Spring 2022 UNK Today

UNK TODAY U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E B R A S K A AT K E A R N E Y A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N

SPRING 2022

An Unexpected Journey

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UNK TODAY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

16 ‘YEAH, I’M A TEACHER’ Jazmin Urbina Shares Lifelong Love of Learning.

By Erika Pritchard – UNK Communications

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SINGH'S EXPERIENCES LED HIM TO THE NEXT BIG THING

CELEBRATING THE GOLD TORCH SOCIETY'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

By Shonna Hill – UNK Alumni Association

By Shonna Hill – UNK Alumni Association

DEPARTMENTS 6

AROUND THE TOWER

26 LOUIE'S PRIDE 28 ALUMNI PROFILE

LIFE 4

30 FOREVER A LOPER

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UNK TODAY UN K A L U M N I | S P R ING 20 2 2 | IS S U E 3 7 VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & DEVELOPMENT

Lucas Dart ‘97 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

Tricia (Sunderman) Danburg ‘94 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI COMMUNICATION

Shonna Hill ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Toni (Winsor) Meyers ‘93 ART DIRECTOR

Mitch Johnson ‘94 University of Nebraska Foundation PHOTOGRAPHY

UNK Alumni Association UNK Communications and Marketing University of Nebraska Foundation UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LEAD COUNCIL Hilke (Brandon) Meyer ’12, MBA ’19 PRESIDENT OMAHA, NEBRASKA

Curt Ott ‘07

PAST-PRESIDENT KEARNEY, NEBRASKA

Bryce Abbey, Ph.D., ’04, MAE ’06 CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVE KEARNEY, NEBRASKA

Anita (Fritz) Cory, Ph.D., '93, MSE '93 GREEK REPRESENTATIVE NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA

Yousef Ghamedi ‘99

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE KEARNEY, NEBRASKA

Andy Greer ‘11

NEBRASKA REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

Dusty Jura ‘08, MBA ‘15 ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE AXTELL, NEBRASKA

Michelle (Marks) Krause ’02, MSE ’05 NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ROSWELL, GEORGIA

Brittani Moeller, D.O., ’08 KEARNEY REPRESENTATIVE KEARNEY, NEBRASKA

SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: UNK TODAY / UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 214 W. 39TH ST. P.O. BOX 2678 KEARNEY, NE 68848 1-308-698-5271 lopers@unkalumni.org

a MESSAGE from DOUG KRISTENSEN Back in the day when I was a college student, things were different. My daughters would say that I sound like a geezer, and they are probably right. But it’s true. Life was good, I was on my own for the first time, and my focus on the future could have been described as fuzzy. I essentially went to college for four years to grow up.

Today as chancellor, I have the extreme privilege of interacting with students in a wide variety of circumstances and settings, and what I see in them is much different from what I remember about myself. I see maturity beyond their years, commitment and competition, engagement and direction, and pressure. A lot of pressure. To succeed in the classroom while working side jobs to pay rent and tuition, to build resumes that will open doors, to serve others and do the right thing. In short, pressure to become leaders in our high-anxiety, fast-paced world.

So, given the commitment it requires, why is it important for students to invest themselves and their dollars in a four-year, baccalaureate degree program? And why is UNK so successful in making students successful?

The answer to the first question is twofold. Personal satisfaction in earning a college degree is enormous — and simple economics.

We know that college graduates are far more likely to be employed, their average monthly and lifetime earnings are significantly higher, they are more inclined to volunteer when volunteers are needed, and they are more likely to share their earnings through donations and charitable contributions. You, our alumni, tell us your investment in UNK is paying off.

Answers to the second question are evident in our student and alumni successes and also demonstrated in the pages of this magazine. UNK provides access to experiences that engage students in a larger world while preparing them for their future careers. All our students are able to be in supportive communities where their experience and success matters. Our faculty are experts in educating and mentoring, providing research opportunities, and encouraging distance learning.

Our staff works hard to ensure and provide individual and professional assistance. And I cannot say enough about each of you, our alumni. Your generous contributions of time, talent, enthusiasm and resources serve to inspire and encourage.

You help make students’ pressure-filled world not quite as pressure-filled, and that’s important.

Most sincere thanks for all you do. (By the way, life is still good!)

Go Lopers!

Douglas A. Kristensen, J.D. Chancellor UNK Today is published twice a year by the UNK Alumni Association and the University of Nebraska Foundation and is the official alumni publication of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

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AROUNDtheTOWER

News and Events Across Campus

MONA hosts groundbreaking ceremony for renovation, expansion project The Museum of Nebraska Art hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in early December to mark the beginning of a $25 million restoration, renovation and expansion project.

Projected to open in 2023, the reimagined MONA will include a contemporary 23,000-square-foot expansion that will showcase imaginative exhibitions in light-filled, spacious galleries along with welcoming community spaces open to the public.

Elements of the museum’s transformation include: • Welcoming new entrances allowing ease of access for visitors of all ages and abilities.

• Additional galleries embracing new technology and allowing more extensive display of the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions.

• An expanded Gary E. Zaruba Library and Research Center that will accommodate the growing collection of books, reference materials and ephemera.

• A centrally located open commons area with amenities such as comfortable lounge seating and a coffee bar.

The official home of the Nebraska Art Collection, MONA is governed by a statewide board of directors in collaboration with the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

• Increased square footage for artwork storage and exhibition preparation.

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Big jump in first-time freshmen boosts UNK enrollment to 6,275 students With a freshman class 125 students larger than last year, UNK logged an enrollment increase of 0.8% for fall 2021, to 6,275.

First-time, full-time freshman enrollment increased 16%, attributable to gains of 70% in out-of-state freshmen, 8.9% in Nebraska freshmen and 107% in international freshmen.

Total undergraduates from states outside Nebraska increased 19% to 586. These students are benefiting from the New Nebraskan Scholarship, a new program that discounts out-of-state tuition to the Nebraska rate. UNK freshmen from outside Nebraska make up 14.6% of the enrolled class — the highest percentage in 10 years.

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Analysis also shows the increasing diversity of the student body. Ninety-two of 93 Nebraska counties are represented, as well as 47 states. Many of the outof-state students come from Colorado (167 — up 31.5%). Iowa and Minnesota have their highest-ever enrollment of 60 and 31, respectively; and Wyoming has 23 students this fall — up 92%.

Enrollment of Hispanic freshmen is a record — 139 — up 29% over 2020.

UNK international students are from 56 countries, including 32 students from Nepal, which more than doubled, 110 from Japan and 48 from Mexico.

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AROUND THE TOWER

UNK adds occupational therapy to KHOP scholarship program

Students can now pursue a career in occupational therapy through the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP), a partnership between UNK and UNMC.

UNK recently expanded its partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center to offer a new pathway for occupational therapy.

provides additional support, mentoring and professional development opportunities for first-year UNK students, along with a $2,000 room waiver.

Students can now pursue a career in this high-demand health care profession while receiving academic and financial support through the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP), a successful collaboration between UNK and UNMC that trains medical professionals who are committed to practicing in rural Nebraska.

After completing a bachelor’s degree at UNK, students will enter UNMC’s three-year occupational therapy program in Omaha or Kearney. Graduates of the UNMC program will receive a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree and be eligible to take the national certification examination.

KHOP participants receive a full-tuition scholarship to attend UNK and guaranteed admission to UNMC if all requirements are met. The KHOP Learning Community

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In addition to occupational therapy, KHOP students can study for careers in the fields of dental hygiene, dentistry, medical laboratory science, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant and radiography.

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Board of Regents approves UNK library renovation The University of Nebraska Board of Regents gave its approval in October to a major renovation project that will modernize the UNK library.

The roughly $25 million project will enhance Calvin T. Ryan Library’s role as the center of learning on campus by creating an inviting and engaging environment that combines physical collections with new technology while devoting more space to group and individual study areas.

Opened in 1963, the nearly 100,000-square-foot building has remained largely unchanged the past 30-plus years. The remodeled space will better meet the needs of students, staff and faculty and support the library’s shift from physical to online access for many resources. Adding more efficient storage for the library’s physical collections will reduce operating costs and provide additional room for other services and resources.

Construction is expected to start in summer 2022 and be completed in summer 2024. The renovation is planned as a multiphase project, allowing library operations to continue during the work.

The renovation will be funded by bonds issued through LB384, a bill that extends a state-university partnership addressing deferred maintenance needs across the University of Nebraska System.

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AROUND THE TOWER

NU Foundation honors Roger Jones with Distinguished Development Service award

UNK alumnus Roger Jones ’65 and his wife, Rita, of Minden received the Harlan J. Noddle Award for Distinguished Development Service in October. It is one of the University of Nebraska Foundation's top service awards.

joined the University of Nebraska System in 1992.

Long before the integration, he built relationships and the trust needed to merge the two foundations and continued to lay the groundwork for future fundraising success for UNK.

The recognition is given to a former or current university or foundation employee who provides exemplary service in development while demonstrating values of integrity, commitment, initiative and more.

He retired from the University of Nebraska Foundation in 2006.

Jones oversaw the integration of the Kearney State College Foundation with the University of Nebraska Foundation when the Kearney campus

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“Roger knows everybody. That was a great asset as he helped us develop a true major gift development enterprise following our integration with the university system,” said UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen. “He helped people see the impact that could be made through philanthropy.”

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On fitting day, UNK dedicates new Military and Veteran Student Center The campus community came together on Veterans Day last year to celebrate the grand opening of UNK’s new Military and Veteran Student Center, located on the second floor of the West Center.

About 200 military-affiliated students currently attend UNK, which is ranked 15th among Midwest regional universities on U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges for Veterans list.

Located near the Army ROTC office and Department of Military Science, the Military and Veteran Student Center features a lounge with a large TV, comfy furniture and computer workstations where military-connected students can relax, study and network.

The Military and Veteran Student Center is also supported by the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, which offers opportunities for military students to pursue nursing careers through its Kearney Division.

It also serves as a hub for Military and Veterans Services, the liaison between students and the Veterans Affairs, Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and military branches. Military and Veterans Services provides resources and services that support veterans, current service members and military families as they pursue their educational goals, including assistance with state and federal benefits.

Members of the UNK community celebrated the ribbon-cutting for the new Military and Veteran Student Center on campus.

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FEATURE

“When I was younger, I didn’t have any interest in agriculture. I just couldn’t see myself in that field.”

- Vishal Singh ’97

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From a Small Town to the Next Big Thing!

By SHONNA HILL - UNK Alumni Association Life is a series of experiences meant to shape you.

Some are carefully planned, yet others seem to be random occurrences. The important thing to remember is that they all add up. And, if you get the math right, they will add up to something incredible.

That was the case for Vishal Singh ’97, who combined his education in graphic design with experiences in both the agricultural and techbased fields to create Quantified Ag®, a precision livestock analytics company. However, the path to getting there wasn’t always so straightforward.

When Singh was 8 years old, his family moved from the metropolitan city of New Delhi, India, to a small farming community in central Nebraska. This journey was his first exposure to the world of agriculture. “I grew up in an area where agricultural operations were everywhere,” Singh said.

As a boy in rural Nebraska, Singh found that his love for robotics and art didn’t align with his ag-focused community. “When I was younger, I didn’t have any interest in agriculture. I just couldn’t see myself in that field,” he said. “I was much more interested in art and engineering, and I didn’t see the connection between design and technology and how that could be associated with agriculture.”

Singh decided to pursue his interest in engineering and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University his first year of college. However, he quickly realized that engineering wasn’t his passion and that he was more interested in industrial and graphic design.

“I made the decision to switch my focus, and for me, that meant transferring colleges,” said Singh.

“I wanted to stay in state, and the University of

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Nebraska at Kearney by far had the strongest program for both of those areas.”

The transition to UNK was easy for Singh for a couple of reasons. The move allowed him to be closer to his hometown, and he had the chance to work with Richard Schuessler, art professor and director for DPI Graphics, a student-based design studio.

“Professor Schuessler made it possible for students to attend industry events in Lincoln and Omaha,” Singh said. “He also had a design practicum that, if you got into it, allowed you to work on real client projects. It was amazing being able to have that opportunity.”

This experience not only helped him grow into his professional career, but it also helped him with thinking outside the box and coming up with creative solutions.

After graduating from UNK, Singh worked as a graphic designer for several companies, some of which were startups. “I had such a great experience working for these startups because they allowed me to work on innovative projects that meshed well with my design and technology interests,” said Singh. “It also got me thinking about the possibility of having my own company and making my own product.”

For his next career step, Singh began working at the DEAL Lab at the University of Nebraska– Lincoln. “Some of the first projects I worked on were with the animal science department,” said Singh. “We would partner with faculty and staff members who were working on some very innovative, cutting-edge ideas. They would have the expertise in their field of knowledge, but not necessarily the technology background to make their ideas a reality. That’s where we came in.”

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FEATURE

Vishal Singh, wife Julie and daughter Autumn

Through those partnerships, Singh was able to connect with people who worked with livestock and learn about the problems they faced in the industry.

Singh now serves on the board of directors for Invest Nebraska and is focusing on his family, wife Julie and daughter Autumn, while deciding his next career adventure.

From there, Quantified Ag® was born. As the founder and CEO of the company, Singh developed a patented sensor and data analysis platform for cattle. The sensor is an ear tag that captures the individual animal’s movement and temperature. The company’s system electronically monitors the health of the animal and alerts producers if it is in need of medical intervention.

This makes it possible to detect illness earlier, so animals can receive treatment faster.

“I’ve definitely had a meandering career path to get to where I am today,” said Singh.

With the success of the system, several big-name companies in the industry sought to partner with Quantified Ag®. One of those was Merck Animal Health, a global pharmaceutical company.

This partnership allowed Singh and his team to test the system and get it out on the market.

Soon after, Merck approached Singh about acquiring Quantified Ag®, and in June 2020, the companies merged, with Singh selling his share of the company to Merck.

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“With startups, people assume that if you want to add something to an area, you have to have worked in that particular industry for years. But that’s not true. Sometimes an industry outsider can bring a new perspective when approaching a problem and help develop the right solution.”

When discussing his career with aspiring entrepreneurs, Singh’s advice is “to not be afraid of creating something new and talking to people from areas completely unrelated to what you’ve known in the past.”

“Have confidence and learn from your previous experiences because they all add up,” said Singh. “You could develop the next big thing in the industry!”

You can learn more about Quantified Ag® at quantifiedag.com.

UNK TODAY

WHO’S PUTTING THE FORCE IN NEBRASKA’S WORKFORCE? UNK TODAY

Watch “Nebraska Focused: Building Our Future” on Nebraska Public Media’s website to discover how UNK is helping solve critical issues across the state.

Nebraska faces critical workforce shortages in many areas, including education, engineering and health care. Thankfully, the University of Nebraska at Kearney is training the next generation of educators and health care providers to improve the quality of life across the state for years to come.

Watch today at nebraskapublicmedia.org/nebraskafocused.

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FEATURE

‘Yeah, I’m A Teacher’ Jazmin Urbina shares lifelong love of learning

By ERIKA PRITCHARD - UNK Communications

Jazmin Urbina has loved to learn since she was a small child.

As a 5-year-old, Urbina immigrated to the United States with her parents and brothers. She only spoke Spanish.

Urbina enjoyed learning to speak and read English at her elementary school in Iowa, where she was part of the English as a second language program from kindergarten through fourth grade.

If she didn’t understand an assignment, she relied on friends to translate for her. She also practiced at home with her English-speaking cousins.

Urbina loved her math lessons and taking part in hands-on activities, too. She vividly remembers

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making applesauce with her classmates in second grade and having parties themed after books they read at school.

At home, Urbina liked playing school with her one older and four younger brothers. She was always the teacher who gave her brothers problems to solve.

Her childhood experiences influenced her decision to pursue higher education after graduating from Gibbon High School and to study elementary education with an ESL endorsement.

“I loved school. I loved my teachers. I can’t remember having a teacher I didn’t like,” Urbina said. “I feel like that had a very big impact on me.”

Urbina graduated in December from UNK with her Bachelor of Arts in Education. But before she walked across the commencement stage, the first-generation college student was persistent in following her dream.

Urbina applied for scholarships with the help of her high school Spanish teacher. She received the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Scholarship, which paid for tuition. Her room and board were covered by the Bilingual Educators Scholarship awarded through UNK’s Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion.

“If I didn’t receive scholarships, I don’t know where I’d be right now,” she said.

Without UNK, Urbina may not have grown as a young adult. Her involvement in the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, Thompson Scholars Learning Community and TRIO Student Support Services taught her money management, resume writing and other skills. She was also active in the Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority, Social Justice League and Hispanic Student Association.

Urbina made an impact in the classroom while student teaching this fall at Outley Elementary School, part of the Alief Independent School District in Houston, Texas.

UNK has partnered with the Alief district for more than 25 years. The district offers an urban teaching experience in one of the most ethnically diverse school systems in Texas, which attracted Urbina to the job. The district also pays its student teachers $13.29 an hour.

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Urbina had the opportunity to use her ESL endorsement in the third-grade classroom, which included children from many ethnic backgrounds, including Vietnamese, Hispanic and African American. Teachers came from many different backgrounds, as well.

“Being from a different culture, I walked in there and literally cried, ‘Oh my God, I feel like I actually belong here,’” Urbina said. “You don’t see very many teachers that look like you, especially growing up. Being in a very diverse school with so many teachers of different ethnicities really touched me.”

Under the guidance of her cooperating teacher, Jung Banh, Urbina taught English to Spanishand Vietnamese-speaking children. That was a rewarding experience.

“I was little once, and I came here not knowing any English at all,” Urbina said. “Now I’m older and can give back to the little kids. I was once in their shoes.

I know how they feel.”

Additionally, Urbina taught math, science, grammar, reading and writing to the third graders.

Banh taught her how to be a better teacher.

“She always said don’t assume the kids know how to use a pencil. Because of COVID last year, the kids fell behind, and we had to show them how to use a pencil, marker or eraser,” Urbina said.

Organization was key in the classroom, so Urbina wasn’t stressed as a student teacher.

“I felt very prepared, because UNK goes above and beyond to prepare us with lesson plans,” she said.

“They overprepare us.”

Urbina was offered a full-time job with the Alief school district starting this spring. Though she loved the school and the city, she isn’t ready to commit to being that far from her family. She will consider taking a full-time position there in the fall of 2022, but this spring is substitute teaching near home while continuing to influence her siblings.

Her youngest brother, also a third grader, often video chats with Urbina to get help with his homework.

“He’s very proud. He’s always like, ‘My sister is a teacher.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m a teacher,’” Urbina said.

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2021 Gold Torch Society class members

FEATURE

The Gold Torch Society's 20th Anniversary

By SHONNA HILL – UNK Alumni Association Anniversaries are a time for reflection and celebration, a time to remember where you started and how you’ve progressed. More importantly, they are an opportunity to show appreciation for all those who have encouraged and supported you along the way. All of these were on display during The Gold Torch Society’s 20th anniversary celebrationin November.

In 2000, the UNK Alumni Association established The Gold Torch Society, a mentoring program for UNK alumnae and undergraduate women. Since then, alumnae have returned annually to campus to mentor and network with undergraduate women, resulting in a unique and honorable campus organization.

Stephanie (Hueftle) Vogel, Ed.D., ’89, MAE ’96, founder of The Gold Torch Society, had a vision for a women’s mentoring group where alumnae could meet and network with one another, while fostering mentoring relationships with current women studying at UNK. “The Gold Torch Society came about largely as a result of two things: the amazing women mentors

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I had in my life and the work I was doing on my doctoral dissertation back in the late 1990s,” said Vogel.

“I was researching alumnae mentoring programs, and creating one at my alma mater seemed like the natural thing to do. When I approached Jim Rundstrom, former alumni director and my boss at the time, with the idea, he was characteristically supportive and encouraged me to run with it.”

At that moment, The Gold Torch Society was born. Since its inception, the program has had tremendous support from alumnae who consider this a great opportunity to get back on campus and be involved with their alma mater. To date, more than 1,000 alumnae and students have been involved with the program in its 21-year history.

“A key element to the group being successful was the caliber of the alumnae mentors.

Without their passion for giving back and their commitment of time and resources to return to campus, the program wouldn’t have become a

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reality,” said Vogel. “The fact that the program is still flourishing more than 20 years later is a testament to its value to both the participants and to the university.”

The Gold Torch Society marked 20 years in 2020.

What should have been a year of celebration didn’t occur due to COVID-19 restrictions.

So, in November of 2021, a 20th anniversary celebration took place to honor the program.

“The celebration was a long time coming!” said Kristin (Wittmann) Howard ’00, director of special programs for the University of Nebraska Foundation and co-director of The Gold Torch Society. “Being able to celebrate this important anniversary surrounded by the many women The Gold Torch Society has made a positive

impact on was such a wonderful chapter in this program’s history.”

To further celebrate this milestone, a scholarship was awarded to an outstanding student from the 2021 class.

“The scholarship was inspired by the young college women and mentees who have been a part of this program,” said Joyce (Bryan) Strout ’70, Gold Torch Society advisory board member and scholarship donor. “Their drive for excellence and their dedication to their future careers was the motivating factor. These young college women inspire me every year.”

Strout’s hope for the scholarship is that it will continue to inspire more students to learn about

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Holly Rockenbach (left) and Joyce (Bryan) Strout ’70

Gold Torch Society founder, Stephanie (Hueftle) Vogel, Ed.D., ’89, MAE ’96, (left) is joined by Shawnna (Wach) Silvius ’90 (center), and Michelle (Thompson) Widger ’90.

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FEATURE the mentoring program and encourage them to get involved. “The scholarship will be awarded to one of the collegiate members each year,” she said. “The more we can offer to our students, the stronger the program becomes, and the more prepared they are to enter the world of work!”

Holly Rockenbach, a senior majoring in communication disorders, was the recipient of this year’s scholarship. “Being awarded The Gold Torch Society scholarship was such an honor,” she said. “Everyone that was a part of this weekend was so incredibly talented, and I was so grateful to have been chosen among such a prestigious group.”

Rockenbach plans to attend graduate school in the fall and pursue a master’s degree in speechlanguage pathology. “The Gold Torch Society truly pushed me to be more confident in myself going into this big step of my life," she said, "and I am thankful for the connections I made through the experience.”

Throughout its history, The Gold Torch Society has meant so much to so many women at UNK. The program has continuously shown how mentors and students build meaningful personal and professional relationships.

Looking back, Vogel is still inspired by the lasting impact of The Gold Torch Society.

“I am incredibly proud to have had a hand in its creation and to see today’s members experiencing the same mentoring magic that was so evident back in 2000,” she said.

“The camaraderie, energy, relationships, encouragement and wisdom shared through this program are really magical to see.”

To learn more about The Gold Torch Society and to get involved as an alumnae mentor, contact Kristin Howard or Shonna Hill at lopers@unkalumni.org or 308-698-5271.

Gold Torch Society have been educating hundreds of students and alumnae since 2000.

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Building and maintaining a strong network is more important than ever! Connect with UNK alumni and students through The Range, our new online networking website just for Lopers.

This is a great opportunity to: u u u u

connect with fellow alumni; offer your expertise as a mentor or find your own mentor; connect with an alumni-owned business; hire a new employee or find your new career.

Sign up today!

therange.unkalumni.org

FEATURE

Regional Engagement Center A 49,000-square-foot Regional Engagement and Alumni Center will be built on UNK’s University Village development. The $15.6 million project is expected to be complete in early 2023.

UNK graduates watch University Village vision come to life

By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications When Joey Cochran was a student at UNK, he often gazed at the 100-plus acres of undeveloped farmland just south of campus and wondered how it would be used.

“I knew the university owned it, but I had zero clue what it would ever turn into,” Cochran said.

Well, that’s not entirely true. He actually had a pretty good idea.

During his senior year, Cochran and other students in a UNK marketing class were assigned a project that required them to come up with their own plans for the property.

He suggested educational buildings — an

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obvious answer for a university — along with hotels, restaurants and retail businesses that draw people to the area.

“There are so many different things you could use the land for,” said Cochran, who graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a management emphasis.

Turns out, his vision wasn’t too far from reality.

Nearly 20 years later, that farmland is the site of University Village, a public-private development that combines educational, residential, commercial and recreational opportunities in a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.

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“This is the perfect development. It literally weaves the community of Kearney and the university together,” said Cochran, a vice president of business banking at NebraskaLand Bank who serves on both the Kearney Planning Commission and University Village board.

summer 2018. That was Village Flats, a 99-unit, apartment-style housing complex designed to accommodate upperclassmen and graduate and nontraditional students from both UNK and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, as well as families and faculty.

“There’s nothing else like it in Kearney,” he added.

The first academic building — the Lavonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center — followed in fall 2019. In addition to providing an education-based environment where children up to age 6 can learn and grow, the Plambeck Center serves as a training facility for future early childhood educators and gives UNK students and faculty an opportunity to conduct beneficial research.

RAPID GROWTH The master plan for University Village was released in 2013, when Michael Christen was still attending UNK.

Cochran and Christen

Joey Cochran, left, and Michael Christen at UNK’s University Village development.

Cochran is a member of the University Village board, and Christen serves as executive director.

Now working as the director of business services at his alma mater, he’s amazed by the speed at which the development has progressed.

Christen called those two buildings catalysts for the site.

“The vision is really coming to life, and we expect the next five years to be even more active than what we’re seeing now,” said Christen, who also serves as executive director of University Village.

Ultimately, he wants University Village to be an urban destination within a rural community, a place that attracts new students, young professionals and businesses while serving existing residents and expanding resources for the region.

After the initial investment in infrastructure, the first building opened at University Village in

“You’re already seeing developments like this on the East and West coasts. For a university like us,

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FEATURE being able to mimic that concept and bring it to Kearney, Nebraska, is a huge step forward,” Christen said.

CURRENT PROJECTS Although the COVID-19 pandemic created a speed bump, there’s still plenty of momentum at University Village.

The construction crews and heavy equipment are a sure sign of that.

Construction started last fall on the $48 million Element 30 housing project, a partnership between UNK and Grand Island real estate developer Scott Rief that will add upscale apartments, townhomes and 10-plexes to the area.

A 27-unit building is already completed and occupied as work continues on a four-unit townhome, two 10-plexes and a 37-unit apartment building that features a clubhouse.

Construction will begin soon on the outdoor pool and plaza areas, and retail spaces are expected to be ready next spring. Those include a couple of restaurants and a taproom.

Funded by Rief’s company, Millennium Development, which will own and manage the

housing, the project includes 230 total units to be constructed in four phases over five years.

The housing will serve the entire community.

Millennium Development’s partnership with UNK is the largest private investment on a construction project in the university’s history.

UNK is also partnering with the City of Kearney to build a 62,000-square-foot tennis complex near University Village’s southern edge.

The $8.8 million Ernest Grundy Tennis Center features six indoor courts, offices for Kearney Park and Recreation and UNK tennis, locker space, restrooms and an elevated mezzanine area with spectator seating. It’s expected to open this spring, creating additional opportunities for players of all ages.

The facility will serve the UNK women’s team, as well as the Kearney Tennis Association and Kearney Park and Recreation. It will be owned and operated by the city, with UNK providing operational and maintenance support. This project is primarily funded through private contributions and a $1.125 million grant awarded to the city by the state’s Civic and Community Center Financing Fund.

Element 30 The Element 30 housing project at UNK’s University Village development includes upscale apartments, townhomes and 10-plexes, as well as two restaurants and a taproom.

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Tennis Center

UNK is partnering with the City of Kearney to build the $8.8 million Ernest Grundy Tennis Center, which features six indoor courts.

LOOKING AHEAD

Christen views these partnerships, and those coming in the future, as the key to University Village’s success.

“They really open the door to a whole lot of different things for us,” he said.

The Regional Engagement and Alumni Center is a great example.

A centerpiece of the University Village development, the roughly 49,000-square-foot facility will strengthen Kearney’s role as a regional hub while connecting central and western Nebraska with the rest of the state.

To be located directly west of Village Flats, the two-story, technology-rich building will host a variety of meetings and events and provide office space for businesses, nonprofits and other agencies looking to establish or grow their presence in Kearney while engaging with the university and gaining access to a large pool of potential employees. These relationships will create more educational and experiential learning opportunities for UNK students, too, and help keep them in Kearney.

Grand Island-based manufacturer Chief Industries and Olsson, an engineering and design firm

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headquartered in Lincoln, are already committed to leasing office space there. The center will also house the UNK Alumni Association and University of Nebraska Foundation, which are currently located in a small office building several blocks from campus.

The goal is to start construction on the Regional Engagement and Alumni Center this spring, with an expected opening date of early 2023. UNK is partnering with a Utah-based private investment company on the $15.6 million project.

“The Regional Engagement and Alumni Center is unbelievably exciting,” Cochran said. “The potential for that project is phenomenal.”

With construction costs coming down and interest rates remaining low, Cochran expects to see strong interest in University Village among investors and developers in the months ahead.

“We could see some pretty large requests because of what’s happening in the economy,” he said.

Christen agrees.

“I think the speed of development is going to continue to move faster and faster, which is great,” he said. “I don’t see it slowing down in the next few years.”

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LOUIE'S PRIDE

I N S I DE LO PER AT HLET ICS

Loper players, coach learn to enjoy every moment together

By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications All good things must come to an end.

University of Nebraska at Kearney volleyball players Anna Squiers, Maddie Squiers and Lindsay Nottlemann have certainly heard this proverb before, but that doesn’t make the inevitable any easier.

On Dec. 7, four days after the Lopers lost to Concordia-St. Paul in the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament, they were still struggling to comprehend the moment.

It didn’t feel real yet, Nottlemann and Maddie Squiers said.

For Anna Squiers, the topic was simply too difficult to discuss. Instead, her tears told the story.

No amount of success can prepare you for the instant when it all comes to an end. As a coach, there’s not much you can do to lessen the pain.

“You just try to say thanks,” said Rick Squiers, who led the Lopers to their 22nd consecutive national tournament appearance this season.

SETTING THE STANDARD Although their time in a Loper volleyball uniform is over, the players who finished their careers last fall leave a legacy that will impact the program for years to come.

“This group did it right, and that starts with the leadership of these three,” Rick Squiers said of Nottlemann and his two daughters. “For anyone who’s coming back, this is the standard to match.”

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“They did amazing things when amazing things were needed,” he added.

Since 2017, when Anna Squiers joined the program, the UNK volleyball team has a combined record of 146-18, including the unofficial, COVID-shortened season last spring. The Lopers won a total of six MIAA regular-season and tournament titles and six NCAA tournament matches during that span.

Maddie Squiers, a transfer from Bellevue University, and Nottlemann, a Lincoln Pius X graduate, both joined the starting rotation in 2019, when UNK put together one of the best seasons in program history.

The Lopers went 38-1 and reached the national championship match for just the second time.

“Nobody thought we would go 38-0 and then play in the national championship,” Nottlemann said. “That was special.”

A libero, Nottlemann led the team with 524 digs last season. The two-time All-MIAA Second Team selection recorded 1,246 digs over three official seasons, ranking 20th in school history.

Although she has a year of eligibility remaining, Nottlemann will forgo that opportunity to attend occupational therapy school. She’ll graduate from UNK in May with a degree in health sciences.

Nottlemann called it “an honor” to play for the Lopers.

“This is a very well-respected program. Being able to say I was a part of it means a lot to me,” she said.

“It made me a better and stronger person, and a lot more competitive person, especially playing next to

UNK TODAY

Maddie. It’s very special to me and, I’ll forever cherish my time here.”

NO REGRETS Anna and Maddie Squiers both graduated in May but decided to return for one final season.

For Maddie, who’s pursuing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, it was a no-brainer.

“I would come back for another six years if I could. I just love it that much,” she said. “It was never a question for me.”

(Top) Maddie Squiers (Above) Lindsay Nottlemann

The team’s starting setter, Maddie Squiers led the Lopers in assists (1,338) and aces (53) last season and was second in digs (354) while appearing in all 115 sets. Her 2,779 career assists rank ninth in school history, despite playing only two official seasons at UNK. She’s a two-time All-American and two-time All-MIAA First Team selection.

“It’s been an amazing few years,” said Maddie Squiers, who called her time at UNK a “dream come true.”

Her sister, who will attend occupational therapy school in Omaha, went back and forth before deciding to return in fall 2021 so she could finish her career “the right way.”

“I’m so glad I did,” Anna Squiers said. “I have no regrets. I just can’t imagine my life if I wouldn’t have.”

A two-time All-American and four-time AllMIAA selection, including first team honors in 2019 and 2021, the starting middle led UNK in total blocks (109) and was second in kills (294) while hitting a team-best .372 last season. She ends her career with 1,074 kills — 24th in school history — 385 blocks and 369 digs in 463 sets played.

Through all the ups and downs — she almost quit the sport at one point — Anna Squiers learned an important lesson.

“After realizing my time here is limited, I think I found a different level of enjoyment for it and just appreciated every chance I got to spend with my teammates and just play volleyball,” she said.

Her father learned the same lesson.

Anna Squiers

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“This is all going to end at one point, so enjoy it every day,” Rick Squiers said. “I tried to do that.”

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Impact Through Passion

Larry (left) and Lyle Hardesty in June 2009 at the Robinson ranch where they lived from 1948 to 1955.

Passion drives us in many ways. One person’s passion can propel a wave of others to discover their passion. When educator Lyle Hardesty died in June 2019, there was no doubt what he had been passionate about -- students and lifelong learning. Throughout his life, Lyle spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours with students, whether it was in the classroom or with a musical instrument. Now, Lyle’s memory lives on at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, known then as Kearney State College (KSC), through scholarships awarded to residence hall assistants each year.

After graduating from KSC, Lyle taught one year at Eddyville and then six years at Milligan, while completing a master’s degree in education at KSC in 1969. He then moved to Snyder, where he taught until that school consolidated with Scribner in 1987. He taught at Scribner-Snyder Community Schools until he retired in the early 2010s. In total, he taught more than 45 years, including such subjects as English, music, art, choir, speech, science and Spanish.

Hardesty graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in English education. While at KSC, he lived in Men’s Hall, which at the time was under the supervision of house mother Sena Lang. She was known as “Mom Lang” and the residents were considered “her boys.”

Mom Lang had a paramount impact on Hardesty and many other students, including Larry Hardesty, Lyle’s younger brother.

In the book “Mom Lang – A Remembrance,” complied by Larry Hardesty ’69, MSE ’71, Lyle writes of coming to Kearney State Teacher’s College in 1959 as a “naïve and scared country boy from the Sandhills.” Mom Lang was so much to “her boys.” Lyle Hardesty wrote “Men’s Hall was a family in every sense of the word, and Mom Lang was the head of that family.” Mom Lang would be the one to offer comfort when Hardesty’s father died and was also the one to help Lyle build a list of clients for his business of mowing, snow shoveling, and a variety of odd jobs.

The impression Mom Lang had on Lyle was immeasurable. When Mom Lang died, Lyle was one of the first of “her boys” to begin giving to the Sena “Mom Lang” scholarship fund in her name at UNK.

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Multitalented, Lyle painted murals on and in several buildings in Snyder and nearby towns.

He also gave private lessons – organ, guitar, piano, vocal – until he was advised for health reasons to discontinue.

Even in Lyle's later, slower years, he never forgot about Mom Lang, and he continued to make gifts to the Sena “Mom Lang” scholarship fund. Upon his death, the University of Nebraska Foundation was notified that Lyle left a large part of his estate to the scholarship fund, which allows more scholarships to be awarded to hardworking residence hall advisors at UNK. Current scholarship recipient Sara Ripp of Sumner, Nebraska, notes the impact the scholarship has had on her experience at UNK. “I am very grateful for this scholarship as it makes me proud to be a UNK resident assistant, and the financial assistance helps immeasurably,” Ripp said.

Lyle’s estate gift ensures his love for Kearney, Mom Lang and education live on in perpetuity.

The passion he had for learning continues to help other students on their educational and life journey.

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Help Us Create a Stronger Future.

Just like we need your support when we’re on the field or court, we need your support when we’re in the classroom. In the lab. Helping in our community.

We’re inviting you to join the NU Advocates team— a group of students, alums, faculty and staff sharing how UNK makes a difference in their lives and the lives of others. Join us in advocating for a stronger future for UNK, Nebraska and the world.

JOIN THE NU ADVOCATES TODAY AT NEBRASKA.EDU/UNKADVOCATES and get a free window cling to show your support.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY ALUMNI

FOREVER A LOPER

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Alumni are making an impact in their communities every single day. Please share those stories with us at lopers@unkalumni.org.

LOPER ALUMNA PROFILE

10 years, I practiced law in two private firms concentrating on civil business and professional litigation. During that time, I founded the Anchorage Association of Women Lawyers and served as the second female president of the Alaska Bar Association.

In 1984, the governor appointed me as the first woman to serve on the Superior Court in Anchorage. During that time, my community activities were recognized with many awards including the Y.M.C.A. Woman of Achievement, Chamber of Commerce Athena Society, A.C.L.U. Liberty Award and Alaska Pacific Board of Trustee Emeritus.

KAREN K. (Lueck) HUNT ‘61 I came to Kearney State College when my parents moved to Kearney the summer before my junior year of college, so I eagerly transferred from Hastings College. I knew KSC had more classes and offered richer learning opportunities.

When I came to KSC, I was a theater major.

However, I gradually realized I probably wasn’t going to be a working actress. I decided to take several education courses to qualify for a Nebraska teaching certificate. After graduation in 1961, I was hired to teach English (speech and drama) at Columbus High School and two years later, I moved to California for similar teaching jobs. It was there that I pursed a Master of Arts in English from L.A. State College.

In 1968, I decided to leave teaching and was accepted at the University of Southern California Law School, graduating in 1973.

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In 1988, I began a 31-year teaching career at the National Judicial College. I traveled to many different states and countries teaching a wide range of subjects to judges, concentrating on judicial writing. I also returned to Kearney as a mentor and guest speaker for The Gold Torch Society, a mentoring program for UNK alumnae and undergraduate women.

After I retired in 2000 I continued my community involvement, and was inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013 and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2015 for community service and public education.

Looking back, I owe a lot of my success to KSC because it started me on the path of my greatest achievement — mastering and honing the ability to communicate clearly and to explain complicated ideas and concepts so others can use them for their own achievements.

Meanwhile, my husband accepted a twoyear teaching stint at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He fell in love with the “frozen north” so when I graduated from USC, we all moved to Alaska.

My advice to students is to hang in there — it will either get better or worse — it will not stay the same! Also, remember that education is not information. Education is learning the thinking skills necessary for you to live a rich, purposeful, generous life.

Having been only one of 11 women in my law school class, I was prepared to be the only woman in a private law firm in Anchorage – if, of course, I could get hired! For the next

Karen (Lueck) Hunt is a 1999 UNK Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

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FOREVER A LOPER 1954

1970

Earl and JoAnn Rademacher ’72, MAE ’83 of Kearney are the 2021 Golden K Kiwanis Kiwanians for their community involvement.

Art and Debbie (Melbye) Soderholm ’71, MAE ’81 of Johnston, Iowa, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 9. Debbie and Art are both retired from teaching.

1955 Marilyn (Whitney) Peterson of Cozad is the 2021 Cozad Library Foundation's Make Your Mark on Cozad award recipient.

1962 Gary and Sherry (Hemje) Alberts of Hildreth celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Dec. 31.

1963 Don and Mary Nelson of Hildreth celebrated their 60th anniversary Aug. 6.

1964 Ken Aldridge of Mansfield, Texas, published his 11th crime novel, "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow." Aldridge served 24 years as a special agent with the FBI. Irene and Alan Smith, Ph.D., of Fredericksburg, Texas, celebrated their 60th anniversary Aug. 3.

1967 Bob Whitehouse of Papillion earned the 2021-2022 Outstanding Service Award from the Nebraska School Activities Association.

1968 Dan Kinney, Ph.D., MSE ’77 of Council Bluffs, Iowa, earned a Jason Award from Children’s Square U.S.A. The annual Jason Awards recognize individuals, couples, organizations and businesses that exemplify the mission to teach each child, every day, the values and life skills essential to a successful life — one full of caring and contribution.

1969 Colleen (Moreau) Nieman of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was inducted into the Kearney Catholic High School Hall of Fame.

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1971 Vikki (Husmann) Deuel MSE ’76, Ed.S. ’86 of Grand Island received an honorary Doctor of Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in recognition of her community service and contributions to public education.

Carol (Wessels) Duncan ’75 of Lincoln earned the 2021-2022 Outstanding Service Award from the Nebraska School Activities Association.

1972 Nancy and Claude Badura of Kearney celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Aug. 7.

1973 Tim Aylward MAE ’77 of Lincoln was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame as a successful football and track coach.

1974 Mary and Mark Balcom of Kearney celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Charles Bicak, Ph.D., of Kearney was inducted into the Kearney Catholic High School Hall of Fame.

1975 Jon Abegglen of Kearney was awarded the 2021 Friend of Kearney Award by the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce.

Joe Green MSE ’77 of Minden retired after 39 years of teaching English.

Al Niedbalski of Columbus earned the 20212022 Outstanding Service Award from the Nebraska School Activities Association.

Terry Torson of Kearney was inducted into the Kearney Catholic High School Hall of Fame.

1976 Dennis Headrick, Ph.D., of Lincoln retired with more than 30 years in teaching and higher education administration in central and southeast Nebraska.

1977 Bruce Elder of Kearney celebrated 39 years of service to University of Nebraska at Kearney. Bruce is a professor in the College of Business & Technology.

Lori Potter of Kearney was inducted into the Marian Andersen Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame.

1978 Alan Kegley of Kearney served as grand marshal at the Nebraska State Fair celebration parade.

1979 Becky (Davis) Faber, Ph.D., MAE ’82 of Lincoln, is an emerita member of the American Association for Employment in Education, is serving on the editorial committee for the 2022 Job Search Handbook. In 2017, she was the recipient of AAEE's Research and Publications Award.

P.J. O’Neill MBA ’92 of Kearney has joined the CHI Health Good Samaritan Foundation Board of Directors.

Kim (Anthony) Schipporeit of Kearney retired from UNK with 45 years of service.

1980 Dan Keyser MAE ’88 of Kearney was awarded the 2021-2022 Distinguished Service Award by the Nebraska School Activities Association.

Todd and Lois (White) Thalken of Kearney retired after owning Kearney Floral for 31 years.

1981 Sandra (Thomas) Hanson MAE ’89 of Kearney wrote a book, "Let's Explore Weather Lore." The book focuses on the different type of lore associated with animal behavior and how it may or may not predict the weather. Jan (Swanson) Jones ’74, MSE ’82 of Kearney illustrated the book.

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FOREVER A LOPER 1981 Tim Higgins MAE ’97 of Grand Island was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame as a respected and knowledgeable official.

Charles MSE and Jeanine Kelliher MSE ’90 of Kearney celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 7.

Kathy (Woodman) Marble, Ed.D., MSE ’97 of Hastings earned her doctorate in education in higher education leadership from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon.

1982 Terry Galloway of Grand Island was reappointed to serve another three-year term on the Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation Board of Directors. Currently serving as chairman, Galloway has been on the board since 2015.

Maha (Mazzauie) Younes, Ph.D., MSE of Kearney is the chief diversity officer at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

1983 Ron Baack of Kearney is a division administrator for Nutrien Ag Solutions.

Kelly Kohler of Lenexa, Kansas, retired in 2020 from the FBI after 23 years of service as an intelligence analyst and financial analyst.

Kohler is also a retired U.S. Army Engineer Major and Desert Storm veteran. He now works as a criminal intelligence analyst for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Russ Rerucha of Grand Island is president of the Executive Board of Directors of the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association (Fonner Park).

1984 Robin (Beavers) Bennett MSE ’89 of Kearney wrote a children's book in honor of her late husband, Scott, titled "Go Be the Light!"

1985 Susie (Kurtenbach) Kelly of Lincoln was inducted into the Kearney Catholic High School Hall of Fame.

Scott Schoneman MAE ’97 of Holdrege was awarded the 2021-2022 Distinguished Service Award by the Nebraska School Activities Association.

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1986 Linda Crandall MAE ’92 of Overton earned the 2021-2022 Outstanding Service Award from the Nebraska School Activities Association.

1987 Denise (Stuhr) Germann of Kalispell, Montana, retired after 34 years of government service, with 17 years each with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service.

1988 Joe Ruxton of Charlotte, North Carolina, is a mortgage financing advisor at Pulte Mortgage.

Rod Ruybalid MAE ’02 of West Point is an ELL teacher at Schuyler Middle School.

1989 Tami (Atkins) Damian of Lincoln contributed to two books, both receiving #1 Best Seller status on the same day. The book titles are "Don’t Quit: Stories of Persistence, Courage and Faith" and "Voices of 21st Century: Bold, Brave, and Brilliant Women Who Make a Difference."

Brian Tonniges MAE ’03 of York is trust department property manager at Cornerstone Bank. Tonniges recently retired as superintendent for High Plains Community School.

1990 David and Ann Bauer MAE of Kearney retired as chancel choir director and organist at First United Methodist Church after many years of service.

Bill Busch Ed.S. of Lincoln is the special teams coordinator for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln football team.

1991 Lori and Bruce Clymer of Gothenburg served as the Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce grand marshals for the annual Harvest Festival. Bruce recently retired as the Gothenburg city administrator after serving the community in that role for nearly 30 years.

Dan Kritenbrink of Falls Church, Virginia, is the assistant secretary for the

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Renae (Riddle) Zimmer of Kearney received her master’s degree in higher education student affairs from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She is the assistant director of Student/Family Transitions and Leadership at UNK.

1992 Matt Heimes of Lincoln earned the 20212022 Outstanding Service Award from the Nebraska School Activities Association.

Alison (Lewandowski) Larson of Saint Paul was promoted to senior vice president, marketing director for Equitable Bank in Grand Island.

Vicki (Toms) Northrop of York is the coordinator for Southeast Community College’s Learning Center.

1993 Lori Long of Gothenburg earned the 20212022 Outstanding Service Award from the Nebraska School Activities Association.

1994 Jamie Tomlin of Lincoln was inducted into the Alliance High School Hall of Fame as a three-sport athlete. He played basketball at UNK.

1995 Jeanette (Heggemeyer) Maack of Olathe, Kansas, is a senior director of training and development at Annexus Health.

Jennifer (Prince) Nealson of Centennial, Colorado, has been named as one of 2021's Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business by the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce.

Laura (Beam) Ryan of Heartwell is owner of four retail stores in Kearney: The Denim Bar, Olive & Sage, Post & Nickel, and Urban & Suede.

Laurie (Hothem) Smith of Sumner was recognized as the 2021-22 Teacher of the Year by the National Rural Education Association. She was named the 2021 Nebraska Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association during the annual state convention.

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FOREVER A LOPER Ryan Williams of Olathe, Kansas, is the chief operating officer at Alphapointe.

1996 Rachel (Tomlinson) Mindrup of Omaha is an assistant professor and the Richard L. Deming, M.D., Endowed Chair in Medical Humanities at Creighton University. Thirty of her "Many Faces of Neurofibromatosis (NF)" paintings were installed at the CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney from April 1 to July 31, 2021.

Kurt Holliday of Seward has been named the 2020-2021 National Federation of State High School Associations and the Nebraska School Activities Association State Coach of the Year for girl’s cross country.

1997 Rob Bentley MAE ’99 of Big Rapids, Michigan, is the associate athletics director at Ferris State University.

Troy Hauxwell of Imperial has been named the 2020-2021 National Federation of State High School Associations and the Nebraska School Activities Association State Coach of the Year for girl’s track and field.

Nathan Lightle of Kearney is the superintendent at Pleasanton Public Schools.

1998 Stephanie King-Witt MSE ’05 of Cairo is the marketing director for Midwest Connect.

Jen (Draper) McKeone of Cozad is the executive director of the Cozad Development Corporation.

Matt Rogers MAE ’07 of Kearney is the principal at Kearney Catholic High School.

Michelle Stevens MS ’12 of Kearney is the 2020-2021 UNK Counseling and School Psychology Outstanding Alumni. She is an elementary counselor for Gothenburg Public Schools.

1999 Regan Anson of Lincoln is the assistant vice president of communications and media relations at the EducationQuest Foundation.

Martonia Gaskill, Ph.D., MSE of Kearney was recognized with the Pratt-Heins Faculty Award for Service, which recognizes the honoree’s contributions to the university, community, and education. She is an

UNK TODAY

associate professor in teacher education and is the director of the instructional technology master’s program.

LeAnn (Kring) Jochum of Axtell is the deputy director of the South Central Economic Development District.

Neal Randel MAE of Sedalia, Colorado, formerly from Beatrice, was awarded the 2021-2022 Distinguished Service Award by the Nebraska School Activities Association.

Rick Simonson MS of Kearney celebrated 22 years of service to University of Nebraska at Kearney. He is a lecturer in the biology department.

2000 Chad Thompson of Elkhorn was inducted into the Alliance High School Hall of Fame as a three-sport athlete. He played football at UNK.

2003 Travis Payne of Papillion is a business development manager for Pixel Fire Marketing.

Janel Walton, Ed.D., MSE ’06 of Kearney graduated from Arizona State University with a doctorate in leadership and innovation and is the dean of enrollment management for Central Community College.

Steve Zimmerman of Kearney is general manager for the Engine Mobile Aftermarket Division of Parker Hannifin.

2004 Tim Hanley of Kearney is a senior accessibility analyst at Level Access.

Abby (Brunt) Jones of Kearney received a Nebraska Award of Excellence and was a finalist for the Nebraska Teacher of the Year Award.

2001

2005

Adam Bonesteel of Lincoln earned the 20212022 Outstanding Service Award from the Nebraska School Activities Association.

Maria Hernandez of San Diego is a program manager II at Amazon.

Travis Hollman MBA ’17 of Gibbon received the 2020-2021 College of Business and Technology Outstanding Faculty Award.

Brad Kjar MAE ’07, Ed.S. ’17 of Ravenna is the superintendent of Ravenna Public Schools.

Gabe Kowalek of Kearney has been promoted to lieutenant with the Kearney Police Department and will serve as the commander of the criminal investigations bureau and special services unit.

Josh Long of Norfolk is the head girl’s track and field coach at Norfolk High School.

Long has taught for 20 years and coached for 19 years at NHS. Chris Lyons of Omaha is the vice president of sales for Valmont Utility. He also volunteers as a University of Nebraska at Omaha CBA Scholars Academy coach.

Travis Stec of New Castle, Colorado, is an appraiser for Garfield County.

2002 Kimberly (Adam) Keller MBA ’03 of Lincoln is the chief financial officer at Hausmann Construction.

Stacy (Spilker) Olsen MAE of Lincoln is a kindergarten teacher with Lincoln Public Schools.

2006 Clint Edwards MAE of Kearney is the Nebraska Association of Secondary School Principals Region IV Principal of the Year.

Jenna (Lehman) Grenier MBA ’07 of Grand Island is a tax shareholder at Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm.

Crystal (Baker) Hinrichs MSE ’08 of Kearney is a lecturer and clinical educator with the UNK Department of Communication Disorders.

Ed Klimek of Grand Island was active duty in the Navy for eight years, has been a Navy reservist for 20 years and voluntarily serves as part of the funeral details for Navy veterans in Nebraska. Klimek is the plans examiner for the City of Grand Island Building Department.

Tom Schlund of Algona, Iowa, is an admissions officer at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

2007 Jason Borchers MBA ’08 of Kearney is a division marketing manager at Parker Hannifin.

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FOREVER A LOPER

2007 Brandon Luedtke, Ph.D., of Hamburg, New Jersey, is a principal scientist at Novartis.

Lawnie (Woolsey) Luedtke of Hamburg, New Jersey, was promoted to staff quality engineer at Becton Dickinson.

2008 Jarrod Holz of Kearney works in facility management and construction for Younes Hospitality.

Cami (Barner) O'Brien of Overland Park, Kansas, earned her financial planning and analysis certification and works at Water One in Lenexa.

2009 AshLea (Millsap) Allberry MBA ’15 of Lincoln is chief operating officer at Maptician.

Ben Allemann of Nashville, Tennessee, is a vice president of sales development strategy at National Research Corporation.

Tervel Dlagnev of Omaha is an assistant wrestling coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Kelsey (Beckenbach) English of Tempe, Arizona, is membership coordinator for the Mesa Arts Center.

Jake Klabenes MBA ’10 of Hastings is audit director for Lutz.

2010 Isaac Lind of Holdrege is employed with Barney Insurance.

Travis Steinhoff MAE ’20 of Schuyler is the activities and athletic director of Schuyler Central High School.

2011 Rustin Dring of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a vice-president at Markforged.

Brad Green MS ’15 of Kearney is an enrollment services consultant for Encoura.

Matthew Tomjack of Lincoln is a marketing manager for Hudl.

Amy Windsheimer MAE of Fort Morgan, Colorado, is a middle school physical education teacher at Brush Middle School.

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2012 Jordan German of Omaha is head public event relations and sales for MiningStore and Aurum Capital Ventures, Inc. James Keating MS ’15 of Emporia, Kansas, is the assistant director of student advising and adjunct faculty in international relations at Emporia State University.

Tom Knott MS ’15 of Kearney is a career consultant at Medical Solutions.

Kyle McBride of Littleton, Colorado, is a mid-market account manager at Brist Manufacturing.

Sam Schneider of Lafayette, Colorado, is executive director of high school education at Adams County School District 14.

Amanda Ziegenbein of Pleasanton is a personal and residential loan officer at Cornerstone Bank in Grand Island.

2013 Megan (Meier) Axmann of Kearney was the recipient of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce 2021 Small Business of the Year Award as one of the owners of Divas at Kearney Floral.

Ryan Grossnicklaus of Aurora is a senior audit manager at KPMG. Aliese Hoffman MSE ’19 of Kearney was honored with the annual Outstanding Entrepreneurship Service award during the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Best Practices Summit.

Audrie (Muller) Woldt MAE ’18 of Minden teaches third grade at Minden Public Schools.

2014 Cory Foote of Omaha is talent acquisition manager at Buildertrend.

2015 Brock Ehler MA of Scottsbluff has been named the 2020-2021 National Federation of State High School Associations and the Nebraska School Activities Association State Coach of the Year for Girls Golf.

Danielle Kluver of Kearney is a media specialist for National University.

2016 Andrew Hanson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the associate director of development for the College of Business Administration at Marquette University.

Katelin Koch of Norton, Kansas, is the human resources director of Natoma Manufacturing, LLC. Zach Widger of Omaha is a senior quality assurance engineer at Hudl.

2017 Lindsie (Woolley) Breazeale of Kearney is the director of marketing and business development at GROW Nebraska.

Kristin Kramer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a manager of corporate partnerships at Union Dubuque F.C., an Open Division men's soccer club playing in the United Premier Soccer League. She is also an Iowa Prep Girls Hoops scout at Prep Network and assistant camp director at Breakthrough Basketball.

2018 Quinten Dawes MBA ’20 of Kearney is a sourcing manager at Airxcel.

Logan Hansen of Kearney performed the National Anthem at UNK's summer 2021 commencement.

Edwin Hooper of Renton, Washington, is a digital & social content specialist at Seattle Seahawks.

Kendra Peters of Fort Collins, Colorado, is an account executive with Lemonlight.

Erin Sorahan of Alda is the childcare director of the Grand Island YMCA. Marilyn Synek of Lincoln is a communications specialist for Nebraska Family Alliance in Lincoln.

2019 Logan Krejdl of Kearney is an academic and career adviser at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Taylor Janicek of Bridgeport is assistant director of sorority life and leadership at Creighton University.

Hannah (Wick) Maupin of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is the communication and design coordinator at Opportunity Partners.

UNK TODAY

FOREVER A LOPER

Michelle Setlik MA of Grand Island is the associate dean of business and entrepreneurship for the Central Community College’s Grand Island and Columbus campuses.

Samantha Stock of Boulder, Colorado, is an associate studio manager at Orangetheory Fitness.

2020 Alex (Alber) Jenn of Holdrege is manager of marketing, promotions, and ticketing for the UNK Athletic Department.

Miranda Niemeier of Omaha is the music teacher at Wilcox-Hildreth Public Schools.

Carlos Vargas of Grand Island is the band director at Gibbon High School.

2021 Sydney Dierks of Ayr teaches English and journalism at Minden Public Schools.

Grace Lueders of Blair teaches music for Grand Island Public Schools at Shoemaker Elementary.

Evan Neben of Elwood is a substitute teacher with Kearney Public Schools.

Cassie Pokorney of Kearney is a third-grade teacher at Wilcox-Hildreth Public Schools.

Maddie Squiers of Kearney is playing professional volleyball in Klagenfurt, Austria.

Loper Unions Colten Eberle ’20 and Hallie Grimes ’20 of Holdrege married June 26. Colton is a supply chain analyst at Cash-Wa Distributing and Hallie is a fourth-grade teacher at Holdrege Public Schools.

Andrew Hanson ’16 and Molly Sheehan ’18 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, married April 17.

Sarah Houston and Dylan Munson ’17 of Lincoln were married June 12.

Kayli Hooper and Nick White ’16 of Lincoln married Nov. 27.

Loper Legacies

Garrett and Ahnika (Lutz) Bradley ’18 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Charlotte, born Sept. 4.

Jenna and Blake Sloan ’09 of Denton are parents of a son, Camden Lee, born Aug. 15.

He has a sister, Ella.

Jesse ’05 and Elizabeth (Obermeier) Cain ’06 of Lincoln are parents of a son, Callum Glenn, born Oct. 13.

Chevy ’14 and Becky (Berven) Smith ’12, MAE ’20 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Bella Rose, born Aug. 19. She has sisters, Lyla and Kia, and a brother, Owen.

Tahnee Cook ’20 and Hunter King ’20 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Halsie Jade, born Aug. 6. She has a sister, Onyx.

Chris and Angela (Reynolds) Davidson ’09, MBA ’10 of Grand Island are parents of a daughter, Ashlyn Rey, born Sept. 12. She has a sister, Brooklyn.

Brad ’11, MS ’15 and Stefanie (Skrdla) Green MAE ’19 of Kearney are parents of a son, Graham John Scott, born Nov. 18. He has a sister, Evelyn.

Andy ’11 and Janae (Nienhueser) Greer, DPT, ’10 of Lincoln are parents of a daughter, Addison Joy, born Aug. 13.

Kris and Joni (Colburn) Kaczanowski ’14 of Broken Bow are parents of a daughter, Kayla Grace, born Aug. 28.

Kurt and Morgan (Pillen) Kapels ’09, ME ’11 of Columbus are parents of a son, Kip, born Nov. 22. Kip has a brother, Henry.

Chelsie and Brandon Kopf ’14 of Lexington are parents of a son, Walter Alan, born May 11.

Rylan ’09 and Kayla (Cochnar) Little ’11 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Tinslee AnnaGrace, born Aug. 17. She has two brothers, Treyton and Talan.

Tony ’12 and Stephanie (Holtman) Lopez ’14, MAE ’17, of Des Moines, Iowa, are parents of a son, Lleyton John, born Sept. 2.

Anthony ’11, MAE ’18 and Brittany (Davidson) McPhillips ’09, MA ’13 of Central City are parents of a son, Beckett Anthony, born July 7. Beckett has two sisters, Olivia and Ella.

Logan ’16 and Joee (Beckman) Muhlbach ’16, MAE ’21 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Maren Jade, born Aug. 16.

Mikki and Kyle Schellpeper ’01 of Pender are parents of a son, William Jo, born Oct. 14.

Wyatt ’17 and Mattison (Peterson) Anderson ’18, MSE ’20 of Arapahoe are parents of a son, Burke Allen, born July 1.

Nick and Sara (Ritzdorf) Schram ’15 of Omaha are parents of a daughter, Eva Lynn, born Oct. 21.

Brian ’14 and Morgan (Behle) Bird ’13 of Kearney are parents of a son, Deacon Brooks, born Dec. 25.

Dan ’09 and Bergan (Carr) Schumacher J.D. ’11 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Kennedi Joy, born Nov. 3.

UNK TODAY

Nathan ’05 and Abbey (McFarland) Thies ’06 of Firth are adoptive parents of a daughter, Loren Mae, born Nov. 8.

Harrison and Kelsi (Haines) Trampe ’12, MS ’15 of Amherst are parents of a son, Tate Scott, born Sept. 13. He has two sisters, Neeli and Remi.

Bailey and Mark Van Zee ’05 of Lincoln are parents of a son, Morgan Allen, born Sept. 17.

Trevor ’13 and Carly (Havener) Williams ’13 of Aurora are parents of a daughter, Scout Augustine, born Oct. 27. She has a brother, Sawyer, and a sister, Celia.

Lopers in Memoriam We share our condolences with the following Lopers' families and friends.

1949 Harriette (Bloom) Ericson Axtell Bob Hauver Kearney Joan (Hardy) Morthole Fort Collins, Colorado 1952 Helen Kappas Plattsmouth, NE Donald Nelson Kansas City, Missouri 1955 June (Nama) Murty Seal Beach, California Marilyn (Whitney) Peterson Cozad 1956 Joan (Landquist) Towers New Canaan, Connecticut 1957 Marilyn (Ricketts) Winkler Loomis 1958 Gene Armstrong Ph.D., Ed.S. ’92 Grand Island Everett "Bud" Hopkinson Bellevue Doris (Pedersen) Maurer Kearney

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FOREVER A LOPER Lopers in Memoriam cont.

1958 Paul Wagner Fort Collins, Colorado

1969 Gerald Eifert Omaha

1985 Lois (Timmermans) Thom MBA ’91 Minden

1959 Norman Lans Lexington

1970 Bev (Rosentrater) Leach Lincoln

1986 John Bendfeldt Leawood, Kansas

Paul Robinson Waverly Cliff Trump Goodyear, Arizona Fred Woolstrum Omaha 1961 Jon Eaves New Prague, Minnesota 1963 Gwendolyn "Tommi" (Thomas) Marx New York, New York DeLoris (Mattson) Miller Kearney Larry Steward Littleton, Colorado Shirley (Plumb) Weight Loup City 1964 Kay (Wilson) Downing MSE ’93 Kearney Vernon Duncan, J.D. Franklin Jerry May Kearney Fred Richardson Lincoln 1965 Joyce (Covey) Forrest Kearney 1966 Ron Cyboron Aurora

Rev. Dr. Steven Mues Rochester, Minnesota 1971 Donald Duncan Grand Island Phyllis McMullen Council Bluffs, Iowa Barbara (Manfull) Merryman Kearney 1972 Linda (Pickerill) Amstuz Minden Susan (Grossart) L'Heureux Omaha 1973 Jerry Miller Kearney Arlene (Cotant) Dahlgrin Ogallala 1974 Gerald Messbarger Omaha David Stafford Reading, Pennsylvania 1976 Debra Baumgartner Kearney Bill Keck Ed.S. ’89 Omaha James Sisler Fort Collins, Colorado 1977 Mike Leick, Sr. Omaha

Jerry Denton, Ed.D., MSE ’69 Aurora

1978 Linda (Meyer) Gilson Central City

Gary Graham Grand Island

1979 Marilyn (Johnson) Laughter Onalaska, Wisconsin

1966 Glenn Hartsock MSE ’71 Rogers, Arkansas

Bill McMullen Kearney

1967 Bill Jensen Rapid City, South Dakota

Cindy (Sims) Pille Ashland

David Muirhead Overton

1980 Dick Garrelts Sr. Kearney

Bob Whitehouse Papillion

1982 Shelley (Walters) Hilker Kearney

1969 Ron Clark Salem, Illinois

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Jose Zapata Jr. Grand Island

Duane Burney McPherson, Kansas Jeff Krull Minden Cindy (Linnenbrink) Lammers Shenandoah, Iowa 1987 Erwin Cox Kearney 1988 Mary “Jae” (Laughrey) Lamberson MAE ’91 Dannebrog Eunice "Pat" Langford MSE Omaha 1989 Chad Bailey Holdrege Denise (Schnacker) Buethe Elk Creek Blake Mahnke Omaha 1989 Casey Sinsel Minden 1990 Mick Woodside Kearney 1993 Eric Maupin Kearney 1994 Jane Klosterman MSE Kearney 1995 Pamela (Hansen) Shunkwiler Lincoln 1996 Jennifer (Feind) Nicol Kearney 2000 Judith McClain MA ’16 Loomis Rosey (Bowers) Peterson MSE Hastings 2007 Gary Lucas North Grafton, Massachusetts 2011 Tim Garth MAE Kearney 2013 Alyshia (Nelson) Samuelson Kearney 2016 Boone Anderson Kearney

UNK TODAY

FOREVER A LOPER

Bob Whitehouse ‘67 spent 47 years as a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal in the Omaha Public Schools system. He served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, was a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame and was a UNK Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Bob died Jan. 22.

Loper Faculty and Staff Notes Betty Lou Bethell of Kearney, who taught music, theatre, and dance at UNK from 1964 until her retirement in 2007, died Jan. 17.

Brady Bonsall is the 2021 MIAA Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year. He is UNK’s head cross country and track and field coach.

CyncHealth and the Nebraska Healthcare Collaborative aimed at improving the health of Nebraskans and building the state’s healthcare workforce.

Jean Jacobson, collection coordinator at the Museum of Nebraska Art, celebrated 28 years with UNK.

Larry Carstenson, professor of accounting, finance, and economics, celebrated 31 years with UNK.

Tom Jacobson, Ph.D., of Omaha died Jan. 10. He was a professor of graduate studies at UNK.

James Cook, Ph.D., professor of music, theatre, and dance, celebrated 36 years with UNK.

Tim Jares, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business and Technology at UNK, earned the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Colonels "Doing Business" award.

Liaquat Hossain Ph.D., chair of UNK’s department of cyber systems, is recognized as Tech Educator of the Year by the AIM Institute. He has also been named the inaugural Nebraska Healthcare Collaborative Chair of Population Health and will lead a partnership with

UNK TODAY

Peter Longo, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor of academic and student affairs and professor of political science, was recognized with the Pratt-Heins Faculty Award for excellence in teaching, service and scholarship and research.

Claude Louishomme, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, celebrated 21 years with UNK. Kyle Luthans, Ph.D., chair of the business management department and professor of management at UNK, was honored with the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award.

Josh Lynn, head football coach at UNK, is the 2021 MIAA Football Coach of the Year.

Tami Moore, Ph.D., family science professor, celebrated 26 years with UNK. Marvin Spracklen, Ph.D., of Rapid City, South Dakota, died on April 17, 2021. He was a professor in the UNK Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology from 1965 to 1991.

Allen Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, received the Pratt-Heins Award for Scholarship and Research.

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Leave a Lasting Loper Legacy The name might have changed, but for more than 115 years the mission has not: provide students with the education they need to help our state and our nation grow and prosper.

With a planned gift to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, you can be a significant part of the next 115 years and beyond.

To find out how to include UNK in your future plans, visit us online at nufoundation.org/giftplanning.

Or you may email gift.planning@nufoundation.org or call a gift planning officer at the University of Nebraska Foundation at 800-432-3216.

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