Conrad Hall Under Construction, 1956
Conrad Hall Under Construction, Summer 1957
Students Moving Into Conrad Hall, 1958
UNK TODAY
CONRAD HALL DEMOLITION CLEARS WAY FOR GREEN SPACE, NEW GREEK HOUSING Conrad Hall is officially a memory. The former residence hall was razed this summer, clearing the way for an enhanced green space that extends the Nebraskan Student Union plaza. The outdoor area will serve the new fraternity and sorority housing scheduled to open in late 2022 or early 2023, as well as other students on campus. Located south of the student union on the east side of campus, Conrad Hall was completed in 1957, when it was known as North Hall. The residence hall was renamed in fall 1963 to honor Jennie M. Conrad, a Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney graduate who taught history and social science at her alma mater until her retirement in 1961. Conrad Hall served as a women’s, men’s and coed residence hall over the years. It was taken offline as a residence hall in spring 2014 because of accessibility issues and costs associated with renovating the building to meet local and state codes. The building also housed Honors Program and Residence Life staff. Learn more about the Greek housing project on page 8.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
12 ‘IT’S NOT A LECTURE HALL’ UNK’s STEM building encourages collaboration and discovery By Kristin Howard – University of Nebraska Foundation
14 THE FIGHT TO BECOME UNK WAS DIFFICULT, BUT WELL WORTH IT By Tyler Ellyson – UNK Communications Inside the battle that brought Kearney State College into the University of Nebraska system.
DEPARTMENTS 6
AROUND THE TOWER
22 LOUIE'S PRIDE
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24 UNKAA DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS
SMITH-WHITESIDE OVERCOMES OBSTACLES TO BE FIRST IN FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE
26 UNK ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
By Erika Pritchard – UNK Communications
30 FOREVER A LOPER
28 2021 OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD RECIPIENTS
Despite the obstacles, Phadiziana Smith-Whiteside has persevered and is excelling at UNK.
LIFE 4
UNK TODAY
UNK TODAY U N K A L U M N I | FA LL 20 2 1 | IS S U E 36 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
a MESSAGE from LUCAS DART After reading the main feature story for this issue of UNK Today, I am feeling nostalgic. It doesn’t take a lot to draw me into that direction, honestly, especially when I think about my alma mater. It has been a real treat to celebrate our campus’s 30th anniversary as UNK — a proud member of the University of Nebraska system.
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 Curt Ott ‘07
PRESIDENT KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
Angela (Reynolds) Davidson ’09, MBA ‘10 PAST PRESIDENT GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
Bryce Abbey, Ph.D., ’04, MAE ’06 CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVE KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
Hilke (Brandon) Meyer ’12, MBA ’19 NEBRASKA REPRESENTATIVE OMAHA, NEBRASKA
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
Jack Kreman ‘04
GREEK REPRESENTATIVE NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA
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 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.
UNK TODAY
The big dreaming, visioning, and ultimately the promoting of an important idea to the state influencers who could make it happen are compelling to me. So, too, is the story about how the state normal school at Kearney ever came to be. You know, the story about the 111 ballots it took for the State Board of Education to vote in favor of Kearney over so many other Nebraska communities that vied for the site of the new school. Those communities knew what was at stake. How fortunate we are to have been the choice! But, none of it has ever come easily. There are challenges around every corner. Yet, on each occasion, we have stepped up as a campus and community to find a way to be stronger and better. Kearney has been called “Can Do Country,” and that spirit permeates through our community, our alumni, our donors, our UNK faculty, staff, administration and students. It has led us to where we are today … a proud regional university recognized as a top 10 institution. I’m proud of the part our alumni have played in UNK’s success. Nearly 55,000 people bound together by the common experience of having graduated from the same campus is a strong force. When called upon, they’ve stepped up to advocate for the campus, to help recruit students, to offer their mentorship to students and to provide needed financial support to enhance the academic experience and lessen the burden of cost to attend UNK. Our alumni are the ready-made support mechanism that we have come to rely on for so many things. As we celebrate 30 years of being UNK, I hope you take pride in the role that you’ve had in our campus’s growth and success — and that you’ll consider how you’ll contribute to an even better UNK these next 30 years and beyond. Go Lopers!
Lucas Dart Vice President of Alumni Relations & Development
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AROUNDtheTOWER
News and Events Across Campus
Pete and Jane Kotsiopulos receive Cornerstone of Excellence Award area, state of Nebraska and higher education. It is UNK’s highest honor. “Like the Copes, after whom the award is named, the recipients must be true cornerstones of our university,” said UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, who called the Kotsiopuloses consummate Kearney and UNK supporters.
Pete and Jane Kotsiopulos receive the Ron and Carol Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award from UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen.
Pete and Jane Kotsiopulos aren’t the type of people who expect recognition for their contributions to the Kearney community and state of Nebraska. It’s quite the opposite. Jane actually gets a little embarrassed by the attention they receive.
“There aren’t many other couples like Pete and Jane Kotsiopulos,” he said. Pete and Jane have served on numerous UNK boards and committees, including the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, capital campaigns and as University of Nebraska Foundation trustees. He’s a former member of the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees, Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education and University of Nebraska Medical Center Board of Counselors, and she’s been active on the UNK Academic Affairs Advisory Board and UNK Athletics Board.
“There are so many people who are worthy of these awards — and here we are again,” she said. “It’s very, very humbling.” The couple’s most recent honor came during spring commencement at UNK, where they received the Ron and Carol Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award. The award is presented to individuals in recognition of their community service and support of UNK, the Kearney Jane and Pete Kotsiopulos
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UNK TODAY
Large sculpture planned for Central Green at University Village
Parable sculpture planned for University Village
UNK is transforming the Central Green space at University Village by adding a new sculpture to the mixeduse development. The piece of art named Parable will include three large steel arches, with the shortest being 25 feet in height and the tallest 40 feet high at its peak. The sculpture measures 47 feet wide and will be surrounded on each side by four concrete performance stages and seating. It is created from hundreds of 2-inch steel pipes welded together to form three intersecting parabolas. “This will transform the University Village space and fills the vision we’ve always had for it,” said Michael Christen, University Village executive director and UNK director of business services. “The sculpture really is a centerpiece of the development and statement of what we want it to be, and what it can be.” Designed by internationally recognized public art studio Cliff Garten Studio of Venice, California, the sculpture is being fabricated in Utah. The Central Green where the sculpture will be located is in the main corridor near the north entrance of the University Village development. The space will be used for outdoor gatherings and events, including concerts and similar performances. The monument will be the first thing people see as they enter University Village. Work on Parable has started, and installation is planned at University Village later this year after landscaping work is completed. The sculpture will cost $1.3 million to create and install, with funding coming from private donations.
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AROUND THE TOWER
Work begins on new fraternity, sorority housing complex Martin Hall will have a similar layout, with the addition of shared chapter rooms in the basement and a community great room/clubhouse space on the main floor that encourages interaction among the different organizations. By renovating Martin Hall, UNK is able to utilize an existing resource and preserve some of the building’s historic elements while adding new amenities and upgrades. Work started in July on a $26.65 million project that replaces and relocates fraternity and sorority housing on campus. Approved in February by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, the project includes a renovation of Martin Hall, a 39,700-square-foot residence hall last occupied in 2014, and construction of a new threestory, 39,000-square-foot residence hall directly north of Martin Hall. The new building will feature chapter lounges on the first floor and housing pods on the second and third floors. It’s designed for larger chapters with more members living on campus.
With up to 165 beds in the new building and 80 in Martin Hall, there’s enough living space and chapter room availability for all 12 UNK fraternities and sororities. The new Fraternity and Sorority Life housing complex is located just east of the Nebraskan Student Union. Proposed opening dates are August 2022 for Martin Hall and January 2023 for the new residence hall. The current fraternity and sorority housing — University Residence North (URN) and University Residence South (URS) — will be razed after the new complex is complete.
Fraternity and Sorority Life Housing Complex
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UNK TODAY
Aviation program soaring to new heights In March, 22 students earned their pilot wings when the UNK Aviation Program hosted its first-ever Solo Wings Ceremony recognizing solo flight status. UNK’s aviation program offers a flight operations emphasis for students who want to be commercial pilots and an aviation support services emphasis that prepares graduates for other jobs in the industry, such as air traffic controller, airport manager or aircraft maintenance technician. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted the airline industry, program director David Ballinger sees light at the end of the tunnel. “The global demand for pilots has not changed,” Ballinger said. “We may be set back a year or two, but the airlines are coming back. There’s still going to be a global shortage of 600,000 to 700,000 pilots over the next 20 years.” The high demand for commercial pilots and salaries that can reach six figures are among the program’s selling points. Although most people immediately think of commercial airlines, pilots are also hired for corporate aviation, charter services, firefighting, law enforcement, medical transport, aerial photography, flight instruction, agribusiness and many other areas. UNK is one of just two schools in Nebraska with a collegiate-level aviation program. UNK’s aviation program attracts students from across the globe, with more than half of the current enrollees coming from locations outside the U.S.
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AROUND THE TOWER
Limbach, Larson elected student body president, vice president at UNK Noah Limbach of Kearney and Tristan Larson of Trumbull are student body president and vice president at UNK for 2021-22. As student body president, Limbach represents UNK as a student regent on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and serves as the official student body representative to the administration and public. The president also has the power to approve or veto legislation passed by the Student Senate.
Tristan Larson (left) and Noah Limbach
Limbach is a pre-physical therapy student studying exercise science with a health sciences minor. He serves as president of the Exercise Science Club and vice president of recruitment for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He’s also a Chancellor’s Ambassador and Thompson Scholar, and a member of Volunteers Around the World, Greeks Advocating for the Mature Management of Alcohol and Order of Omega honor society.
Limbach was recognized as a homecoming king finalist in 2020, Thompson Scholars Learning Community Outstanding Student of the Year in 2019-20, Sigma Phi Epsilon Sound Body Member of the Year in 2020 and Sigma Phi Epsilon Member of the Semester in fall 2019. Larson is majoring in exercise science with minors in health sciences and nutrition. She’s a member of the Alpha Phi sorority, UNK Honors Program and Circle K and serves as a resident assistant.
New podcast showcases UNK students learning outside the classroom UNK students have incredible opportunities to learn outside the classroom.
learning opportunities through interviews with the students themselves.
From study abroad to internships to hands-on research and much more, Lopers are experiencing new things every day while preparing for their future careers.
The podcast is also a way to promote recent changes to UNK’s experiential learning program.
These opportunities, and the positive impact they make, are the focus of a new podcast featuring real stories from UNK students participating in realworld learning. “The Loper Experience,” which is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular platforms, spotlights UNK’s experiential
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“Now part of every degree, experiential learning continues to be a main feature of the UNK educational experience,” said Kyle Means, director of marketing at UNK. “Students can choose to participate in our ‘Beyond the Books’ programming, as well as our ‘Create Your Own Adventure’ pathways to help boost those soft skills employers find desirable.”
UNK TODAY
Save the date for the inaugural
ONE DAY FOR UNK: 24 HOURS OF LOPER GIVING #OneDayforUNK Oct. 6-7, noon-noon, 2021 givingday.unk.edu One Day for UNK is a 24-hour virtual day of giving and engagement in support of University of Nebraska at Kearney students. The entire UNK family — students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, friends and fans — will come together to raise critical funding for scholarships, UNK’s three colleges, various programs, student organizations, Loper Athletics and other great causes. It’s a chance for Lopers everywhere and the entire Kearney community to empower our students and champion our favorite campus!
One campus. One community. 24 Hours.
Give back boldly, Lopers. Let's fuel our future together! Keep yourself warm and toasty this winter! Make gifts totaling $60 or more during #OneDayforUNK and you'll receive this exclusive UNK beanie!
FEATURE
'It's not a lecture hall'
UNK's STEM BUILDING ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION AND DISCOVERY By KRISTIN HOWARD - University of Nebraska Foundation
“Do you know what a flip phone is?” University of Nebraska at Kearney student Uriel Anchondo loves discovery and being connected. For him, the flip phone is more than just an artifact of his childhood; it’s a symbol of his academic and career goals. “I was 8 or 9 years old, always on my mom’s flip phone, changing the settings, finding interesting information, showing her that I could change the language to Spanish,” said the first-generation college student from Grand Island, Nebraska. “I loved figuring it all out.”
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This curiosity — along with a supportive family, scholarships and motivation to succeed academically — has propelled Anchondo on what he calls “an incredible path.” An applied computer science major with a minor in finance, Anchondo spends much of his time in UNK’s Discovery Hall. The state-of-the-art STEM facility is home to the construction management, industrial distribution, interior and product design, aviation, cyber systems, mathematics and statistics, physics, astronomy and engineering programs. The hall opened in August 2020,
UNK TODAY
replacing the Otto C. Olsen industrial arts building. Located on UNK’s west campus, Discovery Hall was designed specifically for the programs that will drive economic growth in greater Nebraska. “The name Discovery Hall is so appropriate,” said UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen at the facility’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2020. “This building is not a lecture hall. This building is all about discovering new things and having people work together. Truly, there will be lots discovered in this building, and it’s benefiting our students and our state.”
After graduating from UNK, Anchondo would like to work as a computer or business systems analyst. “UNK is helping me achieve this goal by providing resources and networking opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be possible,” he said. “My family is so grateful; I am so grateful. I want to travel the world and explore everything.” And his analogy takes it full circle: “Before it was just a flip phone. Now we’re all connected.”
This first-class facility, he said, is changing Nebraska by offering opportunities for current and future students that “we’ve never dreamed of before.” For Tim Jares, Ph.D., dean of the UNK College of Business and Technology, Discovery Hall is a special place. “Students and visitors are engaged in the learning environment from the minute they walk in the door,” he said. “The lab spaces are specially designed to facilitate experiential learning. Learning by doing means our students will retain much more of what they learn and will be much better equipped to make informed career decisions.” Anchondo’s goal is to work for a big tech company, and he said he had a vision of his future when he entered Discovery Hall for the first time. “There was glass everywhere, sleek furniture and workspaces … and we get to learn there!” he said. Discovery Hall’s open floor plan was intended to promote collaboration and innovation across different academic departments. Anchondo discovered this collegiality extends throughout the university. “My favorite part about UNK is that I have discovered other communities and groups on campus that have allowed me to branch out and connect,” he said.
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By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications Doug Kristensen was a first-year state senator when he stepped to the podium to address his colleagues on that fateful day in April 1989.
State Sen. Lorraine Langford of Kearney and others even proposed an idea to turn Kearney State into an entirely new university.
“It’s the only time I remember being nervous in the Legislature,” he admits.
Jerome Warner had a different vision. The state senator from Waverly knew Nebraska was too small to sustain competing public university systems, so he focused on maintaining a single, unified system.
Even then, 13 years before he became chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kristensen understood the magnitude of the situation. The Legislature was preparing to debate LB247, a higher education bill that would forever change the trajectory of the school he now leads. “The Rotunda was packed, mostly Kearney supporters, quite frankly,” said Kristensen, who was asked to introduce the amendment that ultimately brought Kearney State College into the University of Nebraska system. “There was a lot of buildup, and emotions were high.”
FORWARD-LOOKING VIEW The battle over the future of Kearney State College had been brewing for several years. An attempt to bring both Kearney State and Wayne State colleges into the university system failed in 1974, and another bill that would have united all four state colleges with the University of Nebraska was shot down in 1985.
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“And he was convinced that Kearney was a very good addition to that,” Kristensen noted. “As it turned out, he was exactly right.” With around 10,000 students, including its main campus and several satellite locations, Kearney was the largest of the four state colleges, easily outpacing Chadron, Peru and Wayne, which produced just 40% of the system’s total enrollment combined. However, because of the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees’ funding philosophy, the Kearney campus lacked the money it needed for capital improvements and faculty pay increases. “They were just flat being taken advantage of. There’s no question about it,” said Pete Kotsiopulos, a prominent Kearney businessman who served on the board of trustees from 1983 to 1989. “Maybe I’m prejudiced a little bit, but Kearney was looking at a bigger picture. How can we help deliver university-type education in greater Nebraska?” City leaders knew Kearney’s strength and visibility weren’t properly utilized by the state college system. So did campus administrators
UNK TODAY
such as then-President William Nester and Chief Financial Officer Earl Rademacher. “Kearney really had the view of moving forward, and I think that’s the hallmark of this community. It’s the hallmark of this campus, too,” Kristensen said. “I think this campus has always had a very forward-looking view. What are we going to do next? What do we need to do to serve people? How are we going to get it done? Who’s going to help? And what can you do? That discussion has happened year after year after year here, and I think it shows.” Fortunately, a certain state senator from Waverly saw things the same way. Warner, whose father, Charles, introduced the 1903 legislation that created the original Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney, crafted the plan to add Kearney State to the University of Nebraska system. His amendment was added to LB247, a bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Withem of Papillion, then-chairman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, that called for a comprehensive study of higher education and created a new Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. The measure was co-sponsored by Langford and Kristensen, a Minden senator whose legislative district included part of Kearney.
student body and other pro-UNL factions who thought the addition of Kearney State would dilute the university system. One political cartoon from the Lincoln Journal depicted the Legislature forcing the board of regents down the aisle to unite with Kearney State during a shotgun wedding. “The opponents of Kearney became very clear. The line got very bright,” Kristensen said. “You were either for us or you were against us.” In the end, LB247 passed the Legislature by a vote of 36-11; then the fight moved to a completely new level. The state Attorney General’s Office questioned the bill’s constitutionality, since the board of trustees was tasked with governing four — not three — state colleges. A lawsuit sent the issue to the Nebraska Supreme Court, where four of the seven justices deemed the law unconstitutional. The thing is, it takes a supermajority of five justices to overturn an act of the Legislature. “We’re here by one vote,” Kristensen said with a smile.
“The real war came when we introduced the amendment,” said Kristensen.
HISTORIC MOMENT
BATTLE LINES DRAWN Officially, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents took a neutral stance on the measure; however, individual members privately spoke against the bill.
Kearney State College officially joined the University of Nebraska system on July 1, 1991, when the school’s name changed to the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The State College Board of Trustees opposed the bill, but Nester, Kotsiopulos and other supporters continued to move the plan ahead.
Campus celebrated with a “Start the Day with UNK” ceremony. Nester, who became UNK’s first chancellor, planned to lift off from Foster Field in a hot air balloon before high winds grounded his flight, and a barbecue lunch was attended by then-Gov. Ben Nelson and University of Nebraska President Emeritus Martin Massengale.
Battle lines had been drawn, especially when it came to Lincoln and Chadron-area lawmakers, media outlets, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Kristensen, who went on to serve as speaker of the Legislature from 1997 to 2002, called it a “historic” moment.
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FEATURE “UNK is very lucky to be part of the university today. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to this campus,” he said.
Other projects, such as the installation of a new fiber network and construction of the central utilities plant, are less flashy but equally important.
“Amen,” Kotsiopulos quickly replied. “We’ve benefited big time.”
“I’m very proud of what this campus has done in 30 years,” said Kristensen, the chancellor since July 2002. “This place has done such wonderful things for central Nebraska, for the city of Kearney and for the state of Nebraska. So many students have benefited here.”
The prestige that came with the “university” name paid immediate dividends as the school was able to more easily attract high-quality faculty. Significant salary increases included in the UNK Education Association’s first three contracts made the school even more competitive and moved it well beyond the undesirable distinction of being among the lowest-paying four-year public colleges and universities in the U.S. Although there was some hesitancy at first, UNK faculty now embrace their role as both educators and researchers, using their time in the lab or field to enhance their teaching and provide additional hands-on learning opportunities for students. Seventy-five percent of UNK faculty have terminal degrees, compared to 60% three decades ago, and the university offers significantly more academic programs for students, particularly at the graduate level. The physical changes have been just as impressive. UNK has constructed or enhanced numerous residence halls over the past 30 years, built a new Wellness Center, College of Education building and Health Science Education Complex and renovated Copeland Hall, West Center, Bruner Hall of Science and Cope Stadium. In the past three years, the university has improved the Nebraskan Student Union and Fine Arts Building, opened a state-of-the-art STEM facility (Discovery Hall) and developed University Village, a 104-acre campus addition where the Village Flats apartments and LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center are located. An indoor tennis complex and private housing development are currently under construction at University Village, and a Regional Engagement Center is expected to open there in early 2023.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT UNK’s role as an economic and educational hub for greater Nebraska has only been enhanced by its affiliation with the university system. A collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center allows students to prepare for health care careers in Kearney, and similar partnerships provide opportunities for students to study at the University of Nebraska College of Law or UNL College of Engineering. To this day, UNK remains one of the region’s best schools for current and future PK-12 teachers and school administrators while also offering top-notch programs in areas such as business, aviation, supply chain management and kinesiology and sport sciences. The list goes on and on. “Most people would agree that Kearney would be a totally different community without this campus,” said Kotsiopulos, who served as the city’s mayor from 1994 to 2002 and later held positions with the University of Nebraska system and University of Nebraska Foundation. “People would sell their soul to have some higher education element in their community.” Kearney’s population has increased from around 24,000 to nearly 34,000 since UNK joined the university system, and roughly 1 in 7 residents has at least one degree from the school, which attracts students and employees from around the globe.
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With nearly 1,000 faculty and staff members, UNK is among the city’s largest employers. “Generally speaking, it’s one of the topics that come up when somebody asks, ‘Why are you here?’” Kotsiopulos said. Kristensen looks back at the past three decades with “tremendous satisfaction and pride,” realizing how lucky he’s been to be in the right place at the right time. “The next 20 years, man, great things are going to happen here,” he said. “I can’t wait. I want to see what the next 20 years are like, because I think this place is going to just take off.”
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FEATURE
Smith-Whiteside overcomes obstacles to be first in family to attend college By ERIKA PRITCHARD - UNK Communications Phadiziana Smith-Whiteside didn’t know a single family member — parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles or cousins — who had attended college. “Leaving high school was a big transition,” she said. “I had to look up YouTube videos of freshmen moving in because I didn’t know anything. Should I bring a mirror? Do they have a checklist? Is that a thing?” An Omaha Northwest High Magnet School graduate, Smith-Whiteside also was homeless for several months during her senior year and the summer after graduation as she prepared for college. And she continuously worried about her health — the effects of diabetes and a tumor diagnosis. Despite these obstacles, she persevered and is now excelling as a junior at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
DIFFICULT JOURNEY Smith-Whiteside grew up “very poor” with her parents and two brothers in North Omaha. They lived on limited funds and food stamps and resided in low-income housing in a dangerous part of the city. “Growing up in an area like that, where a lot of things happen, my mom always told us if you’re going to do anything in this world, just be kind,” Smith-Whiteside said. “‘Keep God first, family second and just be kind. And I promise you that it will go a long way.”’
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Smith-Whiteside took her mom’s advice to heart. Though she didn’t have much herself, she would save her money from part-time jobs and spend it on neighbors and strangers. Once, she bought and donated a wardrobe to a student who wore the same clothes and worn-out shoes to school every day. Smith-Whiteside also was an active volunteer at Dream City Church and for the nonprofit organization Partnership 4 Kids, formerly known as Winners Circle. “I just love giving back. I feel like when people give me something, it’s only right to keep passing it forward,” she said. And Smith-Whiteside benefited greatly from Partnership 4 Kids. She first connected with the Omaha-based organization when she was a kindergartner at Conestoga Magnet Elementary School. Through the program, Smith-Whiteside met with adult mentors from the community several times a month in her school. “We talked about school and what we were going to learn the following week,” she explained. “They asked about home life and checked on grades.” As Smith-Whiteside continued with the program in high school, her mentors encouraged her to go to college, and the organization awarded her a $2,000-per-semester scholarship. Smith-Whiteside also received support from College Possible, a nonprofit that helps lowincome students become college graduates.
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The organization provided guidance on college and scholarship applications and bused students to area campuses for tours. All the while, Smith-Whiteside was balancing work and school and, from April through August 2019, she faced the added challenge of homelessness. Her family’s landlord sold their rental after the landlord’s husband died, Smith-Whiteside explained, and they couldn’t find another affordable place to live before their home was sold. “It’s so hard to find Section 8 homes. A lot of people don’t accept you,” she said. Her parents and younger brother stayed with her uncle in a small apartment. Smith-Whiteside worked late and didn’t feel safe driving in that neighborhood at night. “I was sleeping from friend’s house to friend’s house, couch to couch, and sometimes in my car while I was still in school,” she said. She was also dealing with major health issues at the time. In March of that year, doctors found a benign tumor between her ovaries and uterus that couldn’t be removed. She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 10 and started developing painful skin boils at age 12. “Going through all of this before the age of 20 was frightening, but I had faith, a praying family and a mighty God,” Smith-Whiteside said. “I’m not going to let these conditions and disabilities take over my life, including my pursuit for higher education.”
UNK SUPPORT As a Thompson Scholar and first-generation college student, Smith-Whiteside has benefited from the support she receives at UNK. Right away, she joined TRIO Student Support Services, a federally funded program that provides academic and personal support, financial guidance and career development opportunities to firstgeneration and income-qualified students and those with documented disabilities.
Phadiziana Smith-Whiteside UNK TODAY
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Her TRIO adviser, Bambi Sell, connected her with an English tutor who taught her research paper formats. This was especially beneficial to Smith-Whiteside, who wasn’t required to write papers in American Psychological Association or Modern Language Association styles at her high school. “It was really nice to have Bambi there guiding me through everything and to have that type of support,” Smith-Whiteside said. Smith-Whiteside also receives support from the Thompson Scholars Learning Community. The learning community has taught SmithWhiteside professional skills such as how to create a resume and interview for jobs. The program also acclimated her to campus and helped her develop relationships with staff members and students. “It’s not mom but having them here to support me was nice,” she said.
GIVING BACK Smith-Whiteside’s passion for giving back inspired her to major in social work and minor in family science. She also has a desire to attain UNK’s early childhood family advocate certificate. “I’ve always wanted to help people,” she said.
She learned about the social work profession in high school while job shadowing a social worker who helped older adults with disabilities. “I could see myself doing this,” she thought. As a social worker, she wants to help families stay together. Smith-Whiteside also has a passion for working with children. She often babysat and worked at her mom’s day care in Omaha. “Being with kids always brought joy to me,” she said. Volunteering and working five days a week at UNK’s LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center has strengthened that love. So, she decided to pursue both social work and early childhood education careers. As a teacher assistant in the prekindergarten classroom, Smith-Whiteside helps lead teacher Cassie Morten facilitate activities for the children. Morten said Smith-Whiteside brings brightness and joy to the classroom. “She bonds with each child in their own special way. She knows how and what each child’s interests are and focuses on those interest to make them happy,” Morten said. “She can calm and soothe a child easily. If a child has an emotional state, I can look over in seconds and she has them calm and smiling. She is an inspiration to watch and see her love for children.”
Lead teacher Cassie Morten, second from left, and teacher assistant Phadiziana Smith-Whiteside, right, help prekindergarten students learn the letter “P” during a lesson at UNK’s LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center
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“IT’S IMPORTANT TO PLAN AHEAD, SO YOUR MONEY GOES WHERE YOUR HEART IS.” — CHARLOTTE PERRY
For Charlotte, that place is the University of Nebraska. Even though she’s lived in the San Diego area for decades, the North Platte native established a fund to benefit the University of Nebraska at Kearney, because “Nebraska stays in your veins.” Before establishing her fund, Charlotte says she “put a lot of thought into where her money would do the most good.” In the end, that came down to future generations of UNK students, who will benefit from Charlotte’s thoughtfulness and estate planning for many decades to come. “I think it’s important to give back no matter what the situation is. It makes you feel good too.” — Charlotte Perry Visit nufoundation.org/charlotteperry to learn more about Charlotte’s story.
For 85 years, the University of Nebraska Foundation has served as the trusted philanthropic partner for the University of Nebraska, helping donors like Charlotte leave a lasting legacy. For more information on how you can include the University of Nebraska in your estate plans, please contact the foundation’s gift planning team. gift.planning@nufoundation.org | www.nufoundation.org/giftplanning | 800-432-3216
LOUIE'S PRIDE
I N S I DE LO PER AT HLET ICS
Three years after near-fatal crash, Preston Hall returns to ICU as registered nurse By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications
Preston Hall was returning from a weekend trip to Valentine when his southbound Ford Fusion and a northbound motor home collided on U.S. Highway 83 near Thedford in summer 2018. (Courtesy photo) Preston Hall already knew he wanted to work in health care when he started classes at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Simply put, he wants to help people. That decision took on greater meaning in summer 2018, when he was the one in need of lifesaving care. Then a junior at UNK, Hall was returning from a weekend trip to Valentine when his southbound Ford Fusion and a northbound motor home collided on U.S. Highway 83 near Thedford. The head-on crash crumpled his four-door sedan like a soda can, trapping the 20-year-old Loper football player inside.
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To this day, he has no memory of the accident or the ensuing few days. “The last thing I remember was taking a shower that morning,” said Hall, who is lucky to be alive. He was transported by medical helicopter to CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, then the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he spent five days in the trauma intensive care unit. The Schuyler native suffered life-threatening internal injuries, as well as a broken pelvis, numerous broken ribs and extensive damage to his left leg. He was hospitalized at UNMC for a total of 19 days, followed by another two weeks at Madonna
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And he’s grateful for the health care professionals who helped him get to this point. “UNMC in Omaha is a great place,” he said. “The doctors and nurses there are amazing. I can’t speak highly enough about them.” It was the nurses, in particular, who made a lasting impact. After finishing his preprofessional studies at UNK, Hall enrolled in the UNMC College of Nursing, taking classes at the Kearney campus. He graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and started his new job in the intensive care unit at CHI Health Good Samaritan this summer. “The main reason I want to work in the ICU is because I was there,” said Hall, now 23. “I know what it’s like to be in that situation and I can relate to patients. I think it’s the best fit for me.” Over the past three years, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed. Hall still wants to help people. “I’m happy that I’ll be there to do everything I can for them,” he said. Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln before being released on Aug. 2, 2018. Hall was able to return to the classroom that fall, but the accident ended his football career. Although his coaches and teammates were “super supportive,” the former tight end had a difficult time adjusting to his new role as a spectator. “It was hard for me to go to the games,” he said. “As great as everyone was, and I loved seeing them, it was just hard to see everyone out there running around, having fun and enjoying the game. I knew I couldn’t ever do that again.” Hall endured major knee surgery and months of physical therapy, but he’s still unable to run. “Running sucks anyway, so that’s fine. I’m not going to miss it that much,” he joked. That comment alone is a sign of Hall’s progress. For the longest time, he didn’t like talking about the accident and how it changed his life. Now, he views things a lot differently. “Little things don’t really bother me,” Hall said. “I’m just happy to be here walking around.”
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UNKAA DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS The 41st Annual University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize alumni for their outstanding professional, civic, cultural or charitable accomplishments. The recipients will be celebrated during UNK homecoming weekend festivities. Distinguished Alumni Awards Meghan Barp (1999) Meghan Barp is from Greenville, South Carolina, and is the president and CEO of the United Way of Greenville County. She has served nonprofits for nearly 20 years in New York City, Minneapolis and Greenville and has served as a speaker and presenter for a variety of conferences and events. Meghan was named to the Top 40 Under 40: Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal in 2014.
Larry Feather (1966) Larry Feather resides in Grand Junction, Colorado, and is retired after a long career in the petroleum industry. Following graduation, Larry taught for two years in Denver before going to work for a petroleum company. In 1976, Larry started Feather Petroleum, doing business as Stop ’n Save convenience stores. The business had grown to 19 locations at the time of his retirement in 2004. Larry is an active volunteer for many organizations in the Grand Junction area.
Kirk Hartman (1986) Kirk Hartman, from Lincoln, Nebraska, is the assistant athletic director for HuskerVision at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Kirk started his career in broadcasting before joining the HuskerVision staff in 1994 as a video board director and graphic designer. Kirk now oversees the creative process for video programing in multiple athletic facilities, as well as produces and directs big-screen productions and events and coaches’ television shows.
Dave Thorell (1971) Dave Thorell is a lifelong resident of Loomis, Nebraska, and spent his entire career in broadcasting. Dave started at KUVR in Holdrege before spending the next 42 years at KRVN in Lexington, where he was a program director and on-air announcer. Dave is now retired from broadcasting but continues to do public speaking events for churches and organizations in Nebraska and surrounding states. Dave is a member of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award Jeff Blackmon (1978) Jeff resides in Olathe, Kansas, and started in the information technology industry immediately following graduation. He currently owns Strategic Continuity Solutions LLC. Jeff has been a longtime volunteer for the UNK Alumni Association, assisting with the leadership of the UNK Southern California Alumni organization and scholarship program, coordinating Kansas City alumni events and serving on the association’s board of directors. He has also served on UNK’s Computer Science and Information Technology Advisory Council.
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Distinguished Young Alumna Award Melissa (Huffman) Bucher (2007)
Melissa is an Axtell, Nebraska, native and started her career with Eaton as a technical sales intern in 2007. After graduation, she continued with Eaton in sales and managerial roles and was promoted to national account director in 2021. Melissa is currently serving as the chair of the National Association of Electrical Distributors Women in Industry and received the NAED 30 Under 35 Award in 2015.
College of Business and Technology Distinguished Alumnus Scott Cruickshank (1986)
Scott Cruickshank of Scottsdale, Arizona, has spent more than 25 years in the financial technology industry. He is currently the board chairman for ClickBank, an e-commerce marketplace platform, and is an advisory board member for Investcorp, a global investment management company. Scott has served in executive leadership roles for several public and private equity owned businesses, including J.P. Morgan Chase, Qsent, CyberSource, and CSID. College of Education Distinguished Educator of Year Rebecca (Davis) Faber, Ph.D. (1979, MAE 1982)
Rebecca (Becky) Faber, of Lincoln, Nebraska, recently retired after more than 40 years as an educator. She began teaching in 1979, serving as an English and French teacher at Cozad High School and adult education instructor for two community colleges. She spent the remainder of her career as an instructor, academic adviser and assistant director/ senior career adviser in career services, all at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Becky’s dedication to education has been recognized with several honors and awards. Dr. Don Fox Lecturer April Montoya Vaverka, Ph.D. (2002)
April Montoya Vaverka, from Roswell, Georgia, is a senior materials scientist at Kimberly-Clark Corp., where she is developing next generation materials for N95 respirators, filtration, scientific apparel and wipes. When she joined Kimberly-Clark in 2011, she was a lead scientist in the nonwovens department, developing materials for personal care and Kimberly-Clark Professional products.
Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumnus Adam Zrust, Ph.D. (2006)
Adam Zrust resides in Maryville, Missouri, and is a professor of choral music education at Northwest Missouri State University. Adam will also conduct the University Chorale and Madraliers and teach specialized music education courses. He previously served on the faculty at the University of Central Missouri and as the director of choirs at Mansfield Legacy High School in Mansfield, Texas.
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UNK ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Five former student-athletes will be inducted into the University of Nebraska Kearney Athletic Hall of Fame at a banquet and ceremony held during the UNK homecoming weekend. Those being inducted are Erin (Brosz) Byrd (2006), volleyball; CJ Farber (1999), men’s golf; Anthony Harms (2003), men’s basketball; Kalee (Modlin) O’Connor (2008), women’s basketball; and Lannie Shelmadine (1968), football. More information on the inductees can be found at lopers.com.
ERIN (BROSZ) BYRD (2006)
CJ FARBER (1999)
KALEE (MODLIN) O’CONNOR (2008)
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ANTHONY HARMS (2003)
LANNIE SHELMADINE (1968)
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ALUMNI, IT’S TIME TO COME HOME TO KEARNEY! There are several events throughout the weekend where you can reconnect with fellow alumni:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 5:30 p.m.
Kearney Quarterly After Hours Discovery Hall, UNK
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8 11:30 a.m.
Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon* Nebraskan Student Union, Ponderosa Room
2:30 p.m.
Chemistry Department Annual Don Fox Lecture Copeland Hall, Room 131
3:30 p.m.
One Room, One Teacher Induction Ceremony College of Education Building, Atrium
5:30 p.m.
Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet* Nebraskan Student Union, Ponderosa Room
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 10 a.m. Noon
2 p.m.
Parade Downtown Kearney Loper Brews & Brats Tailgate Sponsored by First National Bank of Omaha Loperville, Cope Stadium Parking Lot UNK vs. Missouri Western State University Cope Stadium, Foster Field
*Tickets for the Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon and Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet may be purchased at unkalumni.org/homecoming.
2021 Outstanding Senior Award recipients The University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association Outstanding Senior Award recognizes UNK seniors for excellence in scholarship and leadership, as well as involvement and dedication to UNK and the Kearney community. More information on these outstanding Lopers can be found at unkalumni.org.
Trevor Daubert, son of Michael and Heather Daubert of Omaha. Trevor received his degree in comprehensive biology with a health sciences emphasis in May. He is attending medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Adrian Gomez Ramos, son of Faustino Gomez and Maria
Ramos of Lexington. Adrian graduated in May with a degree in public administration and a minor in public law. He is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Lena Janssen, daughter of Marita and Dieter Janssen of
Westoverledingen, Germany. Lena graduated in May with a comprehensive physics degree, along with a degree in mathematics. She will be pursuing a master’s degree in physics.
Faith Kowalski, daughter of Autumn Kowalski and the late Patrick Kowalski of Kearney. Faith graduated in May with a double major in sports management comprehensive and business administration. She is attending the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law.
Makenzie Petersen, daughter of Tricia Petersen and Mike
Shields of O’Neill. Makenzie graduated in May with a degree in English education 7-12 and a minor in public law. She is pursuing a master’s degree in English rhetoric at Carnegie Mellon University.
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ONLINE MASTER’S PROGRAMS TO FIT YOUR SCHEDULE Curtis Reese Biology, MS University of Nebraska at Kearney I took my passion for the sciences and my ability to affect students through teaching to the next level with the online Biology, MS program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. It helped me become a better educator because now I’m more comfortable and have more knowledge that I’m able to use to get my students interested. I’m now teaching high school biology and environmental science, while also teaching anatomy and physiology as an adjunct instructor at a community college. It was hard work, but the program has opened up opportunities for me.
Deadlines Approaching 150+ online programs online.nebraska.edu
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 ALUMNI PROFILE
Dana, Rod, Shannon and Todd Falter Four brothers are making a difference at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and in the community of Creighton, Nebraska, by establishing the Falter “4” UNK scholarship. All four brothers attended Kearney State College and credit it for the lasting impact it had on their lives. “Our hope is that this scholarship will open the door to someone that wants to pursue the UNK life that might not have thought that was possible before,” said Shannon Falter. The “4” in the name is the foundation of the scholarship: • The “4” represents the four Falter brothers: Dana, Rod, Shannon, and Todd. They all attended Creighton High School and went on to graduate from Kearney State College. • The “4” also represents that they established this scholarship “for” UNK. • The scholarship was established “for” the Creighton community and extends into the Knox County communities. • The scholarship of $5,000 will be automatically renewed for up to “4” years to students enrolled in the College of Business and Technology and who meet the scholarship requirements. “We chose the business and technology area for the scholarship not only because three of us graduated with degrees in those fields, but because over the course of our careers we have witnessed the importance of the continued emphasis on financial literacy and technology, regardless of what career you choose to pursue,” said Dana Falter. The brothers are excited about giving students the opportunity to attend their alma mater. “It’s exciting to know that we are creating a legacy and giving back to the community. It feels great!” said Rod Falter. “This scholarship really is about giving back to your community and helping younger people achieve success,” said Todd Falter. It gives the brothers the opportunity to give back to the students at Creighton High School and northeast Nebraska while promoting UNK. Dana Falter’s hopes are that this scholarship “will assist students in creating their own memories and receive a great education like we did."
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FOREVER A LOPER 1959
1973
Glenda and Ken Cook of Adams celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary May 21.
Connie and John Foster of Kearney celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 4.
1960
1976
Bob Reier of Lincoln retired with 37 years of service in education in Montana, Lyman, Chadron and Lincoln.
Richard Luedtke of Arcadia retired after more than 46 years of service to Becton Dickinson in Broken Bow.
Gwen and Carl Sterner of Potwin, Kansas, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 4.
Scott Maul Ed.S. ’88 of Georgetown, Texas, is a development officer for the Devil Dog Squadron, which is part of the Commemorative Air Force. Steve Rose MAE ’78 of Indianola, Iowa, won the Nebraska Writers Guild poetry contest twice in one year. In 2021, his two poems "The Bedroom" and "Safe Harbor" tied for first place. Steve is now retired from Simpson College.
1977 Gathering of friends: 1964-1965 alumni Ron Larsen, Fred George, Roger Jones, Jim Rundstrom, Tim Johnson, Larry Callen and Rod Kehl gather for social time and reminiscing in Kearney.
1964 Jim Rundstrom of Kearney published a book titled "A Collection of Friends." Barry Sherman of Kearney retired from the Kearney Civil Service Commission after 42 years.
Gregg Ahlers of Grand Island is retiring with 43 years of service to the Hall County Sheriff’s Department. Peg (McElvain) Johnston of Kearney retired from UNK. Lori Potter of Kearney retired from the Kearney Hub with 45 years of service.
1978 Sylvia (Stadler) Asay MS ’84 of Omaha retired from UNK with 30 years of service. Alta (Fread) Kramer of Litchfield is celebrating 40 years of service to UNK.
Bernie and Marijke (Vermeulen) Klahn ’70, MAE ’72 of Wichita, Kansas, both recently retired.
Carol Lomicky MAE ’82 of Kearney has written a book, “North Platte’s Keith Blackledge: Lessons from a Community Journalist.” The biography is the story of a small-town Nebraska newspaperman whose career spanned from the early 1950s and into the 20th century. Chuck Salestrom ’91 of Jacksonville, Florida, was the project coordinator for the book. Lomicky was a faculty member at UNK for 30 years and Salestrom taught at UNK for four years.
1972
1979
1970 Connie and Ron Cox MSE ’75 of Kearney celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 19.
1971
Dennis Hahn of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, retired from Valero Energy in 2017 after 42 years in the oil industry. Norma (Moors) Schrack of Kearney celebrated her 90th birthday on June 13.
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Jim O'Dea of McCook is retiring after 41 years of community banking service.
II Human Services. During her 20 years of service, she has also worked for Lutheran Family Services and is a clinical director for Troop D and E of the Nebraska State Patrol Critical Incident Stress Management Team. She and her husband, Randy, live south of Cambridge on the family farm.
1980 Jean (Shearer) Mattson of Kearney retired from UNK with more than 48 years of service. Jane Ziebarth-Bovill MAE ’83 of Kearney presented "Inviting Hope During Difficult Times: Lessons on Living a Loper Legacy" as a part of the UNK Mortar Board’s Last Lecture series, which honors members of the UNK faculty, staff or administration.
1982 Rick Church of Tomball, Texas, was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Robin Harding of Minden is celebrating 35 years of service to UNK. Tom Moore MAE ’03 of Gibbon retired as the Amherst Public School superintendent. Jeff Vetter Ed.S. ’11 of Kearney retired as superintendent of Pleasanton Public Schools. Maha (Mazzauie) Younes MSE ’85 of Kearney celebrated 30 years of service to UNK.
1983 Bob Deter MSE ’90 of Lawrence, Kansas, retired from the Red Oak (Iowa) School District with 26 years of service. Bob began teaching business and physical education and was most recently the IT director. Jeanne (Mueller) Surface MAE ’94 of Omaha is a professor of educational leadership at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her research is in K-12 and postsecondary school law, rural education and women in leadership, and she coaches dissertation writing.
1986 Linda (Staab) Johnson MSE ’09 of Kearney is celebrating 35 years of service at UNK.
Brenda (Snyder) Ruf MSE ’88, MSE ’99 of Cambridge is a mental health therapist and drug and alcohol therapist for Region
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FOREVER A LOPER Kirk Kuxhausen Ed.S. ’15 of Mitchell received the National Distinguished Principal Award for Nebraska through the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and National Association of Elementary School Principals.
1987 Kelly (Ryan) Lutomski of Lincoln is a vice president, mortgage talent recruitment and development manager for West Gate Bank.
1988 Sheila Gawrych of Kearney is a public health center office assistant at UNK. Diane (Moravec) Simard of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, has been named one of 2021's Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business by the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce.
1989 Aaron Wright of Kearney retired from the UNK Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
1990 Doug Banks MAE ’99 of Boone, North Carolina, is a development officer in athletics for Appalachian State University. Deb (Griffith) Gangwish MSE ’93, Ed.S. ’99 of Shelton has been reelected to the National Corn Growers Association Board of Directors. Andrew Stebbing of Lincoln is a security manager for FEMA.
1991 Mark Adler MAE ’96 of Omaha was recognized with the Leader in Education and Service Award by the Department of Educational Administration at UNK. Adler is in his ninth year as superintendent of Ralston Public Schools after serving in various roles in Nebraska schools.
1992 Gail Sims-Aubert of Green Bay, Wisconsin,
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is the assistant vice chancellor and dean of students at the University of WisconsinGreen Bay.
1993
1998 Rebecca (Lafferty) Cooke of Kearney is chief operating officer at Kearney County Health Services.
Darold and Sandra (Royle) Eaton of Grand Island celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 25.
Kylee Schneckloth of Gilbert, Arizona, is a principal at Wood Elementary School in the Tempe School District.
Jeanne Keyser MSE ’97 of Douglas is the associate director of residential education operations in university housing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Mike Smith of Kearney is an environmental/ safety coordinator at O'Neill Transportation & Equipment/Heartland Testing & Consulting.
Kristi (Skala) Milks of Gibbon is celebrating her 30th year of service to UNK.
1994 Julie (Buman) McCoy of Grand Island attended Dodge Elementary in Grand Island for K-6, completed her student teaching at Dodge and has now taught at Dodge for 26 years. Jaci (Shoemaker) Pohl of Kearney is the branch manager for Trius Federal Credit Union.
1995 Don Ray MSE of Kearney is celebrating 35 years of service to UNK. Martin Segovia of El Paso, Texas, is the director of athletics at Ysleta Independent School District. He is a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame for wrestling. JoLene (Boon) Williams retired from UNK.
1996 Aaron Babcock of Lincoln is the general manager of Pinnacle Bank Arena at Learfield IMG College. Susan Harnan of New Caney, Texas, is area director of sales and marketing at Clarus Hotels. Scott Jochum MAE ’00 of Kearney is an industrial technology teacher at Kearney High School.
1997 Carol Larson MSE of Kearney is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Top Counselor for her contributions in mental health counseling, her devotion to helping her community and her professional excellence as the owner of Family Life Counseling.
1999 Jeremey Gee of Parker, Colorado, teaches math at Cherry Creek High School. Bryan Munson of Rockwall, Texas, is a distinguished engineer at Verizon. Stefani (Rowe) Wegner of Kearney is a health sciences advisor at UNK.
2000 Heather (Lucas) Brennan of Overton is the director of human resources at Cozad Community Health System. Brian Graham MA ’15 of Kearney retired after 14 seasons as head coach of the Five Points American Legion baseball team. Rich Hardy MAE of Chokio, Minnesota, is employed with Heartland Orthopedic Specialists and has been elected as a member of the editorial board for the international, peer-reviewed publication "Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery." Brenda (Kring) Jochum of Kearney celebrated 30 years of service with UNK. Angela Mercer of Kearney is the enrollment evaluator in the office of the university registrar at UNK.
2001 Jeff Anderson Ed.S. of Fullerton was recognized with the Leader in Education and Service Award by the Educational Administration Department at UNK. Anderson, who began his education career in Minnesota, has served as superintendent for 20 years and was principal for seven years at Fullerton Public Schools. Angela (Emrick) Hollman MSE ’09 of Gibbon has been named National Strategic Research Institute fellow. Hollman will help amplify research for the Department of Defense and
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FOREVER A LOPER other federal agencies with national security missions. She is an associate professor of cyber systems at UNK. Jeff Jones of Kearney is a vice president and the policy and regulatory change management program manager at Wells Fargo. Aaron Madsen of Kearney was inducted into the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame. Madsen serves as the clinic administrator at Prairie Meadows Dental in Kearney. Jason Weston of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is a senior vice president of corporate and institutional banking at PNC.
Matthew Fowler of Kearney is a pastor at First United Methodist Church of Kearney.
2009
Dustin Mitchell of Kearney is principal at Bryant Elementary School.
Chelsea (Schultz) Bartling of Kearney is the director of UNK's LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Learning Center.
2005 Mark Johnson MAE of Kearney is the principal at Sunrise Middle School.
2006 Samba Dieng of Macungie, Pennsylvania, is the senior internationalization officer and executive director for international programs at Louisiana State University.
Ted Stein of Miles City, Montana, is an insurance agent with Fred Wacker Agency.
2011 Dan Dunbar of Lincoln is a senior designer at Swanson Russell. Alex Farrell of Kearney is a sales representative at Medtronic Spine & Biologics. Zachary Leas of Omaha is business development executive with Infosys.
2002
Matt Gordon MAE ’11, Ed.S. ’18 of Brady is the Amherst Public Schools superintendent.
Anibal Diogenes MS of Boerne, Texas, was selected for the 2021 Faculty Research Award for his long-running standard of research excellence at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Max Marshall MBA ’09 of Grand Rapids, Michigan, completed a psychiatry residency program at Creighton University. Max is now a physician at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.
Adam Hittner of Lincoln is a client relations specialist at GolfStatus.org.
Angela Runquist of Grand Island is a school social worker for ESU #3 in LaVista.
Dusty Newton MSE of Kearney is the village administrator for Elm Creek.
2007
Ashley (Volmer) Rockey MA of Martell is the principal at St. Michael Catholic School in Lincoln.
Wes Bernt of Kearney is the men's golf coach at Northeast Community College in Norfolk.
Alyshia (Nelson) Samuelson of Kearney is a senior project manager at Bozell.
Melissa (Huffman) Bucher of Axtell is national account director with Eaton.
Jonah Santo of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a business development strategist at SalesReach.
Jeremey Shiers of Pleasant Dale is the executive vice president of West Gate Bank and president of the bank's mortgage division. Ty Swarm MAE ’09 of Kearney is the assistant principal at Kearney High School.
2003
Jesse Jacobs of Kearney opened the Brickwalk Gallery, an art gallery.
Corey Fisher MAE of O'Neill is the Cozad High School principal.
Brandon Luedtke of Axtell has been named National Strategic Research Institute fellow. Luedtke will help amplify research for the Department of Defense and other federal agencies with national security missions. He is an associate professor of biology at UNK.
Justin Hoeke MBA ’08 of Hudson, Wisconsin, is a director of operations for 3M Manufacturing.
Jason Stergiadis of Pickering, Ontario, Canada, is the North American markets sales manager for HD Golf.
Bill Beckenhauer MAE of Hastings retired as principal of Cozad High School.
Stacey (Plautz) Schwarz of Kearney is a career consultant with Medical Solutions. Kristeen (Dostal) Shabram MSE ’07 of Omaha is the 2021 Rich Katt CTE Educator of the Year Award recipient in Communication and Information Systems.
2004 Aaron Estes MSE ’06 of Kearney is the director of academic success at UNK.
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2008 Joe Ellenberger MAE ’10 of Omaha will be inducted into the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association 2021 Hall of Fame. While at UNK, Joe was a two-time All American and member of the 2008 national championship team. Ashley Stillwell of Tempe, Arizona, is a physician in family medicine and psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Alyssa (Baker) Wyant of Kearney is the director of online student recruitment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
2013 Jacob Deines MS of Kearney is a mental health practitioner at UNK.
2014 Wade Jensen of Kearney is a chiropractor at Wolf Chiropractic Clinic.
2016 Nick White of Lincoln is an account coordinator at Firespring.
2017 Theison Anderson MAE ’20 of Ravenna is a fourth grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School and head volleyball coach for Kearney High School. Derek Lonowski of Hastings has joined TEAM Physical Therapy PC as a physical therapist in Kearney. Dylan Munson of Lincoln is an account executive at Hudl.
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FOREVER A LOPER
Aaron ’12 and Amanda (Siegel) Klingelhoefer ’07 of Kearney are parents of a son, Asher Miles, born June 2. Joseph Meyers ’17 and Michelle Gannon of Minden are parents of a son, Archer Jett, born May 31. He has brothers, Tyler and Connor. Jeff ’10, MAE ’17 and Katie Schwartz ’11 of Axtell are parents of a son, Cameron Charles, born Jan. 3. He has brothers Carter, Harvey and Henrik.
Before Conrad Hall was razed, lifelong friends who all first met living in Conrad Hall, gathered one last time. Group picture, left to right: Chris (Foth) Reinboth (1974), Sandi (Belz) Hansen (1973), Julie (Waggoner) Richardson, Judy (Schilz) Zapp (1973), Marlene (Shimek) Windhorst (1971).
2018 Ty Danielson of York is an assistant men's basketball coach at Fort Lewis College. Alex Hart of Carmel, Indiana, is a director of growth at Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity.
Cassondra Darveau ’04 and Matthew Steggall of Alliance married Jan. 2. Kristin Klanecky ’14 and Joseph Arbelo Jr. of Reading, Pennsylvania, married May 29.
Craig ’08 and Emily (Vencill) Beaman ’09 of Kearney are parents of a son, Charles Jay, born May 21. He has a brother, Max.
Rachel Papez of Lincoln is a product copywriter for Spreetail.
Aaron ’14 and Danielle (Howard) Bliven ’14 of La Vista are parents of a son, Charlie Benjamin, born Feb. 6.
Allison Bauer of Kearney is a member of the Denver Broncos NFL 2021 cheerleading squad. Alex McGinnis of Crete is an account manager at Apex Systems.
2020 Amanda Lager Gleason MSE of Fort Collins, Colorado, is the graduate program specialist for the mechanical engineering department at Colorado State University. Cassie Sleicher of Lincoln is a social media manager at Grindstone. Trey Taubenheim of Omaha is a tax associate at Seim Johnson.
Loper Unions Jay Blattner ’02 and Brittani Moeller ’08 of Kearney married Dec. 31.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Loper Legacies
Courtney Lierman of Grand Island is the vice president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce.
2019
CALLING ALL ALUMNI
Brad ’06 and Sarah (Longo) Bohn ’07, MSE '09 of Rochester, Minnesota, are parents of a son, Brooks, born July 6. He has sisters Eloise, Nora and Katherine at home. Matt ’10 and Jenny (Dietz) Demoret ’13 of Kearney are parents of a son, Zachary Allen, born Nov. 29. Andi ’13 and Katie (Swett) Diediker ’13 of Wayne are parents of a son, Brooks David, born April 7. He has a sister, Emmy. Elliott and Erin (Hullinger) Haack ’14 of Omaha are parents of a daughter, Rylee Ann, born June 3.
UNK Alumni are making an impact in their communities every single day. Please share those stories with us at lopers@unkalumni.org
Max ’10 and Mandy (Propp) Hadenfeldt ’09 of Scottsbluff are parents of a daughter, Mary Paige, born July 10. Garett ’14 and Annie (Zecha) Hoffman ’09 of Kearney are parents of a son, Theodore James, born Feb. 4.
UNK TODAY
FOREVER A LOPER Lopers In Memoriam The following Lopers were reported as deceased to the University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association and University of Nebraska Foundation between February 1, 2021, and July 15, 2021. We share our condolences with their families and friends. Linda (Roblee) Peterson Frisco, Texas
1941
Maurice Lamoree Sierra Vista, Arizona
1942
Melva (Wightman) Norris Brady
1967
1948
Geraldine "Gerry" (Innes) McCormick Centennial, Colorado
1969
1951
Betty (Shaw) Grassmeyer Oro Valley, Arizona Jack Krueger, MAE `60 Overland Park, Kansas Donald Shreve Naples, Florida
1952 1958 1960 1961 1962
1970
Leonard Wever Lincoln
1980
Catherine (Gancos) Bals Elm Creek
Douglas Lippstreu East Lansing, Michigan
1982
Thomas Hansen Omaha
Don Shepherd Rockport, Texas
1983
Don McGregor Sioux City, Iowa
Steve Fenster Lincoln
1985
Beth (Struble) Feese MAE Kearney
Norman "Mark" Breen MSE Holdrege
Marsha (Krolikowksi) Kaiser MAE `88 Rolla, Missouri 1986
Tom Gorman MAE North Platte
Lloyd Speicher St. Louis, Missouri
Beth (Reier) Shriver Flower Mound, Texas 1987
Connie (Golden) Schiel MAE `97 North Platte
1989
Doug Fastenau MSE Sutherland
1971
Ted Sherbeck Ansley
Tim Kolb Franklin
1972
Frank Chapman York
Sharon (Wisch) Mason Kearney
Kathryne (Cosner) Hollenbeck Johnson Grand Island
Joan Cobb Trenton
James Rayer Indianola
Mary Kolstad Kansas City, Missouri
Justin Thompson Superior
Junetta (Best) Reiter Axtell
Dale Nispel Kearney
Bob Griesse Festus, Missouri
1990
Tammy (Hilbert) Sparvier Kearney
Charles Pinkham Minden
1994
Ryan Hagerbaumer Arvada, Colorado
Beverly (Bundy) Yendra Kearney
Craig Harbaugh Fremont Glenda (Beadle) Williams Glenrock, Wyoming
Connie (Burt) Bunting McHenry, Illinois
1973
Lynn Martin Pleasanton
Charlotte (Wilken) Webb Mandeville, Louisiana
1974
Tim Hoffman Papillion
1998
Don Lear MSE `01 Kearney
Paul Liebig MSE `04 Kearney
2001
Noreen (Harwood) King Kearney
Kathleen “Kathy” (Mansfield) Rizek Belleville, Kansas
2007
Kevin Watson Papillion
2008
Amy (Putnam) Jessop Grand Island
2010
Derek Ross St. Francis, Kansas
2012
Marilyn (Hefner) Morehouse MS Lincoln
Juleen (Darnall) Olson Omaha 1964
Phil Stineman Lincoln
1965
Terry Gilliland MSE `70 Scottsbluff Richard Myers Central City
1966
Al Zuege Jr. Imperial
Phyllis (Goldhorn) Osterday Osborn Kearney
Judith (Kindscher) Staub Guide Rock
Robert Miller Salem, Oregon
1963
1979
Olinda (Odean) Boslau Lincoln Lois (Crouse) Dunwoody Keystone
UNK TODAY
Mike Moreno Grand Island 1976
Thomas Kinne Sr. MSE Great Barrington, Massachusetts Janet (Wilken) Stadler MSE `81 McCook
35
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CE LE B RATING 30 YEARS OF UNK