Service Unit staff, early substantial body of research childhood professionals and that demonstrates the representatives from UNK, effectiveness of high-quality Nebraska Department of early childhood programs.

Health and Human Services, “By joining forces with community organizations communities, school districts, and others in the area. higher education partners, “The Buffett Early agencies, and others, we Childhood Institute is a believe we can help change statewide institute of the the life trajectory of vulnerable University of Nebraska, young children,” Meisels said. and we are committed to He added that doing so also LEADERSHIP: College of Education Dean Sheryl Feinstein, UNK Chancellor Doug serving young children at strengthens communities, the Kristensen, NU President Hank Bounds and Buffett Early Childhood Institute risk throughout the state,” state and Nebraska’s future Founding Director Sam Meisels hosted a reception in July.

Meisels said. workforce. n

Tricia (Sunderman) Danburg ’94 Serving as your new Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement Tricia (Sunderman) Danburg recently joined the alumni team as the assistant director of alumni engagement. “I am excited to work with alumni, students and friends of the university. There are so many opportunities for alumni to be involved, and I think we have only begun to scratch the surface.”

Many changes are on the horizon for alumni events and the volunteer network. “Everything we do as an alumni association is to build connections between alumni and the university. As we develop our alumni engagement plan, there will be more opportunities for alumni to play an active role, whether it be as a mentor for current students or as a host for a local social event. Alumni volunteers will be essential to helping us carry out our mission.”

Danburg earned her agri-business degree from UNK in 1994 and now calls Axtell, Nebraska, home. Danburg has 20

years of marketing and project coordination experience with both non-profits and for-profits.

Prior to joining the UNK Alumni Association, Danburg was a senior program manager for SCORR Marketing in Kearney. She is active in the Axtell community and school, is a member of the UNK Gold Torch Society, a Leadership Tricia (Sunderman) Kearney alumnus and former Danburg '94 UNK Greek advisor.

For anyone wanting to host an event or become a volunteer, Danburg can be contacted at tricia.danburg@unkalumni.org or 308-698-5285. n 17 17

UNK Homecoming 2015

Distinguished Alumni Announced 2015 award recipients to be celebrated September 25

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he UNK Alumni Association has announced eight alumni award winners who will be recognized during homecoming festivities on Sept. 25-26.

The 36th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards will be given out at a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 25 in the Ponderosa Room inside the Nebraskan Student Union. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at www.unkalumni.org/homecoming.

The Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room with a social hour. A dinner follows at 6:30 p.m. with four former student-athletes and one staff member being inducted into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame. To purchase a ticket for the Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet, visit www.unkalumni.org/homecoming. Tickets are $40 per person.

On Sept. 26, the day kicks off with the annual homecoming parade in downtown Kearney on the bricks at 10 a.m. Following the parade, alumni and community members are invited to attend the Loper Luncheon at the Alumni House. The Loper luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. and tickets are $10, available at www.unkalumni.org/homecoming or at the door.

The Loperville tailgate is open to the community at Cope Stadium prior to the 3 p.m. UNK football game against the University of Central Missouri.

For questions or to purchase tickets, contact the UNK Alumni Association at 308-698-5271 or visit www.unkalumni.org/homecoming.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS Julie (Ignowski) Speirs '78

Speirs is publisher of the Kearney Hub. Prior to becoming the Kearney Hub’s publisher, Speirs was its general manager and advertising director. She also has worked as publisher for the Columbus Telegram.

While spending late nights in the Antelope newspaper office as a student, Speirs developed a passion Julie (Ignowski) for journalism. She learned under the Speirs '78 tutelage of teachers and mentors such as Jim Rundstrom, Bobbie McKenzie and Glennis Nagel.

Speirs currently serves on the boards of the Kearney Area Community Foundation, Nebraska Press Association Foundation and Kearney Family YMCA, and she is actively involved with Kearney Noon Rotary and UNK Newman Center.

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Her husband, Dan, who is also a Kearney State College graduate, is the assistant managing editor at the Kearney Hub. Chuck Schwartz '72

Schwartz has one of the most recognizable voices in western Nebraska. The station manager of KNEB-AM and FM in Scottsbluff, Schwartz broadcasts the “Area Game of the Week” for football and basketball.

Schwartz started his broadcasting career as a student at Kearney State College at KOVF, the campus radio station, where he served as sports director. He also was sports director of KRNY in college.

Since doing his first radio playby-play broadcast on KOVF, Schwartz has called more than 3,000 games in 260 facilities and in six different states.

Chuck Schwartz '72 In 2014, Schwartz was named Media Person of the Year by the Nebraska Coaches Association.

Before he came to Scottsbluff, Schwartz worked for stations in North Platte as a sales representative and sports director.

JIM RUNDSTROM DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD Sharron (Jacobson) Altmaier '55

Altmaier taught home economics at Wilcox Public Schools from 1955-57 and high school home economics at Pleasanton Public Schools from 1957-70.

She married Harvey Altmaier, a farmer and livestock producer in the rural area north of Kearney. They lived in the Haven’s Chapel church area for many years. Following her husband’s death in 1978, Altmaier ran the agricultural operations on their family farm until 2011.

Altmaier is involved in a number of volunteer activities at First United Sharron (Jacobson) Methodist Church of Kearney. For the Altmaier '55 past 30 years, she has organized and coordinated Alpha Xi Delta and Zeta sorority reunion luncheons. Altmaier is an avid Loper volleyball and basketball fan.

UNK Homecoming 2015 DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD Travis Miller '01 and Andrea (Walton) Miller '02

The Millers will receive the Young Alumnus awards. Travis and Andrea live in Bayard. He is the superintendent for Bayard Public Schools, and she is an attorney with Simmons Olsen Law Firm in Scottsbluff.

After graduating from UNK, Travis taught and coached for Leyton Public Schools and at Gretna High School. During this time, he received his Master of Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Prior to being named superintendent of Bayard Public Schools in 2011, Travis Miller '01 he was principal of Banner County

School and worked for ESU#13. In 2010, he was selected Outstanding New Principal by Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals.

Andrea received her Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2006. Since passing the bar exam, she’s worked as an Andrea (Walton) attorney and partner practicing Miller '02 family law and general civil litigation at Simmons Olsen Law Firm in Bayard. She has been a board member and president for the UNK Alumni Association and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Humanities Council. n

Thursday, September 24

6:00 p.m. Alumni Board Social 7:00 p.m. Lip Sync Competition at Health & Sports Center 9:00 p.m. Homecoming Royalty Crowning at Health & Sports Center

Friday, September 25

8:30 - 10:30 a.m. UNK Board Breakfast and Meeting 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon

Ponderosa Room in the Nebraskan Student Union 2:30 p.m. The Don Fox Lecture Series,

Copeland Hall Room No. 131 3:30 p.m. One Room, One Teacher Awards Ceremony at the College of Education Atrium 5:30 p.m. Athletic Hall of Fame Awards Banquet Check-in and social at the Ponderosa Room in the Nebraska Student Union 6:30 p.m. Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Program 7:00 p.m. Women’s Soccer vs. Missouri Southern State University at Cope Stadium

Saturday, September 26

10:00 a.m. Band Day and Homecoming Parade throughout Kearney 11:30 a.m. Loper Luncheon at Alumni House (2222 9th Ave.) $10 per person

Wear your Loper blue!

1:30 p.m. Loperville Tailgate at Cope Stadium on UNK Campus 3:00 p.m. UNK Football vs. Central Missouri at Foster Field and Cope Stadium

Purchase tickets for the luncheon and banquet at unkalumni.org/homecoming or contact UNK Alumni Association at 308.698.5271.

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UNK Homecoming 2015

Five Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame 2015 Award recipients to be celebrated Sept. 25

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our student-athletes and one staff member will be inducted into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame during ceremonies on Homecoming weekend Sept. 25-26.

The 2015 Hall of Fame members are Erin (Arnold) Kay '05 (volleyball); Carrie (Hoehner) Goltl '90 MSE '97 (track & field); Mike Keehn '85 (baseball); Burt Muehling '85 (football) and Dick Collins '76 (former equipment manager).

The group will be honored at the Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, Sept. 25, in the Ponderosa Room of the Nebraskan Student Union, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person and reservations for the evening can be made at www.unkalumni.org/homecoming or by contacting the Alumni Office (308-698-5271) or by emailing Toni Meyers (toni.meyers@ unkalumni.org).

On Saturday, Sept. 26 the class will also be recognized at halftime of the Homecoming game versus Central Missouri. That contest kicks off at 3 p.m.

Erin (Arnold) Kay is among the top volleyball players in school history, earning AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-American honors in 2003 and 2004.

The outside-hitter and six-rotation player was a three-time, first-team All-RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) selection who became UNK’s all-time leader in kills during Erin (Arnold) Kay '05 her senior season. Her total of 1,711 currently ranks second in Loper lore.

Kay was a starter on teams that went a combined 131-19, won four RMAC titles, reached four NCAA tournaments and reached the Elite Eight twice. In 2004, UNK went 40-1, was ranked No. 1 for most of the fall and reached the Final Four.

One of 12 Lopers to have 1,000 digs and kills in a career, Kay currently lives in Casper, Wyoming, with her husband, Jess.

After being a Wildland Firefighter for two years, Kay currently works as a receptionist and bookkeeper for the Early Childhood Learning Center at Casper College.

Carrie (Hoehner) Goltl currently ranks in the UNK career top 10 in five different track & field events, holding school outdoor records at 100 meters (11.90), 200 meters (24.27) and the long jump (20-5.25).

A four-time NAIA All-American, she was runner-up in the long jump at the 1989 indoor meet (19-1) while placing in the top six in the 200 and long jump at that year’s outdoor championships in California.

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Holding a bachelor’s degree in education and two master’s degrees in education, Goltl currently works for McCook Public Schools as an administrative assistant, is a physical education teacher at McCook Junior High and also serves as the eighthgrade girls track coach.

She and her husband, Randall, have four children: Cody, Dillon, Carrie (Hoehner) Goltl '90 MSE '97 Hannah and Rachel.

Goltl is a graduate of McCook High School.

Mike Keehn was a standout baseball player between 1981-83, earning District MVP and NAIA All-American honors as a junior.

Helping the Lopers win 72 games, he was a key member of the 1981 team that won a then school-record 37 games, finished runner up in the Central States Intercollegiate Conference and set a slew of school marks.

A second baseman, he was a three-year starter who finished his career with a .338 batting average, 30 doubles, 24 home runs and 134 runs scored.

On UNK’s current career Top 10, he ranks ninth in assists with 269. At the time of graduation, he was the Lopers’ all-time leader in home runs and RBIs. Drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1983, Keehn has gone on to have a successful coaching career at Kansas City Community College and the University of North Alabama.

He has spent the past 27 years at UNA, serving as head coach for the past seven seasons. In his time in Florence, Alabama, Keehn has helped the Lions reach nine NCAA Mike Keehn '85 Tournaments and win 938 games.

He graduated from UNK in 1985 and earned a master’s degree from UNA five years later. Keehn and his wife, Lisa, have three children: Austin, Erica and Jessica.

Keehn is a graduate of Kearney High School.

Purchase tickets today at

unkalumni.org/homecoming or contact us at 308.698.5271!

UNK Homecoming 2015 Burt Muehling was a tight end for the Lopers between 1982-84. In an era where UNK ran the ball over 70 percent of the time, he finished his career with 67 receptions for 1,064 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Earning first-team NAIA AllAmerican honors in 1983, he helped the Lopers win 17 games and place Burt Muehling '85 first in the CSIC twice.

In 1983, he was the Lopers’ leading receiver, averaging 19.1 yards per catch and finishing a 10-game schedule with eight TD receptions. He subsequently signed a free agent deal with the Detroit Lions.

A two-time all-district and a two-time All-CSIC selection, the Lincoln native and homebuilder currently lives in his hometown with his wife, Stacy. They have four children: Barrett, Beau, Hope and Meghan. Muehling is a graduate of Lincoln Southeast High School.

Dick Collins was the Lopers’ head equipment manager for all men’s and women’s sports over a 38-year period (1976-2013). He began his career as a student assistant in 1967, before heading to the Navy.

Returning to UNK in 1975 and graduating a year later with a recreation degree, he was charged with outfitting Dick Collins '76 all Loper varsity sport programs, which numbered 10 when he began at Kearney State College. With the advent of women’s sports, the number grew quickly to 17.

In 1990, he helped design the current equipment room, housed on the ground floor of the Health and Sports Center.

He was a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) since its inception in 1976 and worked with over 10,000 UNK student-athletes, not to mention hundreds of Loper coaches. Collins lives in Kearney with his wife, Shirley.

Collins is a graduate of Ord High School. n

Purchase tickets today at unkalumni.org/homecoming!

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Loper Athletics lopers.com

Kropp Retires

After 39 seasons coaching UNK basketball

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r. Tom Kropp, who has been the face of UNK athletics since he arrived on campus as student in 1971, announced his retirement as basketball coach at the end of the season. And, in typical fashion, he did it without any attention. No news conference, no party, no farewell videos set to music. Just a news release.

A Nebraska athletic legend, Kropp completed his 39th season with UNK basketball and finished his head coaching career with a 482-245 record, covering 25 seasons from 1990 to 2015.

He was co-head coach with Kevin Lofton for the past decade after serving as sole head coach from 1997 to 2005. From the 1990 to 96 seasons, Kropp was co-head coach with Jerry Hueser.

Lofton, on the Loper coaching staff since 1995, will assume heading coaching duties.

Kropp was an All-American basketball and football player at UNK. After a professional career in the NBA and Europe, he returned as a graduate assistant and assistant coach under Hueser for 10 seasons.

“At 62 years old, I am one of the older basketball coaches in the profession, and every year I like to re-evaluate my options,” Kropp said. “My retirement from coaching is a timely decision

Coach Kropp’s Accomplishments:  His 482 coaching wins rank second in school history after Jerry Hueser’s 519 wins.  Twenty winning seasons as head or co-head coach  Coached all 11 of UNK’s teams that reached the NCAA Division II Tournament  Coached four players who earned a combined seven All-American honors: Eric Strand '02, Nick Svehla ‘04, Nick Branting ‘04 and Dusty Jura’08, MBA ‘15  Coached the 2004 Division II Player of the Year, Nick Branting  Sports Illustrated named him as one of Nebraska’s 10 greatest sports celebrities and one of Nebraska’s greatest athletes of the 20th Century  The Omaha World-Herald named him as one of Nebraska’s 10 greatest athletes  Nebraska’s first inductee into the National High School Athletic Hall of Fame  Drafted by the NFL, NBA and ABA (American Basketball Association)  Played with Washington and Chicago in the NBA; averaged at least 30 points per game in the four seasons he spent in Belgium  NAIA All-American in football (1974) and basketball (1975)  Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American  Still holds the school record for points in a single game (51 against Central Missouri)  Averaged a double double (20.7 points and 11.2 rebounds) for his career  One of 15 Lopers to rush for 200 yards in a single game (202, versus Colorado Mines, 1971)  Two-time Nebraska State College Athlete of the Year  Named 1971 Nebraska State High School Athlete of the Year while playing for Aurora High School 22

Dr. Tom Kropp '75, MSE '79

because the basketball program is showing strong potential for continued success under the leadership of Kevin Lofton, whom I fully support. In addition, I always wanted to return to teaching full-time toward the end of my career.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to UNK Athletic Director Dr. Plinske and members of the athletic department, as well as the UNK and Kearney communities for their support.”

Paul Plinske said he was not surprised by Coach Kropp’s decision. “Tom Kropp is a legendary player and coach for UNK,” Plinske said. “He is an even better person. So accepting his retirement as our head men’s basketball coach, makes this a bittersweet time in the history of our athletic department. He has served our department with integrity, passion for his job and care for others for nearly 40 years as a player, coach, mentor and leader.”

Said current Coach Lofton, “It’s truly an honor to work beside Coach Kropp for the past 20 years. He’s been like a father to me and I’ve learned so much from him. I know he’s had a major impact on the Kearney community and on the state of Nebraska. He’ll be greatly missed on the sidelines.” “I want to respect what he’s built and continue to put quality kids on the floor who have good attitudes and who will do the right things on and off the floor. We hope to build on the momentum that we started over the last two years. It was great to see the seats get full again, and we want the community to embrace our program.”

Plinske said, “Tom leaves our program on the rise in the MIAA. I will miss working alongside with him as he transitions off the basketball court and on to a full-time teaching role. He has been a tremendous leader and role model within UNK athletics.

We wish Tom and his family all the best in their future endeavors.

Tom, his wife, Sonja, and daughter, Dominique, will always be a part of the Loper family.” n

Loper Athletics

Spring Sports Wrap-Up

BASEBALL

The baseball team made the MIAA Tournament for a second-straight season, finishing 2015 with a 29-21 mark.

A senior-laden lineup helped the Lopers tie for fourth place in the league standings with a 22-14 record. UNK was especially strong at home, going 13-5.

Ending the season in early May with an MIAA Tournament series loss at Central Missouri, the Lopers were led by senior allregion catcher Max Ayoub.

The Grand Island native batted .302 with 12 doubles, 17 home runs and 58 RBI’s. Named captain of the Omaha World-Herald’s Division II all-state team, Ayoub joined senior third baseman Danny Droll of Penrose, Colorado, and junior right-fielder Anthony Pacheco of Kearney, as Lopers to start all 50 games.

Both Ayoub and Pacheco garnered first-team All-MIAA honors with Droll on the second team.

SOFTBALL

A new-looking softball team went 19-28 in 2015, tying for ninth place in the MIAA. The roster featured 12 newcomers. The Lopers managed a five-game winning streak late in the spring and also picked up five wins over nationally-ranked squads.

Junior first baseman Kate Ruwe Blair once again led the way batting .426 with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 54 RBI’s.

Junior right fielder Rebecca Wyatt of Glendale, Arizona, batted .362 and stole 41 bases was named second-team All-MIAA along with Cassie Roessing of Phoenix, Arizona and Erin Dwyer of Elmwood.

GOLF

The golf teams placed fourth (women) and 10th (men) at the MIAA Championships in May in Kansas.

The Loper women, for a second straight year, were close to qualifying for the NCAA Tournament but just missed out. UNK had five top-five finishes, winning its own spring invitational and the Chadron State Invite in the fall.

Junior Ana Summers of Bellevue, Colorado, qualified for NCAA Regionals as an individual. Leading UNK with an 80.41 stroke average, she tied for 22nd with a three-day total of 246.

In 2016, UNK hosts the NCAA Central Regional at Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell.

The men had three top-five finishes during the season. A young team was led by sophomore Dan Bonnell of Phoenix, Arizona, who had a Loper-best 76.67 stroke average.

Senior Max Ayoub

All-American senior Brady Land

B y P eter Y azvac UNK A thletics

TENNIS

It was another very successful season for the tennis program as both Loper squads reached the NCAA Tournament. A young men’s team went 20-5 (4-1 MIAA), falling to NW Missouri State in the MIAA Tournament finals and in the NCAA Tournament.

Nationally-ranked throughout the spring, UNK was led by sophomore Mohab El Zanaty of Cairo, Egypt; freshmen Joey Richards, Eden Prairie of Minnesota and Georges Wakim of Cairo, Egypt.

El Zanaty went 23-1 in singles to earn first-team All-MIAA honors with an overall doubles mark of 20-4. Wakim, after sitting out the fall, won 11 singles matches and 13 doubles matches with Richards tabbed as the region’s top freshman. He posted 15 singles wins and won another 16 in doubles playing with Wakim and sophomore Lucas Garces of Zaragoza, Spain.

The women went 22-8 (7-3 MIAA), falling to NW Missouri State in the MIAA Tournament. Individually, senior Kari Emery of Phoenix, Arizona, earned first-team singles and doubles honors with her doubles partner being true freshman Emma Neil of Papillion.

TRACK

The outdoor track season yielded four national qualifiers and sixth-women and seventh-men place showings at the MIAA Championships.

Senior Dillon Schrodt of Lincoln, earned CoSIDA Academic All-American honors for a second straight year after breaking his own school record in the heptathlon and decathlon (6,959 points).

Injuries prevented him from being a four-time All-American.

Senior Brady Land of Kimball, had a great final long-jump season by earning his second All-American. He placed eighth at the NCAA meet in Michigan by going 24-4.50. His season-best effort of 24-5.75 came at the conference meet and tied the school record.

On the men’s side, the foursome of Schrodt, senior Louis Kaelin of Grand Island, sophomore Alex Hovie and freshman Mandera Gatwech, both of Lincoln, broke a 35-year-school record in the 4x400 when they turned in a 3:12.36 at the Kansas Relays.

Fifth-year senior Marissa Bongers of Brainard, returned to the national meet. The three-time All-American qualified at 800 meters, breaking her own school record.

Reaching the NCAAs for the first time was junior Danyell Coons of Elm Creek. She placed 10th in the hammer, an event in which she had the school’s second best all-time throw (192-0).

Sophomore Morgan Benesch of Columbus, broke the school mark in the steeplechase, running a 10:50.44 at an Illinois meet.n Sophomore Dan Bonnell

All - MIAA junior Erin Dwyer

Junior Ana Summers Sophomore Lucas Garces and freshman Joey Richards

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, Justin Pinkerton ‘03, oy ‘05, Jeff O’Riley ‘02 ‘03 SIG EPS: Ryan VanR u ‘02 and Josh Peisiger Ra stin Horn ‘04, Matt Ju , ‘03 n. an nio rtm reu Ha ian e Jerem Sig Ep/Caledon of the late 90’s at the represented a portion

legends

Dr. Charles Sizer '71 Dr. Charles Sizer of Lincoln, Massachusetts, will be the Don Fox Lecturer that will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Copeland Hall 131 on Friday, September 25. Sizer received his bachelor of science degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. He later attended Colorado State University receiving a masters degree in 1973 and Ph.D. in 1978 in food science and nutrition. His first job was product development for Frito-Lay. He joined the faculty at Iowa State University in 1979.

In 1981, he joined Tetra Pak to begin a long career in food processing. He was process authority for the first chemically sterilized aseptic packages, the first filter sterilized food products and the first aseptic food containing particles.

In 1998, he left Tetra Pak to join the faculty at Illinois Institute of Technology as the director of the National Center for Food Safety, a joint FDA, Industry and academia consortium. During his tenure at the Center, two major food safety crises developed - raw juice outbreaks and alfalfa sprout outbreaks. Sizer organized joint task forces that addressed the food safety issues and resulted in FDA guidance that resolved the problem.

Sizer recently held the position of chief science officer at Cambrooke Therapeutics in Boston.

Cambrooke Therapeutics is a world leader in developing new approaches to treating metabolic disorders with prescription foods - a trend that is at the forefront of medical technology.

Sizer is currently CEO at Dairyvative Technologies, LLC. Dairyvative licenses intellectual property for the concentration of milk into a shelfstable form. The milk concentrate can be distributed in large totes over large distances. The technology has potential to change the dynamics of international trade in milk. n

24

ed outstanding alumni awards for the OUTSTANDING: Sig Ep/Caledonian who have receiv Roger Jones '65, who won in 2011; Ron fraternity include Pete Kotsiopulos '70, who won in 2009; won in 2014 and Jay Dostal '01, who won Larsen '66, who won in 2012; Alex Straatmann '00, who two daughters: Judy Nelson, Brandi and in 2015. The three women are Augie Nelson’s wife The late Augie Nelson is the reason ‘08.

MSE ‘99, ery Nelson-Hilyard '95 and Buffi Nelson-Kam ation. for the annual fund-raiser event for the Kidney Found

REUNION: More than 300 Sigma Phi Epsilon and Caledonian alumni from 20 states attended the 50th anniversary celebration activities hosted by the UNK chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

The Nebraska Gamma RLC chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded on Oct. 1, 1965, and has since initiated more than 1,500 members. Before becoming Sigma Phi Epsilon, the fraternity was known as Caledonia from 1920 to 1964.

The Sig Ep chapter is one of 15 nationwide that has won five or more Buchanan Cups, the fraternity’s highest award. It currently has more than 85 active members at UNK. The Sig Ep chapter became an accredited Residential Learning Community in 2013. The RLC concept promotes personal growth, on-campus activities and life skills needed to succeed after graduation. It also complements academic studies and increases collaboration between undergraduates and university faculty to enhance the academic experience. The chapter is the only Greek organization at UNK to have an accredited general studies course available exclusively to its members. It is taught by Dr. Tami Moore, chair and professor of family studies.

24

together and come back to campus. Colleen REUNION: After three decades, these ladies decided to get Angie (Hayden) Paasch '87, Sylvie (Kleeb) (McGrath) Larsen '87; Jeanne Czarnick-Evans '87, MAE '03; ld '87 and Coryn (Johnson) Nielsen '88.

Sazama '87, Karen (Pick) Rounsburg '88, Barb (Lake) Empfie

Lopers Around the World 2015

INDIANAPOLIS: Kevin Rader '84, Anne McConkey '02, Dee Schaad '66 and Dan Mowrey '73 met at Union 50 in Indianapolis in May for a casual gathering.

STRENGTH: Taken just a week befo re the April earthquake in Nepal, Binaj Gurubach arya '95 and his wife Moon, son Binayak and daughter Mahina. They are dressed in the traditional attire of the Gurung Community.

NEPAL: Binaj Gurubacharya '95, stan ding with actress Susan Sarandon while prom oting tourism back in Nepal after the 7.8 earthqua ke. The UNK Nepalese Student Association at Kea rney hosted a candlelight vigil and raised more than $700 to help rebuild Nepal. Visit www.himan chal.org for donation information.

SORORITY LUNCHEON: Once again the ladies met in June for their annual Alpha Xi Delta and Zeta Luncheon. Standing - Karen Humphrey McBride, Dianna Marlott, Karen Schmitz Lindsay '68, Heather Bendfelt Brummels '05, Laurie Widdowson, Marlene Fox McKean '57, Nora Van Pelt Lindner '63, Joan Richter King '58, Joyce Gohl Spickelmier '70. Sitting - Sharron Jacobson Altmaier '55, Shirley Gudgel Urwiller, Carol McGahan, Marcia Tyner Trimble '66, Mary Lou Kristensen '52, MSE '62.

25

legends

Polina Khatsko '02

Polina Khatsko '02 of Belarus will receive the Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumna Award.

Khatsko has established herself both as an active performer and a dedicated teacher. Some of her accomplishments include the performance and recording of complete works for cello and piano

by Beethoven with Anthony Elliott, as well as being a key participant in the acclaimed “Complete Solo Piano Works

by Chopin” project organized by the Arthur Greene studio.

In 1999, she was invited by James Cook to study with him at UNK with generous support of the Elaine Wallace House Memorial Scholarship.

Khatsko earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan as a student of Arthur Greene.

Khatsko has served on the piano faculty of the Schoolcraft College and the University of Michigan preparatory department. As a collaborative pianist, she has worked for the string department of the University of Michigan School of Music, appeared as an annual staff accompanist for the prestigious Sphinx International Competition and was on the Collaborative Piano faculty of the International Music Academy in Pilsen, Czech Republic, and the Cambridge International String Academy in Cambridge, U.K. Currently, she is adjunct instructor of piano at the University of Northern Iowa. n 25

Blue Gold Welcome Week Aims to help students feel at home

UNK kicked off the school year with the annual Blue and Gold Welcome Week, which featured many events throughout campus and the Kearney community.

The two-week event is designed to help students become familiar with the UNK campus and the community before classes begin, as well as give the public a chance to interact with students, faculty, staff and alumni through a variety of activities. This year’s theme is “Welcome to Paradise.”

“There is a lot of research that discusses the success of students, particularly new students, and their connection to campus,” said Tim Danube, associate director of the Nebraskan Student Union.

“The more students feel part of the college family, the more likely they will have a fulfilling college experience.

“Blue and Gold is our first opportunity to make students feel part of the campus family.”

Students began moving into residence halls Friday, Aug. 21 while classes started Aug. 24.

Festivities began with Blue and Gold Community showcase, the annual welcome festival where more than 200 businesses and campus organizations set up booths. Live entertainment, food and product giveaways highlighted the showcase in the center of campus.

“We really value the relationship between UNK and the community. The Showcase is something that combines not only the new students and their families, but also the community, the alumni and all the different businesses and services represented. It’s a wonderful event for the campus and community,” Danube said.

“Blue and Gold is a great transition for students when they come to school because they have so much going on,” said Brette Ensz, assistant director of the First Year Program. “The first week and first weekend of college can be a challenge. We organize Blue and Gold to give our first-year students an easy transition, to meet people and to have fun. It’s an orientation to their next four years. It allows them to meet great friends and faculty.”n 26

staff and family members to LEGACIES: Blue Gold Community Showcase is a great way for alumni, to Kearney. Back row: Adam back coming students of ent enjoy campus and participate in the excitem Jolene (Nabity) Pierce ‘99 show and 6 age John Anna 12, age John Maly 12, age John ’99, Maddi Pierce in on the action. also are their Loper pride. Front row: Lauryn John age 9 and Ellie Pierce age 9

FAMILY: Blue Gold provides a grea t opportunity for NTV’s Bilingual Rep orter and Anchor Carmen Montes '09 to show the campus to her sister, Maria Mon tes-Velasco.

SCORE: SCORR Marketing team members Jackie Ziemke ‘14 and Braeden Tyma ‘12, take a break from handing out t-shirts and goodies to take a picture with former SCORR colleague, Tricia Danburg ‘94, the newest member of UNK Alumni Association. The Blue Gold Community Showcase is an opportunity for fun times, fond memories and happy conversation.

Class Notes

1948

Wayne McKinney retired from First National Bank in Kearney July 1. His 63-year career began at the same bank when it was Platte Valley State Bank. He was assistant cashier, president and CEO.

1952

Dr. Chuck Lindly was honored as Rapid City, S.D., Citizen of the Month for June for his significant efforts and service to support students, faculty and education. After retiring as a professor at the University of Wyoming, he returned to Rapid City schools to become superintendent. He is past president of the UNK Alumni Association and has received many honors including UNK Distinguished Alumni Award.

1959

Claire Boroff was among the members of the first class of the Grand Island High School Football Hall of Fame and was an outstanding back on the 1953 state championship team. At UNK, he was an NAIA All-American. He coached at UNK for 28 seasons and is number one in all time wins with 169. He was inducted into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2000.

1963

Judith Henggeler Spohr was selected as a recipient of the 2015 Hall of Fame Award from Omaha South High School Magnet School for her successes, achievements and contributions to others. She lives in Burbank, Calif.

1964

Ken Aldridge has released his fourth book, a murder mystery, The Death of Lizbeth Ghika, the story of the death of a 16-year-old gypsy girl.

Aldridge worked as a special agent with the FBI for 23 years before retiring. He now lives in Texas.

1973

Pat (Helberg) Hoblyn, volleyball coach at Ansley-Litchfield, was named the Grand Island Independent Girls Coach of the Year. She has coached for 40 years. This past season, she guided Ansley-Litchfield to Class D-1 state runner-up with a 33-2 record. It is the second time she has won the award. The court at Ansley High School was named for Hoblyn in 2012 after she surpassed 600 wins in volleyball. Her career record is 665-222 with five state championships.

1975

Sally Thalken MAE ’89 was honored in March for her lifetime of achievement in coaching by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

She retired as volleyball coach at North Platte Community College with 921 wins, making her the winningest coach in the history of NJCAA Division II. She was inducted into the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003.

1976

Bill Jacobitz of Papillion, running in Nebraska’s largest half-marathon in Lincoln in May, ran a 1:57:58 to finish 17th out of 118 runners in the 60+ age bracket.

1978

Jeff Blackmon was named to the Business Continuity Institute North America Awards shortlist of five individuals for 2015 as a continuity and resilience consultant. The BCI awards recognize outstanding achievements of business continuity professionals worldwide. Blackmon, who lives in Olathe, Kan., has been working at Presbyterian Healthcare in Albuquerque for the last year. He was brought in to help on the risk management and business continuity planning. The scope was for the three major hospitals in Albuquerque, five regional hospitals and all their health plans processing. Health plans include such things as claims, enrollment, billing and revenue management. He was nominate for the BCI award based on his work with Presbyterian Healthcare.

1980

Teresa Porter, CEO of ISYS Technologies, was named the 2015 Colorado Small Business Person of the Year.

1981

Kyle Hoehner MAE ’95 has been named the 2015 Nebraska High School Principal of the Year.

Hoehner is Lexington High School’s principal.

1982

Jerry Catlett has been selected as chairman-elect of the Nebraska Bankers Association. He is senior vice president of Bruning State Bank in Bruning. He will assume the chairmanship of the association in May 2016.

1984

Kevin Rader of WTHR TV station in Indianapolis was awarded a National Sigma Delta Chi award from Society of Professional Journalists, one of only five awarded in television. He was also nominated for two national Edward Murrow awards as well as National Reporter of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association.

Jaye Monter of Grand Island joined Chief Construction as a controller. Monter coordinates the company’s financial planning and budget management functions. She is a certified accountant.

1988

Carol Rempp of Lincoln is 2015 Chair of Humanities Nebraska board of directors. She has been on the board since 2010, previously serving as treasurer in 2012 and 2013 and vice chair in 2014.

1990

Jon Karn is the new boys basketball coach at Holdrege High School. He will also be assistant cross country coach and serve as the high school’s strength and conditioning teacher. He has been a pharmaceutical representative the past 17 years and has coached at Loomis. unkalumni.org

1991

Shayne Zwiener of Kearney was appointed general manager for Frontier Communications Nebraska market. He oversees field operations, sales and community relationships, as well as every aspect of the customer experience.

1992

Cheryl Reich-Bills of Sterling, Colo., has released a book she wrote, Split. She drew on her experience as a social work for what she calls a “self-discovery book.”

M O V I N G ?

Don’t miss your next UNK Today Moving? Please attach your old mailing label to the right or change it online at unkalumni.org.

Provide your new information and return to:

UNK Alumni Association Campus Box 21 Kearney, NE 68849-6120 Name:______________________ ___________________________ New Address:_______________ ___________________________ City:_______________________ State:______________________ Zip + 4:_____________________ Ph.:________________________ Email:______________________

M O V I N G ?

27

1993

Class Notes

Chad Micek of Kearney is project manager for Chief Construction.

1996

Bill Taddicken of Gibbon has been accepted into Class V of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy, a one-year program that educates participants about the vital role that rivers, streams and aquifers play in the economic sustainability of the state. He is the director of the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon.

1997

Rob Bentley MAE '99 of Ferris State University was honored as one of eight American Volleyball Coaches Association 2015 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Sports Information Director of the Year. Rob, assistant athletic director for communications, has been on the staff for the university’s 17 teams for 15 years.

1998

Mike Hancock is vice president and a shareholder of INSPRO insurance in Wahoo. He is also a member of the Wahoo School Board.

Tony Voss is vice president construction supplies at Concrete Products Company in South Sioux City, Nebraska.

1999

Jenny (Heble) Taylor has been named general manager of Market Street, the premier shopping and entertainment destination in The Woodlands, Texas. She joined Market Street in 2005 as marketing director. In her new position, she will oversee all aspects of day-to-day operations, maintenance, budgeting and business development, along with maintaining community, tenant and public relations.

Marsha Silver earned a master of arts degree from UNL in 2014.

2001

Andres Traslavina MSE ’05 is senior global recruiter for Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas.

2003

Jason Brown MAE '05 is principal and athletic director at Maywood High School.

2004

Jeremy Behnke MA '15 MSE ’15 is assistant principal for Westmoor/Longfellow Elementary School in Scottsbluff, Neb. He had been a teacher at Lincoln Heights Elementary since 2008.

Sara (Janda) Griffis is a customer service associated supervisor with Heartland Bank in Kearney.

Amy Reis is the Associate Commissioner of Championships with the West Coast Conference (WCC). She lives in San Bruno, California.

28

Notes of Gratitude Often, the people we are today is because of the connections we made at UNK. We want to give you the opportunity to show your gratitude to those special people. Your letters are welcome. Whether it is to express gratitude to a past instructor, alumni or friend or to comment and/or add to a published story, we want to hear from you. Write us at UNK Today, UNK Alumni Association, Campus Box 21, Kearney, NE 68849. Include your name, class year (if applicable), email, city, state and daytime phone number; or email Michelle Widger at michelle.widger@unkalumni.org.

Dr. Kate Snyder Heelan MAE '95 “The person who inspired me in my educational journey was Dr. Kate Snyder Heelan because she knew my capability even when I didn’t see it and kept me accountable in everything I did. Now I hold myself to those high expectations because of the confidence she has instilled in me. Plus, I’ll always remember how to figure a person’s body mass index.” ~ Shelby Watson ’14 via ² @UNKAlumni •

Paul Bishop “Paul Bishop because he thoroughly taught and made sure you had the skills to succeed and understand what you were doing and expected excellence all the while setting a good example and teaching all of us a little something about life, hard work and determination.” ~ Michael Lowe '00 via ² @UNKAlumni •

Dr. Gary Davis “My biggest inspiration was definitely Dr. Gary Davis. He is an excellent teacher and always made time to help his students.” ~ Ashley Lawton '12 via ³ @UNKAlumni •

All My Professors “All my professors when I attended UNK from August 1991 December 1992 to finish my degree as a 40-plus-year-old student.

Each, in his or her own way, helped me immensely. Thank you to each of you.” ~ Mary Yahn '93 via ² @UNKAlumni • unkalumni.org

Class Notes

Robin MAE '09 and Michelle (McGeorge) Burton ’05, MA ’12 live in Schuyler, where Robin is a physical education and technology teacher and Michelle is principal at Schuyler Middle School.

2006

Brette (Covington) Ensz MS ’14 is assistant director for the 1st Year Program at UNK. She had been associate director of alumni engagement for the UNK Alumni Association/ University of Nebraska Foundation.

Ashley Chizek-Meyer Calabretto is a paralegal for NorthStar Financial Services Group in Omaha. She and her husband, Sam, have two children, Dominic, 9, and Giavanna,1.

2009

Ryan Cummins is materials manager for Eaton Corp. Vehicle Group in Hastings, Neb. Chris Walkemeyer is an officer with the Gothenburg Police Department.

2010

Jared Loschen D.D.S. has joined Eagle Dental in Kearney where he practices with fellow UNK alumnus, Shane Jensen ’96, D.D.S.

Adam Marshall MBA '11 has been promoted to relationship manager at Heartland Bank in Kearney.

2013

Freddie Arnold Jr. of Fairbury is vice president and print estimator at McBattas Packaging and Printing.

2014

Kierstin Stolzenburg of Kansas City, Kansas, received her master of social work from University of Denver.

Marriages

Jordan Arensdorf ’14 and Ariane Aten ’13 July 11 in Elm Creek.

Brianne (Bre) Stevenson ’08 and Steve Berres August 1 in Iowa City, Iowa. Bre is a supported living coordinator at Systems Unlimited, Inc. They live in Iowa City, Iowa.

Katie Swett '13 and Andi Diediker '13 August 1 in Kearney. Katie serves on the UNK Alumni Association Board and works at HUMANex Ventures in Lincoln. Andi Diediker teaches sixth grade at Portal Elementary. They live in Lincoln.

Megan Esch ’08 and Drandon Oltman ’07 July 4 in Omaha.

Gregory Johnston ’11 and Brandon Schlemmer July 18 in Waco, Texas.

TJ Peterson, DC, ’09 and Kelsey (Henkel) Peterson RN November 8, 2014. Dr. Peterson is a chiropractic physician at Elite Chiropractic and Tissue Rehabilitation in Kearney and Kelsey is a nurse at St. Francis in Grand Island. They live in Gibbon.

Jamie Robertson ’06 and Yly Rock ’06 May 28 in Kailua, Hawaii. They live in Chino Hills, California.

Paul Schleifer ’07 and Paige Bell December 27, 2014. They live in Frisco, Texas.

Kiley Dibbern ’14 and Brock Shuler ’15 May 23 in Aurora; Kiley is an admissions counselor at UNK. Steve ’12 and Taylor (Fernau) Stutzman ’13 June 20 in Blair. Steve is director of ticket sales at UNK. Dominic David Zywiec and Kelly René (Bernt) Zywiec’09 July 11 in Kearney. Kelly works at Archer Cooperative Credit Union in Archer and they live in Central City.

Meet the new UNK Fund

the

fund

UNIVERSIT Y OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY

The UNK Fund has been created to make it even easier for everyone – longtime supporters, parents, faculty members and new graduates – to change the lives of Loper students. Every dollar invested in the UNK Fund provides much-needed assistance for our students, opportunities for attracting and retaining talented faculty, and the means to establish extraordinary programs in our classrooms.

All gifts, whether large or small, have the power to make a difference.

Be a part of something big at UNK. Make your gift to the UNK Fund today. nufoundation.org/UNKfund

29

Class Notes Births

Patrick ’10 and Elizabeth (Thomas) Ackerman ’10 of Omaha are parents of a daughter, Hope Rae, born April 13.

Ed ’00 and Jill (Merklin) Albrecht ’01, MSE ’03 of Cozad are parents of a son, Eden Allen, born January 22, 2014. They have three daughters, Ellie 8, Abbie, 6, and Emily, 3. Edd is an investigator with the Dawson County Sheriff’s office and Jill is a speech language pathologist and homemaker.

Cory ’03 and Jamie (Shada) Banzhaf ’03 of Kearney are parents of a daughter Shaden Kathleen, born Jan. 12.

David and Tina (Chartraw) Barger ’04 of Kearney are parents of a son, Levi David, born Dec. 22, 2014.

Ben and Dawn (Suchsland) Bickford ’05 of Amherst are parents of a daughter, Hailey Marie, born June 10.

David '13 and Sonni Benge of Gibbon are parents of a son, Weston David, born June 10.

T.J. and Lauren (Mollard) Brandt ’09 of Kearney are parents of a son, Barker Charles, born May 20.

Chris ’06 and Christina Bryant of Elizabeth, Colorado, are parents of a daughter, Riley Mae, born March 14.

Wes ’07 and Bobby (Kosch) Bernt ‘06, MS ’13 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Hannah Catherine, born April 30.

Brett ’05 and Sylvia (Mihalik) Chloupek ’06 of Maryville, Missouri, are parents of a daughter, Antonia Mihalik, born June 15.

Greg ’05 and Denise (Kring) Davis ’05 of Kearney are parents of a son, Zane Owen, born March 10.

Jeff ’05 and Brette (Covington) Ensz ’06, MSE ’14 of Kearney are parents of a son, Elliott Deane, born June 2.

Anthony ’09 and Chelsea (Archer) Gengenbach ’10 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Allison Lynn, born May 20.

Dan and Kaitlin (Smuskiewicz) Greene ’12 of Kearney are parents of a son, Wesley Michael, born July 20.

Adam ’06 and Beth (Weides) Greenquist ’04 of Seward are parents of a daughter, Camille Marie, born May 26.

Riley and Jenni (Lindstrom) Guthrie ’11 of Ragan are parents of a daughter, Brynn Lenae, born May 29.

Patrick and Kelli (Craig) Hamilton ’00 of Stillwater, Minn., are parents of a son, Grady Patrick, born Nov. 9, 2014. They have three other children, Samantha, 7, Sydney, 5 and Shay, 2.

Nick ’07 and Greta (Lierman) Johnston ’07, MSE ’09 of Topeka are parents of a daughter, Nola Katherine, born May 11. They also have a daughter, Cora.

Ben ’01 and Kelli (O’Connor) Holl ’02 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Sarah Faith, born May 12.

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Brant and Deidre (Isaac) Hollister ’09 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Violet Grace, born May 19.

Joshua and Rebecca (Brooks) Hajek '08 of Kearney are parents of a son, Preston Donald, born July 24.

Shannon '03 and Natalie (Johnson) Muhlbach '07 of Bennington are parents of a girl, Josephine Paige born June 24.

Bradley '03 and Paula (Sieczkowski) Musil '03 of Shawnee Mission, Kansas are parents of a daughter born June 3.

Scott and Shana (Gutherie) Nitchie ’10, MS ’12 of Holdrege are parents of a son, Joseph

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Everett, born May 28.

Jeff ’08 and Becky (Binderup) Noetzelman ’09 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Lakyn Kristina, born April 30.

Megan and Nathaniel Porter ’12 of Minden are parents of a daughter, Annabeth June, born June 17.

Kyle and Jenna (James) Pritchard ’11 of Pleasanton are parents of a daughter, Sawyer, born March 11.

Andrew ’06 and Amy (Ryan) Prochaska ’07 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Laney Lee, born June 3.

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Now there are two more great opportunities to connect with your alma mater. In addition to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter you can now follow us on Instagram and Pinterest. We are looking for lots of pictures of #LoperLegacies and #LoperPetPals.

So dress up your pets, your kids or both in #LoperBlue and submit your pictures to unkalumni.org. Don’t forget Lopesup.org is also an excellent way to keep up with Lopers around the globe.

instagram.com/UNKAlumni pinterest.com/UNKAlumni P

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Pride of the Plains Marching Band Alumni Game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 See details on the “Pride of the Plains” Facebook page in September. unkalumni.org

Class Notes Logan ’12 and Kylee (Stoppkotte) Rall '12 MA '14 of Kearney are parents of twins, Sage Josephine and Jack Stephen, born Jan. 27.

Sarah and Cody Riedel ’09 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Sloan Marian, born June 17.

Tom ’03 and Tina (Reiman) Rowland ’03 of Hickman are parents of a son, Luke Patrick, born March 24. They also have two daughters, Kylie, 7, and Kennedy, 4.

Charlie ’08 and Ashton (Riecker) Rudeen ’09 of Kearney are parents of a son, Brayton Charles, born May 29.

Noah ’05 and Chelsie Sorensen of Kearney are parents of a son, Bowen Thomas Gottlieb, born June 4.

Allison and Justin Spaulding ’10 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Hadley Rose, born May 31.

Jeremy and Dusti (Sekutera) VanSlyke ’05 of Loup City are parents of a daughter, Paisley Jo, born May 24.

Brian ’08 and Christine (Loseke) Vavra ’02 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Lainey Olivia, born May 20.

Norm and Rebecca (Junge) Voller ’05 of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, are parents of a son, Saywer Reed, born Jan. 3.

Quincy and Darcy (Kissel) Week ’03 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Ansley Glen, born March 8.

Jared and Ashley Wolf-Schroeder ’10 of Kearney are parents of a son, Kyler Breckin, born March 29.

Deaths

Art Alberding '56, Ph.D. of Tucson, Ariz., died August 31, 2014. He taught at Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. He was 81.

Tom Albers ’89 of Omaha died May 5. He was a public relations specialist who started his own company Albers Communications Group in 2000.

He was 48.

Claris Allen ‘Al’ Bellinger ’51 of Gothenburg died April 16. He was a career educator and former high school coach. He was 87.

Dr. Carter Beghtol ’57 of Houston died April 30.

He practiced in Idaho and Texas. He was 83.

Mark Benjamin '83 of Kearney died April 14.

He was co-founder of BD Construction and the president and CEO. He was 56.

Ron Bovill MSE ’71 of Kearney died April 28. He was a career educator including several years as a professor in the Education Department at UNK. He was inducted into the UNK Academy for Teacher Education Excellence. He was 76.

LeRoy Boilesen '60, MSE '67 of Omaha died May 11. He was 77.

Clara (Childers) Moore ’65 of Cerritos, CA died May 11. She was 72.

Ronald E. Christensen ’66 of Castle Rock, Colo., died Feb. 22. He was a manufacturer’s representative for several companies. He was 72.

Jean (Milne) Ely ’63 of Urbandale, Iowa, died July 1. She was 73.

Wylma Ann ‘Billie’ (Gordon) Enquist ’75, MSE ’79 of Hastings died July 9. She was 78.

Bettie Godfrey ’71 of Grand Island died, June 18. She taught 19 years at Kearney High School, retiring in 1991. She was 84.

Gregg Grubaugh ’79 of North Platte died Feb. 19.

He was a member of the UNK Alumni Association Board of Directors, a past recipient of the Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award and a cofounder of the Omaha UNK Cheers Club. He was 57.

Margaret (King) Hezner ’50 of Lake Forest, Illinois, died July 8. She was 85.

Dick M. Hock ’48 of Kearney died June 18.

After a career with Travelers Insurance in Omaha, Detroit and Hartford, he returned to Kearney in 1986 where he was executive vice president of Kearney State College Foundation. He was 88.

Larry Lee Hohnholt Sr. ’64 of Rochester Hills, Michigan, died July 7. He was 72.

Peggy (Scott) Howsden ’67 of Oshkosh died July 10. She was 81.

James ‘Jim’ Jeffres ’75 of Ogallala died July 27. He was a career educator in Colorado and Nebraska. He was 65.

Harley G. Lofton Jr. ’62 of Holdrege died April 20. He was a long-time employee of the Holdrege Daily Citizen and was a past president of the UNK Alumni Association. He was 87.

Marilyn (Carlson) Norman ’66 of Axtell died July 28. She was a teacher at Axtell Elementary School. She was 83.

Darrin Obermiller ’96, MS ’00 of Grand Island

died July 4. He was 43.

James O. Price ’64 of Jamestown, Kentucky, died Jan. 25. He was a retired teacher. He was 72.

Ida Edwina “Eddie” (Daniels) Reed ME ’68 of Auburn, Alabama, died Feb 1. She was 73.

Dr. Warren Sanger ’67 of Ashland died Feb. 5. He was director of the Human Genetics Laboratory and director of clinical genetics at UNMC. He was 69.

Raymond Schmitz ’56 of Kearney died March 16.

He was a professor of business at UNK, retiring in 1992. He was 85.

Beverly (Keller) Sheffield of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died June 26. She was 76.

Denise (Stiles) Streeter ’97 of Kearney died May 15. She was 60.

Frank Vanek ’42 of Barron, Wisconsin, died Feb. 10. He was a career teacher and coach. He was 94.

Paul Wice ’66, ME ’89 of Kearney died June 4.

He was news director at radio station KGFW in Kearney for more than 40 years. He also taught speech and broadcasting at UNK for 20 years. He was 70.

Darrell Yentes ’50, MAE’59 of Holdrege died April 27. He was a high school teacher, coach and administrator. He was 90.

James “Jim” Jeffres '75 of Ogallala died July 27. During his four years in college, he played the position of defensive tackle for the Kearney Lopers. Jim excelled in football and received several honors such as NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) All-American Honorable Mention; NAIA District II, All District 1971 and 1972; All Conference; and Team Captain.

He signed as a Drafted Free Agent with the Cowboys and attended their camp on the UCLA campus. He was a career educator and coached football and basketball. He was 65.

Make your reunion plans today. We can help!

Homecoming 2016 will be September 23-24, 2016

Call us for assistance 308.698.5271 or email tricia.danburg@unkalumni.org unkalumni.org

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Today is the day learning turns into leading.

JOANNA UTECHT Biology, MS University of Nebraska at Kearney My today started when I realized I could get my master’s degree on my own terms. I knew I wanted to go back to school, but I didn’t want classes to interfere with my work as a teacher and, living in a remote, rural area, I knew I couldn’t be on campus every day. At the University of Nebraska at Kearney, I created a schedule that worked for me and I learned both subject-area knowledge and teaching techniques that I could immediately apply in my classroom. Most of all, I loved the challenge — and I loved learning that I can do a lot more than I thought I could.

Read other stories and explore more than 100 programs at online.nebraska.edu

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UNK Connections WE NEED YOU! Send in your updates. Loper Pride, Loper Legacy, Loper Pet Pal pictures, any exciting information or pictures you would like to share to UNK Alumni Association. You can also update your information online at unkalumni.org/member or email information to Lopers@unkalumni.org.

Stay Connected!

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Campus Box 21 Kearney, Nebraska 68849 Phone 308.698.5271 Lopers@unkalumni.org unkalumni.org Lopesup.org

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Under the “Interests” tab, select “Groups” and join “University of Nebraska at Kearney” for job postings, career advice and important updates and information about what’s happening at your alma mater.

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o Campus Visit (Let us know when you will be on campus so we can plan a tour.) o Event Ideas or Locations: _____________________________________________________ o Serving on the UNK Alumni Board (New board members are elected in the spring of each year.) o Classroom Interviews (I would talk to students about my professional journey.) o Job Shadowing (Providing UNK students the opportunity to see your career in action.) o Ongoing Career Mentoring (Gold Torch Society - women’s mentoring, conversation tables, etc.) o Company Tours/Presentations (Contact: _________________________________ to schedule.) o Networking Events/Career Fairs (I am interested in learning more.) o Ongoing Field Experience (I would like to learn more about providing work-place experience.)

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.

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Continue to Learn at UNK 400+ Online Courses 40+ Online Programs To get started, visit ecampus.unk.edu

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OTHER COURSEWORK AVAILABLE • +9 Post-Master’s Coursework • Pre-Speech Language Pathology • Transitional Certification Program The University of Nebraska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. 08.2015