UNK TODAY
University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen conferred degrees on 702 graduate and undergraduate students May 17 at UNK’s Health and Sports Center. An overflow crowd attended the commencement ceremony, which was the final one in the 22-year career of Chancellor Kristensen, who retired May 31.
UNK TODAY
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
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
Mitch Johnson ’93
University of Nebraska Foundation
PHOTOGRAPHY
UNK Alumni Association
UNK Communications and Marketing
University of Nebraska Foundation
UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LEAD COUNCIL
BRYCE ABBEY, PH.D., ’04, MAE ’06
PRESIDENT KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
HILKE (BRANDON) MEYER ’12, MBA ’19
PAST PRESIDENT OMAHA, NEBRASKA
JADE (MEADS) BROWN ’09, MAE ’11
ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
ANITA (FRITZ) CORY, PH.D., ’90, MSE ’93 GREEK REPRESENTATIVE NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA
ERIKA (BALTZELL) FARRELL ’13
NEBRASKA REPRESENTATIVE ELKHORN, NEBRASKA
MICHELLE (MARKS) KRAUSE ’02, MSE ’05 NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ROSWELL, GEORGIA
BRITTANI MOELLER, D.O., ’08 KEARNEY REPRESENTATIVE KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
KATTY (PUJADO) PETAK ’96 INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OMAHA, NEBRASKA
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: UNK TODAY / UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2204 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, SUITE 103 KEARNEY, NE 68845
308-698-5271 lopers@unkalumni.org
LEAD Council a MESSAGE from BRYCE ABBEY
As I reflect on my time as a member of the University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association LEAD Council, I know I’ve witnessed so many exciting changes across campus. If you haven’t visited campus recently, you may not even recognize it.
New housing for the fraternity and sorority community was recently completed with the renovation of Martin Hall and opening of Armstrong Hall. What many of our alumni referred to as West Campus has exploded into a rural health complex. University Village, the new and exciting area just south of the highway, includes the Regional Engagement Center, which is the new home of the UNK Alumni Association.
In addition to the alumni association office space, the Regional Engagement Center will serve as a cuttingedge venue for meetings, workshops and other campus and community events. The center will also be an educational resource, hosting conferences and programs that support workforce development in rural Nebraska.
The new Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex is also taking shape. The complex includes the Health Science Education Complex, which opened in 2015, and the Rural Health Education Building, which is scheduled to open in early 2026. For the first time, the University of Nebraska Medical Center will educate physicians, pharmacists and public health professionals in rural Nebraska. The new facility also will allow UNMC to expand the presence of it allied health and nursing programs - all high-need areas in rural Nebraska.
As a new semester begins, there will continue to be changes as UNK begins its search for a new chancellor. Chancellor Kristensen left UNK in a great place, and I am excited for what the future holds.
Lastly, I encourage you to stay engaged as alumni of your alma mater. There are so many great opportunities to be involved, from homecoming week to the new offerings at the Regional Engagement Center. Let’s find a way to show our Loper pride and let everyone know what it means to be a Loper — past, present or future!
Loper for Life,
Bryce Abbey President, UNKAA
AROUNDtheTOWER
News and Events Across Campus
Longtime UNK Educator, Administrator
Charlie Bicak Named Interim Chancellor
Charlie Bicak, a University of Nebraska at Kearney alumnus and longtime educator and administrator, began his role as interim chancellor June 1, succeeding Chancellor Doug Kristensen, who retired in May after leading UNK for 22 years.
Bicak most recently served as senior vice chancellor for academic and student a airs from 2009 to 2022.
A Kearney Catholic High School graduate, Bicak has deep ties to Kearney and UNK. His late father, Laddie Bicak, was a longtime faculty member at UNK. Charlie Bicak enrolled at UNK, then known as Kearney State College, in 1970, and played football for the Lopers for two years before earning his bachelor’s degree in biology education in 1974.
He taught at Westside Community Schools in Omaha, earned master’s and doctorate degrees, and began his academic career at California State University. Returning to UNK in 1992, he taught in the Department of Biology for 13 years, serving as department chair and assistant to the dean.
After serving as dean of the School of Natural Sciences at St. Edward’s University in Texas for four years, Bicak returned to UNK in 2009.
As senior vice chancellor, Bicak oversaw numerous initiatives, notably playing a key role in the partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center to expand health care education in rural Nebraska.
Bicak also developed a new general studies curriculum, expanded the Kearney Health Opportunities Program with UNMC, launched the Kearney Law Opportunities Program with the Nebraska College of Law and collaborated with the University of Nebraska at Omaha to bring a master’s program in social work to UNK.
Bicak retired from the senior vice chancellor’s role in 2022 but has remained engaged in rural health partnerships. He will serve as interim chancellor until a permanent successor is named. A 13-member search committee is guiding the chancellor search and will host public listening sessions to gather input on desired qualities and skills for the next UNK chancellor.
Beam-raising Ceremony Marks Milestone for Rural Health Education Building
Despite damp and dreary weather April 1, University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Je rey P. Gold, M.D., - now president of the University of Nebraska System - saw a bright future as he observed the new Rural Health Education Building under construction at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. e nal structural beam, signed by Nebraskans from across the state, was lifted into place, marking a major milestone for the $95 million project.
More than 125 people attended the beam-raising ceremony, which former UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen called a “historic event” for health care education in Nebraska. UNK and UNMC opened the $19 million Health Science Education Complex on UNK’s West Campus in 2015. It quickly lled, now hosting around 300 students in professional programs, such as cardiovascular interventional technology, diagnostic medical sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, medical laboratory science, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant and radiography. About 85% of these graduates start their careers in rural Nebraska.
is success led to the development of the Rural Health Education Building, located directly north of the Health Science Education Complex. e 110,000-square-foot facility will feature state-
of-the-art classrooms, cutting-edge technology and extensive simulation and clinical skills laboratories. It will allow UNMC to expand its allied health and nursing programs in Kearney while launching new programs to train physicians, pharmacists and public health professionals.
Students will begin enrolling in the newly expanded programs in fall 2025, using existing UNK facilities until the new building opens in early 2026. With this second facility, UNMC will double the number of students it’s training in Kearney, bringing the total to more than 600.
e Rural Health Education Building received funding from the Nebraska Legislature, City of Kearney, Central Community College and numerous benefactors, with the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation serving as the lead donor. is facility will enhance clinical research and play a pivotal role in economic development. When fully operational, the Rural Health Education Building and existing Health Science Education Complex will support about 240 local jobs and have an annual economic impact estimated at $34.5 million.
The final structural beam for the new Rural Health Education Building is placed during an April 1 ceremony at UNK.
Former UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., and former UNK Chancellor Doug Kristsensen led the Rural Health Education Building beam-raising.
Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., Begins Term as University of Nebraska System's Ninth President
Je rey P. Gold, M.D., began his term as the University of Nebraska System’s ninth president July 1. A rst-generation college student, heart surgeon and longtime college administrator, Gold is no stranger to the university.
He led the University of Nebraska Medical Center through a decade of record growth. Serving as UNMC chancellor and chair of the board of Nebraska Medicine, he assumed executive vice president and provost duties in 2021, becoming the system’s chief academic o cer. From 2017-21, he concurrently served as the University of Nebraska at Omaha chancellor.
Gold, born in New York City, attended Cornell University on scholarships, graduating with a degree in engineering. He met his wife, Dr. Robin Hayworth, in college, and they wed before attending medical school at the Weill Cornell College of Medicine. is summer, they celebrate 50 years together.
Gold completed his general surgery residency at e New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, later serving as the administrative chief resident. He completed cardiothoracic surgical fellowship training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and additional training in pediatric cardiac surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital, both part of Harvard Medical School.
After his medical training, Gold served in academic and clinical leadership roles at Weill Cornell College of Medicine and New York Presbyterian Medical Center. He also served at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine as professor, department chair and heart center director.
On 9/11, Gold was part of the trauma team at Ground Zero. is experience led him to focus on making a di erence, starting with his role as
chancellor of the University of Toledo’s academic and clinical health sciences.
In Nebraska, Gold transformed UNMC with high-impact facilities and initiatives, grew research grants and contracts, raised signi cant private philanthropy and expanded programming across Nebraska. As chancellor of UNO, he supported students and community partnerships, enhancing UNO’s research portfolio and collaboration with UNMC.
Gold emphasizes collaboration and transparency. He is focused on building trust and relationships and believes great things are in store for the University of Nebraska System.
Michael Yanney, Tami and Jerry Hellman
Receive UNK’s Highest Honor
In May, three individuals received the Ron and Carol Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award, University of Nebraska at Kearney's highest honor. Chancellor Doug Kristensen presented the award to Michael Yanney
and Tami and Jerry Hellman during the spring commencement ceremony. is award recognizes their community service and support of UNK, Kearney, Nebraska and higher education.
Yanney, a Kearney native and Kearney High School graduate, holds degrees from UNK and the University of Wisconsin School of Banking. He founded Burlington Capital in 1984, where he now serves as chairman emeritus. Burlington Capital, based in Omaha, has expanded into multifamily real estate and international agribusiness investments, managing assets totaling more than $7 billion.
Yanney's career includes leadership roles at Omaha National Bank and Omaha National Corp., now part of U.S. Bank. He and his wife, Gail, have signi cantly contributed to civic, community and educational initiatives, especially in the arts, health care and supporting disadvantaged youth. Yanney has supported the University of Nebraska Foundation,
UNK Alumni Association and the construction of the Peterson-Yanney Memorial Bell Tower. He also created Yanney Heritage Park in Kearney and has advocated for rural health education.
Tami and Jerry Hellman, also Kearney natives, have strong ties to UNK and the University of Nebraska System. Tami earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNK, while Jerry holds degrees from Regis University and Denver University. He is a certi ed public accountant and partner at Hellman, Main, Coslor & Kathol in Kearney. e Hellmans have served as NU Foundation trustees since 2017 and are members of the Only in Nebraska UNK Campaign Committee.
eir nancial contributions have supported various areas at UNK, including the College of Education. Tami has been involved with the G.W. Frank Museum, Archway Advisory Committee, Nebraska Cultural Endowment and Museum of Nebraska Art. Jerry has served on the Kearney Area Community Foundation Board and the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce. eir civic contributions also include support for Crane River eater and Humanities Nebraska.
Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, right, presents the Ron and Carol Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award to Michael Yanney during UNK’s spring commencement ceremony in May.
UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, right, presents the Ron and Carol Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award to Tami and Jerry Hellman during UNK’s spring commencement ceremony at UNK.
FROM FARM TO FAME
HOW NOAH YOUNG TURNED 'OLD MACDONALD' INTO A SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION
By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications
Noah Young isn’t your typical Nebraska farmer.
He’s quick to admit that.
“I always tell people I’m more like the farmer you think of when you hear the song ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm.’”
That’s probably why he’s so relatable. The tall, lanky, bearded 28-year-old advocates for agriculture in his own unique way.
“Farmers are pretty humble about what they do,” he said. “They’re not out there bragging. They just want to get the work done. What I’m trying to do is get people thinking about agriculture and create a greater appreciation for farmers and the Midwest, those people who are growing the food that they eat every day.”
Instead of a tractor or combine, his greatest tools are a cellphone and his quirky personality.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate is the mastermind behind The Shiloh Farm social media accounts. He has 1 million followers on TikTok and more than 540,000 on Instagram, where he shares fun farm facts and other information through “bite-sized videos” — usually 60 seconds or less.
Why do chickens love dandelions? He’ll explain while holding a Rhode Island Red in his bib overalls.
Want to grow larger onions? He’ll show you how, starting with a Sir Mix-a-Lot reference.
<< Noah Young and his wife, Sierra, raise chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats and sheep along with a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs. They have a large hoop house, a greenhouse, a small vineyard, 35 fruit trees and four beehives on their property.
What’s the di erence between whole, vitamin D, 2%, 1% and skim milk? He’ll talk about it, between chugs straight from the jug.
“I like to say that I’m edutaining folks all across the nation about agriculture and where their food comes from,” Young said. “My main purpose and goal with the channel is to help people, whether they’ve got their own garden and I’m giving them a tip on how to produce something or I’m educating them as a consumer about what type of food choices they’re making.”
LEAP OF FAITH
Raised near Juniata in rural Adams County, Young was always interested in the outdoors, nature and animals. However, he didn’t get involved in agriculture until he met his future wife, Sierra.
“ e rule for dating the farmer’s daughter was that you had to come work for the family farm,” he explained. “ at was really my introduction into agriculture.”
Sierra’s family practices no-till farming, allowing him to learn about sustainable agriculture, stacking enterprises and soil health. ey also own and operate Green Cover Seed, a Bladen, Nebraskabased business that provides custom cover crop mixes for agricultural producers across the U.S. and Canada.
Young knew he couldn’t a ord to start his own farming operation, but he wanted to continue working in agriculture.
“ at inspired me to get my degree in agribusiness,” he said. “I thought, well, even if I’m not the one who’s doing the farming, I’d like to be someone who can support this industry. I knew I wanted to be part of that; I just didn’t know what it was going to look like.”
After two years at Central Community College in Hastings, Young enrolled in the agribusiness program at UNK, where he was also active in the Agribusiness Club, Loper Programming and Activities Council and NEXT business leadership program.
“I loved my time at UNK,” he said. “I really enjoyed the smaller class sizes, and
I had great relationships with all my instructors. I felt like I could ask them questions that were more speci c to what I was trying to accomplish.”
Young was already living on a 5-acre property about 9 miles northwest of Kenesaw when he got married in 2017, at age 21. He graduated from UNK the following year and started working full time for Green Cover Seed, rst as a social media specialist, then in “all things marketing.”
“ ey didn’t have a marketing
“What I’m trying to do is get people thinking about agriculture and create a greater appreciation for farmers and the Midwest, those people who are growing the food that they eat every day,” says Young.
department, so I started growing and developing that department,” he said. “By the time I left, we had a great team of marketers in place. I was really proud of what we were able to accomplish there.”
Young was still working for Green Cover during the COVID-19 lockdown in spring 2020. at’s when he and Sierra decided to invest in their homestead, o cially launching e Shiloh Farm, a sanctuary where they could raise their family, grow their own food and deepen their connection to the land.
Young decided to document the journey, sharing his rst video on Instagram in April of that year.
“It was working, but not really having great success,” he said of the online interest.
Everything changed when he joined TikTok and started sharing Chicken Facts of the Day. Did you know a processed bird can produce 240 McNuggets but only two Raising Cane’s chicken ngers?
After a video got 80,000 views, Young “was hooked.” He’s since had two videos — one on the science behind seedless watermelons and another on sun owers and their ability to detoxify soil — reach 10 million views.
Young left his job with Green Cover in 2022 to focus exclusively on creating content for his social channels.
“When I left Green Cover, I wasn’t sure that this was going to work,” he said. “It was kind of a leap-of-faith moment. But here we are a few years later, and it seems to have worked out.”
NEXT JOURNEY
At e Shiloh Farm, Young and his wife raise chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats and sheep, along with a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, owers and herbs. ey have a large hoop house, a greenhouse, a small vineyard, 35 fruit trees
and four beehives on the property.
Young lms most of his content there, but he also shares other adventures, such as ATV riding through an exotic animal ranch, participating in a four-day cattle drive in Arizona and learning how to rope from rodeo world champion Tyson Durfey.
“It’s amazing once you start getting into this world how many opportunities open up for you,” said Young, who collaborates with ag in uencers in Nebraska, too.
Although he’s often recognized locally — “Hey, aren’t you the chicken guy? I follow you on social media” — his biggest audiences actually come from major cities on the East and West Coasts.
“A fact that I like to throw out there is that 8% of Americans think chocolate milk comes from brown cows, which is like 27 million people,” Young said. “And that’s bizarre to me, but I don’t want to judge them for that. ey don’t know any better. If you live in New York City and you’ve never even seen a cow in real life, I could understand why you’d believe that.”
Young acknowledges that he’s not an expert on certain topics, either. He does a lot of research for his videos and enjoys learning along with his followers.
For instance, he’s currently visiting bison ranchers across the Great Plains with hopes of starting his own herd in the near future.
“I’m going to document that process and bring my followers along this journey so they can see what it’s like to start a bison ranch from scratch. en when everything goes wrong, they can sit in the comfort of their home and I’ll be the one taking care of the problem,” he said with a laugh.
Currently, Young generates revenue through sponsorships, branded content and merchandise sales, but his long-term goal is to establish a pro table farming/ranching operation, something he can pass on to his children.
“I’m very content with the amount of followers I have right now. Obviously, it’s great that it keeps growing. But I’m not as worried about the numbers as much as I am being able to provide for my family and kind of maintain this life that we have,” he said.
“Truthfully, UNK has kind of always been the one and only place for me, and I still feel that way. I love it,”
‘This school is every ing to me’
By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications
UNK Has Always Been the Perfect Place for Katie Cornelio
By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications
Katie Cornelio calls the University of Nebraska at Kearney “the most magical place on Earth.”
Disney World is second, she says, “but UNK is No. 1 for sure.”
“ is school is everything to me,” she said. “ ere’s no way to put into words what UNK has done for me as a person. It’s challenging. It pushes you to be your best. But also you literally have people with you every step of the way to guide you and cheer you on.”
Cornelio graduated summa cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in social science education. She was also selected to speak during spring commencement.
A SECOND HOME
A native of Monument, Colorado, Cornelio visited campus for the rst time as a junior in high school. She was mainly interested in the opportunity to compete on the swim and dive team.
“I’ll never forget, we were right by the welcome desk, and the coach looked at me and said, ‘We’ll take care of you here,’” Cornelio recalled.
“During that visit, something just kind of clicked, and I actually verbally committed on my way home. It was my only college visit. It was really the only college I looked at.
“Truthfully, UNK has kind of always been the one and only place for me, and I still feel that way. I love it.”
Cornelio describes her time as a Loper as “transformative in the best way possible.”
“UNK has made me the woman I am today, through the professors, through every single club and activity I’ve been in. ey have given more to me than I could have ever asked for or could ever thank them for,” she said. “ at’s just kind of what UNK does. It gets people out of their shells and pushes them to become the people they want to be, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.”
As an athlete, Cornelio was a three-year letterwinner and team co-captain who ranks in the program’s all-time top 10 in four di erent individual swimming events.
She was equally impressive in the classroom.
“Katie is one of the most self-re ective students I have encountered. She is focused, determined, energetic, hardworking and collaborative — a powerful blend of scholarly and working-world perspectives that makes her leadership empathetic and true,” said UNK history professor David Vail. “Her ability to balance coursework, scholarly interests and campus and community outreach while pursuing a history education degree is an incredible example for our current student community and those to come.”
Following in the footsteps of her mother, a college and career counselor at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Cornelio chose a career in education because she wanted to make a di erence.
“Teaching has become a way for me to not only connect with kids but also talk about history, which I love a lot,” she said. “It’s a way to build relationships while also connecting students with what’s going on in the world.”
Cornelio was part of the Teacher Scholars Academy, a program that provides professional development opportunities, academic support and nancial assistance for future teachers. Students accepted into the program receive a full-tuition scholarship, plus $8,000 annually for expenses such as housing, books and food.
She also participated in undergraduate research, documenting the lives of Kearney residents during the Great Depression, and volunteered as a mentor for UNK freshmen, local elementary and middle school students and Kearney High School seniors who are interested in teaching careers.
“Katie is one of the most caring students that I’ve had the honor to teach at UNK,” Vail said. “Her record as a history-social science education
— Katie Cornelio
student is exceptional, but her kindness for others and love of communicating knowledge to others make her an amazing teacher. She has ourished in our history-social science education degree and embodies the servant leader in nearly every aspect of her campus and personal life.”
Cornelio completed her student teaching at Kearney High School, where she taught world history, criminal justice and sociology classes. She credits Vail and other UNK faculty members for creating a collaborative learning experience and showing her “what it’s like to be a great teacher.”
“I want to be the teacher that when someone asks a student of mine, what do you remember from her class, I really hope they don’t say anything about history or social sciences. I really hope they say something about the way I made them feel in the classroom,” Cornelio said. “I want my students to feel like the classroom is a second home for them. at’s my main goal.”
ANOTHER SHADE OF BLUE
Cornelio’s impact at UNK extended well beyond Copeland Hall and the College of Education.
She also worked as a campus visit assistant and was involved in the Chancellor’s Ambassadors program, Gamma Phi Beta sorority and Kappa Delta Pi and Order of Omega honor societies. Additionally, she represented Louie’s Legion, a student organization dedicated to showcasing the Loper experience, was a homecoming royalty nalist in 2023 and participated in a study abroad program in Greece last summer.
is summer, she entered the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Duke University, where she received a full-ride fellowship. She’ll teach for two years at Durham Public Schools in North Carolina after earning her master’s degree.
“Katie will ourish as a graduate student at Duke University,” Vail said. “She is just the kind of teacher we need for the future to help solve problems, to guide new generations and to show kindness in the process.”
FROM CROSS COUNTRY COURSE TO COLLEGE COURSE
HOW THE DONALD E. FOX ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP HELPED TURN A DREAM INTO ACADEMIC REALITY
By Sara Badura
Caleb Sund of Fremont, Nebraska, knew he wanted to make a di erence in the scienti c world, so he decided to pursue a career in chemistry. e only thing standing between him and his dream of becoming a pharmaceutical researcher was his ability to pay for higher education.
Fortunately for Sund, this spring he was awarded the Donald E. Fox Endowed Scholarship at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, providing him with $1,000 to support his academic pursuits. Sund quali ed for the scholarship due to his status as a second-semester rst-year student majoring or minoring in chemistry with demonstrated academic achievement, need, integrity, character, dependability and motivation.
“I’m purely paying for college by myself,” Sund said. “ is scholarship is really helping me a ord college.”
Beginning with a $1,000 gift in 1979, the Donald E. Fox Endowed Scholarship Fund has grown to more than $600,000, thanks to an estate gift from Viola C. Fox after her death in September 2023. With the new funds, the department hopes to award approximately 20 scholarships annually.
e scholarship is named in memory of Fox’s husband, the late Donald E. Fox, a faculty member at Kearney State College and then UNK for 38 years. He taught chemistry and led the department as chair, later serving as dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences.
Just as Donald Fox’s commitment to teaching made a lasting impact on countless UNK students, Sund's high school chemistry teacher sparked his passion for chemistry.
“I got really intrigued by chemistry in high school from my cross-country coach who was also my teacher,” Sund said. “I learned a lot about the chemistry of how your body works and how it functions from our workouts and runs, and that really got me interested in doing that in college.”
After speaking with several UNK upperclassmen in the honors program who are also majoring in chemistry, Sund was encouraged to apply for the Donald E. Fox Endowed Scholarship. Sund re ected on the signi cance of scholarship support for him and other college students.
“It’ll de nitely impact my ability to pay for my classes,” Sund said. “I will say that I have a lot of trouble with getting money for all of college, so this will de nitely help with that, especially with the costs of books and equipment for labs.”
With three years left as a UNK student, Sund is looking forward to the opportunities that have opened up because of nancial support from the scholarship. is year he will team up with several professors to assist with chemistry research.
“It’s kind of like a part-time job,” Sund said. “I’ll spend after-school hours inside a lab. e professor will do a lot of research, but I’ll be nding out more of the solutions by actually using a lab. It’ll be really fascinating.”
Through Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, UNK is focused on securing philanthropic funding that helps ensure students receive the support they need to succeed throughout their academic careers. This support includes expanded scholarship opportunities. To learn more about the campaign and the impact of private support on UNK students and building the workforce of tomorrow, visit OnlyinNebraska.org/UNK.
Caleb Sund >>
<< Rosa Lopez-Moore and Windy Hills thirdgrade student Cora Bosshamer take selfie during Field Day. Cora is the daughter of Reggie and Crystal (Floyd) Bosshamer `05 of Kearney.
HARD WORK … BIG HEART
Rosa Lopez-Moore is pursuing a double major in elementary education and special education, along with an endorsement in English as a Second Language at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She was born and raised in Columbus and chose UNK because, she said, "It felt like home to me. From my rst visit until now, I have felt welcomed and supported by people who genuinely care and are willing to help.”
Hard work with a big heart describes LopezMoore. She’s a student who is passionate about her career. Going to school and working full time keep her on the move. She loves children and said, “It may sound cliché, but I truly believe I can make a di erence in children’s lives. I work hard not for money, but because I love seeing children grow and seeing them smile every day. at is what makes me the happiest.”
Cynthia Myers ’17, MAE ’21 was Lopez-Moore's classroom teacher this past year at Windy Hills Elementary School in Kearney. Lopez-Moore was hired as a one-on-one paraprofessional. “While she has been a vital part of this student's social and academic growth, she was also an amazing asset within the classroom,” Myers said. “Rosa is a teacher candidate who just has an instinctual understanding of what students need.”
While Lopez-Moore loves engaging with children, she’s valued all she has learned at UNK through the Teacher Education Program in the College of Education.
“My classes are fun and engaging, which makes me happy to attend,” she said. Two of LopezMoore's favorite instructors are lecturer Lisa Jelden and assistant professor Christine Fisher. “Rosa is a natural educator with a passion, kind heart and exemplary work ethic. Watching her lead, collaborate with peers, and work with students is inspiring,” said Jelden.
“ ey have both gone above and beyond to help me reach where I am today. ey invest time in ensuring my success," she said.
Lopez-Moore's dream job is to work as a special education teacher in Kearney. However, she would also be happy starting as a general education teacher.
Lopez-Moore said she considers herself blessed to have received several scholarships for this academic year. Recently, she was awarded the KTOM (Kearney Teachers of Tomorrow) Scholarship, the COE Dean's Scholarship, the Brosamle Scholarship for UNK, and the Judith Spohr and Sam Fehrenz UNK College of Education Scholarship.
Jason Calahan '04, principal at Windy Hills Elementary, said he was fortunate to attend the signing ceremony at UNK for the rst class of KTOM Scholarship recipients. “ e quality of the students receiving this award is truly inspiring and is a testament to the promise of the future of exemplary education at Kearney Public Schools,” he said. “I can't thank the leadership teams at UNK and KPS enough for their vision and forward thinking in creating this life-changing opportunity for future teachers.
“Rosa is an exemplary student and hard worker, with kindness, patience and outstanding pedagogical skills already on display every day,” Calahan said. “Receiving the KTOM Scholarship at UNK is not just a recognition of Rosa's dedication as a student, but a testament to the countless lives she's already touched and the many more she'll continue to inspire throughout her career in KPS.”
rough her hard work and success, Lopez-Moore has remained the kind, humble girl from Columbus who is grateful.
“I wish I could meet the donors in person. ey may have read my application and caught a glimpse of my life, but they will never truly know how they changed mine,” she said. “I have worked throughout my college career to support myself. I want to tell the donors that I may just be a recipient, but they should know they have helped me immensely. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to further my education.”
Alumni, it’s time to come home to Kearney! There are several events throughout the weekend where you can reconnect with fellow alumni.
Friday, Oct. 11
11 a.m.
Loper Gridiron Club Golf Tournament Kearney Country Club
11:30 a.m.
Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon*
Regional Engagement Center
2:30 p.m.
Chemistry Department’s Annual
Dr. Don Fox Lecture
Copeland Hall, Room 131
5:30 p.m.
Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet*
Regional Engagement Center
6 p.m.
ROTC Alumni Social American Legion
6 p.m.
UNK Volleyball vs. Emporia State*
Health & Sports Center
Saturday, Oct. 12
10 a.m.
Parade
Downtown Kearney
Noon–2 p.m.
Loper Alumni Tailgate
Cope Stadium Parking Lot, next to Mantor Hall
2 p.m.
UNK Football vs. Pittsburg State*
Ron & Carol Cope Stadium
Foster Field
6 p.m.
ROTC Alumni Banquet
Younes Counference
Center South
6 p.m.
Political Science Alumni Reunion
Kearney Country Club
7 p.m.
UNK Volleyball vs. Washburn University*
Health & Sports Center
*Tickets for the Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon and Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet may be purchased at unkalumni.org/homecoming. Tickets to volleyball and football can be purchased at lopers.com.
Rosa Lopez-Moore >>
UNKAA DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS
e 44th annual University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize alumni for their outstanding professional, civic, cultural or charitable accomplishments. e recipients will be celebrated during UNK homecoming weekend festivities.
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Myron Andersen (1972)
Myron Andersen worked in construction while attending and following graduation from Kearney State College before establishing Builders in Kearney in 1977. Since then, the company has grown to include locations in Grand Island and Denver, Colorado, with more than 400 employees and customers from across the United States. Andersen recently retired from Builders and is chairman of the board. He has served on various local and statewide boards and committees and received numerous honors for his leadership in the industry. He resides in Kearney, Nebraska.
Cathy (Juelfs) Knutsen (1976)
Cathy Knutsen’s career in laboratory equipment sales started in 1989 with DuPont (then Dade Behring). She has spent the past 17 years with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, where she is senior director of federal government sales and operations. Knutsen is a recipient of the Siemens President’s Award and is a member of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association. She resides in Huntington Beach, California.
Sue (Feaster) Wilcoxson (1971)
Sue Wilcoxson of Fremont, Nebraska, now retired, spent her career as a dedicated physical education teacher, coach and administrator at Fremont Public Schools. She is a high school volleyball o cial and state track event director and an active community volunteer and serves as Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame president. She has been recognized with numerous state and national awards including the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award.
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Terry Lewis (1978)
Terry Lewis resides in Sun Lakes, Arizona, and is co-owner of Samurai Shear Works with his wife, Jill. ey have owned and operated the business since 1989. Along with being a volunteer for various organizations in Tempe, Lewis has been a dedicated UNK Alumni Association volunteer for many years, assisting with association events and hosting events in his home and in the Phoenix area.
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Brandon Beebout, DVM (2010)
Brandon Beebout of Kearney, Nebraska, started his veterinary career in Denver, Colorado, after completing his education at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. He then returned to Kearney to work for a long-standing pet clinic practice, purchasing the clinic in 2020 and moving the business to a new location in 2023, opening Beebout Veterinary Medical Center.
Distinguished International Alumna Award
Lina (Traslaviña) Stover, Ph.D. (2004)
Lina Stover started her career in higher education administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She then accepted the executive director position with the Heartland Workers Center in 2022. HWC is a nonpro t organization devoted to building leadership and civic engagement among immigrant and other underserved populations in Nebraska. Stover is a Leadership Omaha Class 46 graduate and was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Omahans in 2015, among many more recognitions. She is a native of Bogota, Colombia, and resides in Omaha.
College of Business and Technology Distinguished Alumnus
Bill Albin (1990)
Bill Albin of Elmhurst, Illinois, has had a 33-year career with Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where he is a partner. Albin is a member of the UNK College of Business and Technology Dean’s Leadership Council, serves as treasurer for Gilda’s Club in Chicago, is a Leadership Lincoln graduate and was a treasurer for Junior Achievement in Lincoln.
College of Education Distinguished Educator of the Year
Patsy Koch Johns (1972)
Patsy Koch Johns of Lincoln, Nebraska, now retired, has dedicated more than 40 years to the education of children in Nebraska, Arkansas, Georgia and Missouri, with most of her time spent in Cozad and Lincoln. Koch Johns is a past recipient of the Nebraska Teacher of the Year and Governor’s Excellence in Arts Education awards along with numerous other awards. She is currently serving on the Nebraska State Board of Education.
Dr. Donald E. Fox Distinguished Chemistry Alumna
Abby (Roland) Sekle (2004, MS 2015)
Abby Sekle has been a high school science teacher for 20 years, educating students in chemistry, physics and physical science at Arlington Public Schools, Benson High School and now at Elkhorn North High School. Sekle received the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Impactful Teacher Recognition and Benson High School Star Teacher of the Year award. Sekle lives in Omaha.
Dr. Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumnus
Kory Reeder, Ph.D. (2016)
Kory Reeder resides in Denton, Texas, where he is a composer and performer of modern classical music. His work is performed worldwide and has been released on top labels of contemporary and experimental music. Reeder is owner of the Sawyer Editions label for contemporary classical music and is a lecturer at Texas A&M University-Commerce as well as the University of Texas at Tyler.
LOUIE’S PRIDE
INSIDE LOPER ATHLETICS
‘We Were Always Happy Here’:
Tom and Sonja Kropp Built Their Life Together as Lopers
By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications
“Because we were so much in love, that was an easy decision for me,” she said.
Tom and Sonja Kropp came from di erent worlds.
He’s a Nebraska sports legend, an Aurora native who’s widely considered one of the greatest athletes in state history.
“I grew up in an athletic family. My dad was a coach, so sports were everything for us,” said Tom, a member of the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame, National High School Hall of Fame, NAIA Hall of Fame and University of Nebraska at Kearney Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sonja was born and raised in Leuven, Belgium, a city about 20 miles east of Brussels. She speaks four languages and prefers a good book over the big game.
“She never got too involved with basketball, and I never got too involved with her job,” Tom said with a smile.
“He probably still doesn’t know what my dissertation was about,” Sonja quickly added with a laugh.
Despite their di erences, the Kropps are soulmates and best friends. “I can’t imagine life without him,” Sonja said.
They’ve been married for nearly 41 years, with most of that time spent at UNK.
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS
The 1971 Nebraska State High School Athlete of the Year, Tom came to campus later that year to play basketball and football at UNK, known then as Kearney State College. He earned All-American
honors in both sports and was twice named Nebraska State College Athlete of the Year.
Tom led the Lopers to a pair of NAIA national basketball tournaments while averaging 20.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game during his UNK career. He still holds the single-game scoring record with 51 points against Central Missouri in 1974.
A fullback and linebacker on the football team, Tom was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, Washington Bullets of the National Basketball Association and Denver Nuggets of the American Basketball Association. He spent two seasons in the NBA before returning to UNK to earn his master’s degree, then played professionally in Belgium for four years.
That’s where he met Sonja.
She was working for a travel agency owned by the same person who owned the professional basketball team there. The owner invited Sonja and a friend to come watch a game and, as she puts it, “We didn’t have anything better to do.”
Sonja and Tom met that night and started dating.
When his playing career ended a few years later, they had a decision to make.
“It was either get married or we weren’t going to see each other,” Tom explained.
Obviously, they chose the first option and tied the knot in July 1983. Sonja agreed to relocate to the U.S., and the couple moved to Kearney in August of that year.
Back at UNK, Tom became an assistant men’s basketball and track coach and accepted a part-time teaching position in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences.
Sonja enrolled as a student at UNK and completed her bachelor’s degree before continuing her education at the University
<< Tom and Sonja Kropp both retired from UNK at the end of the spring semester. He was an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences and she was an associate professor in the Department of Modern Languages. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications) Tom Kropp (50) played basketball and football at UNK, earning AllAmerican honors in both sports. <<
of Nebraska–Lincoln. She earned a master’s degree and doctorate from UNL, and Tom received his doctorate there.
In 1990, Tom was elevated to co-head coach with fellow UNK Hall of Famer Jerry Hueser and Sonja started her teaching career in the UNK Department of Modern Languages.
>> Tom Kropp, right, led the UNK men’s basketball program as a head coach or co-head coach for 25 seasons. (UNK Athletics)
Tom’s time with UNK men’s basketball covered more than 30 seasons, including 25 as a cohead coach or head coach. His 482 wins rank second in school history, and he took the Lopers to 11 NCAA Division II national tournaments.
When he retired from coaching in June 2015, Tom transitioned into a full-time faculty position in the Kinesiology and Sport Sciences Department, where he taught courses such as Introduction to Sports Management and Basketball Theory and Sports Psychology and reached the rank of assistant professor.
“My teaching has meant as much to me as my coaching did. I look at them as equal,” he said. “I have as much pride in myself as a teacher as I did as a coach. My students meant as much to me as my athletes. It was an easy transition for me from coaching to teaching because I loved the relationships with my athletes, but then I had the same relationships with my students.”
Sonja looks at her career the same way. As an associate professor, she taught students about the French language, literature, culture and history, using her own background to create close connections and help them view the world di erently.
“In anything I teach, it’s not about remembering that person, that writer or that text,” she said. “It’s about what I’ve been able to share with them that is universal and that they can take with them in the rest of their life. That, to me, is the most important thing, that I’ve somehow been able to contribute to their future in some way.”
NEW CHAPTER
Although the Kropps had opportunities to leave UNK, nothing ever beat what they had here.
“We’d look at the other job, then we’d come back and compare that to Kearney, and Kearney always seemed to win out,” Tom said.
“We were always happy here,” Sonja added.
They both use words like fulfilling and rewarding to describe their careers.
“The people are what kept us here,” Tom said. “The relationships I had with the people I worked with, my students and my athletes stood out more than anything else by far.”
Sonja agreed, calling Thomas Hall her “home.”
“The relationships with my colleagues and students made it so much fun that you wouldn’t want to do anything else,” the former department chair said.
One of those students was their daughter, Dominique, who graduated from UNK in 2015 with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and sports administration. She’s currently a faculty member in the Department of Sport Science & Management at Xavier University in Ohio.
As for Tom and Sonja, they both retired at the end of the spring semester after more than 70 years of combined service to UNK. The couple recently moved to Lincoln to be closer to family and to a larger airport that makes those trips back to Belgium much easier.
“As much as I will miss the beginning of the semester and the new books and the new faces and the new notes and all that, we don’t have to live that routine anymore,” Sonja said. “We can travel when we want, and we’re still young enough for a new chapter in our lives.”
Since they’ll only be two hours from Kearney, it won’t be di cult to drive back for Loper athletic events.
“Now we’re retired, so we can go to games together,” a smirking Sonja said to Tom. “You’ll have to start explaining them to me.”
PROVIDING STUDENT ACCESS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS. LIKE ONLY NEBRASKA CAN.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is making strides toward its goal of providing student access and success. That starts with scholarships, like the Harold and Bernice Weaver Scholarship created in this campaign. This scholarship is giving student Katelyn Cecrle, an art education major, the ability to focus on her goals, which include student teaching this semester. Ultimately, she will be helping address Nebraska’s teacher shortage. “This scholarship will allow me to work harder to be the best I can be for my future students,” said Cecrle. “I hope that I will be able to provide an opportunity for someone else in the future just like has been done for me.”
Creating the future our students deserve. Only in Nebraska.
LEARN MORE AT
2024 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 in and dedication to UNK and the Kearney community.
More information on these outstanding Lopers can be found at unkalumni.org.
Samuel Buss, son of Jody Schultz and Paul Buss of Tecumseh. He received his degree in applied health sciences with minors in chemistry and finance, with a pharmacy emphasis. Buss is attending pharmacy school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Talera Kinsey, daughter of BJ and Cory Kinsey of Gering. Kinsey graduated with a degree in mathematics education 6-12. She is teaching math at Gering High School while pursuing a master’s degree in STEM education through UNK.
Ryan Sims, son of Michelle and Mark Hanson and Russell Sims of Columbus.
UNK ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME 2024
Five former student-athletes will be inducted into the University of Nebraska at Kearney Athletic Hall of Fame at a banquet and ceremony held during the UNK homecoming weekend.
Megan Wallman, daughter of Chris and Jacqueline Wallman of Syracuse. She graduated with degrees in health sciences and business administration. Wallman is enrolled at UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha in a dual master’s program, pursuing master’s degrees in public health and business administration.
Those being inducted are Jenny (Deines) Hansen, women’s golf; Kurt Karjalainen, wrestling; Tom Magnuson, men’s track and cross country; David Pratt, baseball; and Cola (Svec) Henderson, volleyball.
More information on the inductees can be found at lopers.com.
Sims received his degree in music education PK-12. He is the director of bands at Columbus Middle School.
David Pratt '77
Cola (Svec) Henderson '11
Tom Magnuson '95
Jenny (Deines) Hansen '02
Kurt Karjalainen '01
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, sta , alumni, parents, friends and fans — will come together to raise critical funding for scholarships, UNK’s three colleges, the library and museums, student organizations, fraternities, sororities, Loper Athletics and other campus programs and causes. It’s a chance for Lopers everywhere and the entire Kearney community to empower Loper students and fuel the future of the Herd.
#OneDayforUNK
Nov. 13-14, 2024, noon-noon givingday.unk.edu
UNIVERSITY
FOREVER A LOPER
1955
Michael Yanney DHL '88 of Omaha received UNK's Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award, the University of Nebraska at Kearney's highest honor. Established in 2003, the annual award is presented to honorees in appreciation of their community service and support of UNK, higher education and the Kearney area.
1957
Patricia (Kelly) Hoehner, Ed.D., MSE '67, Ed.S. '82 of Kearney retired from UNK as a professor in educational administration with 27 years of service.
1959
Gerald and Lori King of Kearney celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Aug. 9.
1964
Ken Aldridge of Mansfield, Texas, has published his 13th crime novel, “Travis's Dilemma.”
1968
Dale and Bonita (Dotson) Dickinson of Sidney celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.
1974
Charlie Bicak, Ph.D., of Kearney is the interim chancellor of UNK.
Jerry and Tami (Bowman) Hellman MAE '86 of Kearney received UNK's Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award, the University of Nebraska at Kearney's highest honor. Established in 2003, the annual award is presented to honorees in appreciation of their community service and support of UNK, higher education and the Kearney area.
1975
Tom Kropp, Ed.D., MAE '79 of Roca retired as an assistant professor in kinesiology and sport sciences from UNK with 41 years of service.
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.
1976
Vickie (Sakurada) Schaepler MSE '79 of Kearney was appointed to the AsianAmerican Affairs Commission by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen.
1978
Diane (Stork) Feldman of Litchfield retired with 28 years of service as the learning resource center coordinator for the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, Kearney Division.
Jane (Hemje) Petersen MAE '08 of Minden retired from UNK as the director of academic support systems.
1979
Kevin O'Connor MAE '90 of North Platte has been inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as the North Platte Community College coach for 39 years.
Doug Peterson of Kearney was inducted into the Ord High School Chanticleer Athletic Hall of Fame for football.
1980
Monte Jensen of Gretna retired after 40 years of service in the IT industry at Burroughs Corp./Unisys, DMSi software and First National Technology Solutions.
Thomas Labedz of Lincoln retired as the collections manager for the zoological and botanical research collections of the University of Nebraska State Museum with more than 39 years of service to the scientific community.
Katie (Griffin) Paist of Omaha retired with 43 years of service in nursing at Methodist Hospital.
Jeff Wolf of Kearney has been inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame as a 39-year basketball official and 26year football referee. He continues to work as an official evaluator and mentor.
1981
Paula Evans MAE '91 of O'Neill retired after 42 years of teaching at O'Neill Public Schools. She taught kindergarten and special education resource.
1982
Marilyn (Williams) Ellis of Tyrone, Georgia, retired with 40 years of service in education, with 30 of those years spent teaching high school math at Sandy Creek High School.
1983
Mitch O'Neill of Kearney celebrated 35 years of service to UNK and is the associate director of application development.
Leigh Selting of New York, New York, works for the Actors’ Equity Association in New York City as an audition monitor for Broadway and regional auditions while maintaining an active research and creative profile as a director, actor and stage manager.
Julie (Ingold) Stall of Kearney celebrated 40 years of service to UNK, and is currently a library serials associate.
1985
Burt Muehling of Lincoln and his construction company, Muehling Homes, assisted Lincoln Northeast High School students in building a single-family home, which will be sold at an affordable price to a local, low-income family. He is a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame.
1986
Shahla Alavi-Behbahani MBA of Kearney retired with 35 years of service to UNK. She was an instruction design technology specialist.
Lonnie (Campbell) Baxter retired as an office associate in the UNK chemistry department.
Renee (Gustafson) Besse MAE '94 of Kearney celebrated 35 years of service to UNK and is the director of financial aid.
JoAn Scott of Indianapolis, Indiana, is the vice president of men's basketball at the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
1987
Sonja (Dams) Kropp, Ph.D., of Roca retired as an associate professor in modern languages from UNK with 30 years of service.
Ed Uden of Kearney is in sales and new business development for Hamilton Telecommunications.
1988
Kelly Christensen, Ed.D., MSE '98 of Kearney is a member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Krista (Sheldon) Fritson, Psy.D., of Kearney celebrated 20 years of service to UNK. She is a professor in psychology and the director of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska.
Kristine (Tynan) Gerber of Omaha is a project director for Omaha Public Schools.
Keith Ruenholl of Charlotte, North Carolina, celebrated 25 years of service at QuikTrip.
1989
John Falconer, Ph.D., of Kearney celebrated 25 years of service to UNK and is the senior advisor to the chancellor for executive affairs.
Dan Garringer MAE '03 of Kearney was the artist of the month for June at the Robert Henri Museum and Art Gallery in Cozad.
1990
Michelle (Thompson) Widger of Kearney celebrated 15 years of service to UNK and is the associate director of the honors program and a senior lecturer in communication.
1991
Rochelle (Hunt) Reeves of Kearney celebrated 30 years of service to UNK and is the curriculum librarian and an associate professor at the Calvin T. Ryan Library.
1992
Troy Berryman MAE '02 of Norfolk retired from education with 30 years of service. He is a sales specialist with American Family Insurance. Troy and Kelli (Nelson) '94 celebrated 30 years of marriage.
Kim (Smith) Carlson, Ph.D., MSE '94 of Kearney celebrated 25 years of service to UNK. She is the assistant vice chancellor for research and creative activity in sponsored programs and research development and a professor of biology.
Brett Joneson MAE '01 of North Platte retired as the activities director at North Platte Public Schools with 31 years of service.
Nicki (Suhr) Stoltenberg of Grand Island is the sponsorship director for the Nebraska State Fair.
1993
Tom Gardner '98 of Phoenix, Arizona, is an instructional designer at Donor Network of Arizona.
1994
Andrea (Riggins) Childress MBA '98 of Kearney celebrated 30 years of service with UNK and is the assistant vice president and information technology chief information officer.
Bill Murphy MAE of Kearney celebrated 30 years of service to UNK and is the associate athletic director of sports medicine.
Gayle Page of Lincoln is president of Farmers Mutual of Nebraska.
1995
Susan Johnson-Hood of North Platte was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. She was a three-sport athlete and is a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame.
Pat McFadden MSE of Kearney retired from Kearney High School with 36 years of service. He taught science and coached boys' and girls' cross country as well as track.
Don Ray MSE of Kearney retired from UNK as the assistant director of academic support services.
1996
Kim Gill of Grand Island is the superintendent of Elm Creek Public Schools.
Eileen (McDole) Jahn of Kearney received the University of Nebraska Board of Regents KUDOS award at the June meeting. She is the outreach coordinator for the UNK Honors Program.
Tawnia (Wood) Krause of Kearney is a member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Jeff Shield MSE, Ed.S. '02 of Kearney retired as an industrial technology teacher at Kearney High School with 32 years of service.
Mike Sybrant MAE '03 of Nebraska City is the head women's basketball coach of Peru State College.
1997
Jason Davis, Ed.D., of Hastings graduated from Leadership Nebraska's Class XV and is the associate dean of community and workforce education at Central Community College in Hastings.
Bobby Meyer MA '03 of Kearney celebrated 10 years of service to UNK and is a lecturer in English.
Jennifer (Warner) Ramsey MS '16 of Sidney was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. She played basketball at UNK and is a member of the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame.
Kelli Vondra of Elkhorn graduated from Leadership Nebraska's Class XV. She is an area sales manager with Great Plains Communications.
1998
Nikki (Beachler) Edeal MAE '03 of Lexington was honored as the 2023-2024 Nebraska's National Distinguished Principal by the Nebraska Association of Elementary School Principals. She is the principal of Morton Elementary School in Lexington.
Ryan Tworek of Mission Viejo, California, is an AEC account executive at Egnyte.
1999
Marc Bauer MAE of Kearney celebrated 25 years of service to UNK and is the athletic director.
Todd Karr of Albuquerque, New Mexico, graduated from UNL with his Ph.D. in educational leadership and higher education.
Stacey (Glenn) Manary of Kearney is the vice president of women's merchandising at The Buckle.
Heather (Bice) Paitz of Litchfield is a vice president at Town & Country Bank.
Julie (Schneider) Siebke MSE '08 of Mitchell is the director of student services for Gering Public Schools.
2000
Brian Peterson MS '02 of Kearney celebrated 20 years of service to UNK and is the distance education coordinator in biology.
Joe Renfro of Seneca, Missouri, was named to the Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame by the National Junior College Athletics Association. He is the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College wrestling coach and athletic director.
Jack Sheard of Grand Island is the owner of Idea Bank Marketing in Hastings. He also serves on the Grand Island City Council.
Alex Straatmann of Kearney will participate in Leadership Nebraska Class XVI and is an executive member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
2001
Angela (Emrick) Hollman, Ph.D., MSE '09 of Gibbon celebrated 20 years of service to UNK. She is the director of the honors program and an associate professor in cyber systems.
Travis Hollman MBA '17 of Gibbon was selected by the UNK honors program as the 2023-2024 Honors Program Teacher of the Year.
Leslie Wilke, D.O., F.C.C.P., of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, received HealthLinks Magazine's 2024 Best in Health Charleston Best Pulmonologist based on her patients' appreciation for her attention to detail, time spent with them and efficacy of her treatment plans.
2002
Ben Brachle of Kearney celebrated 10 years of service to UNK and is an assistant professor in industrial technology.
Julie (Schultz) Everett MAE of Kearney is the student success coordinator in UNK's Learning Commons.
Kelli (O'Connor) Holl of Kearney is an executive member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Michael McCollough of Kearney celebrated 20 years of service to UNK and is currently a groundskeeper with Facilities Management and Planning.
Amy (Helzer) Nebesniak, Ph.D., of Kearney is a professor of mathematics and statistics and the director of the Loper Launch program at UNK.
Sara (Farrand) Sinani of Olathe, Kansas, is a track official at state and collegiate track meets.
2003
Jason Brown MAE '05, Ed.S. '18 of Bertrand is the superintendent at High Plains Community Schools.
Jeff Ellis of Broken Bow is the assistant principal and athletic director at Broken Bow Public schools.
Dylan Evans of Kearney celebrated 20 years of service to UNK and is the senior application administrator in IT infrastructure services.
Bonnie Kruse of Omaha is the vice president of advancement for Marian High School.
Michelle (Kruse) Heilig of Omaha is a team lead/recruiter for Prime Time Healthcare.
Heather Rhinehart of Kearney celebrated 20 years of service to UNK and is an administrative associate in graduate studies and academic outreach.
Ben Rowe of Kearney is co-owner and chief creative officer of SCORR Marketing.
Whitney Schneider-Cline, Ph.D., MSE '05 of Kearney celebrated 15 years of service with UNK. She is the chair and an associate professor in communication disorders.
2004
Matt Jochum of Bennington celebrated 20 years at Scheels in Omaha and is an assistant store leader. He and his wife, Amanda, have three children, Austin, Lydia and Drake.
Leslie Marsh of Kearney is the recipient of the Outstanding Rural Health Achievement Award from the Nebraska Rural Health Association.
2005
Marty Levinson MAE '11 of Livermore, California, is the UNK head men's basketball coach.
William “Mike” Miller of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, was inducted into the 2024 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame class.
Michael Sands of Springfield is a senior vice president of private banking at Frontier Private. He and his wife Shannon (Ryan) Sands '07 have three daughters, Lucille, Catherine and Annabelle.
Kirsti (Prouty) Schack of Kearney is an executive member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
2006
Krystle (Faust) Buntemeyer of Kearney is a member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
2007
Kazuma Akehi of Kearney celebrated 10 years of service to UNK as an assistant professor in kinesiology and sport sciences.
Andy Craig, M.D., of Minden was the recipient of the Outstanding Rural Health Practitioner Award from the Nebraska Rural Health Association.
Jael Johnson of Hartington is an advisor at Northeast Community College.
2008
Sarah (Emal) Bartling MS '16 of Kearney celebrated 10 years of service to UNK and is the online program coordinator in teacher education.
Lauren (Blessing) Bonk of Kearney wrote a play, “Say It Out Loud,” that was presented by the UNK Theatre.
Kayleigh Dawson MSE '21 of Kearney is a Title IX specialist in the UNK Office of Equity and Compliance.
Dustin Favinger MAE '10, MBA '19 of Kearney celebrated 10 years of service to UNK. He is a lecturer in management and the senior director of the career development & graduate programs in the CBT Career Center.
Heather (Milius) Hull MA '16 of Jansen received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from the Diocese of Lincoln. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award is the elementary educator of the year in the Catholic school system.
2009
Lauren (Mollard) Brandt of Kearney graduated from Leadership Nebraska's Class XV and is the manager of the Kearney SportsPlex for the City of Kearney.
2010
Adam Akerson of Kearney is a member of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Kelli Cavenah of Houston, Texas, is the partner services process manager at the Houston Food Bank.
Tim and Nicole (Peters) Mattson of Grand Island are parents of a daughter, Elizabeth Grace, born March 25. She has a sister, Natalie, and a brother, Theodore.
Hayley (Clevenger) Mentzer MAE of Kearney is an assistant principal at Kearney High School.
Angie (Keller) Monterroso MA '13 of Shelton celebrated 10 years of service to UNK and is a senior lecturer in modern languages.
Rachael (Cochran) Page MA '12, MSE '19 of Kearney celebrated 10 years of service to UNK and is the associate athletic director of compliance and student services.
Jeff Schwartz MAE '17 of Kearney is the director of student services and safety for Kearney Public Schools.
Kristina and Ryan Ziegler MAE of Lee's Summit, Missouri, are parents of a daughter, Zoey Jean, born Oct. 29.
2011
Ann (Thurin) Carlson of Geneva is the operations manager at Universal Pure.
Shelly (Mejstrik) Koch of Orleans was recognized as a 2024 McKnight's Women of Distinction Award winner in the Rising Stars category. She is the executive director of Good Samaritan home-based services in Alma.
Kyle Means MAE of Kearney celebrated 10 years of service with UNK and is the director of marketing.
Eric Miller of Wallace is a physical education teacher and coach at Ravenna Public Schools.
Jake and Natalie (Regenos) Spitzlberger '12 of San Diego, California, are parents of a daughter, Tali Parker, born April 10. She has a brother, Jax, and sisters, Ella and Kobi.
Matt Tomjack of Decatur, Georgia, is the director of game operations, fan experience and broadcast with the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.
Spencer and Jennifer (Rathman) Zysset of David City are parents of a son, Leo Roberts, born April 24. He has siblings Lily, Carl, Clara and Vincent.
2012
Jordan High of Elm Creek is a social studies teacher and an assistant basketball and golf coach at Elm Creek High School.
Madison (Aten) High of Elm Creek is a sixthgrade math teacher at Horizon Middle School in Kearney.
Dalton Jensen MBA '14 of Kearney celebrated 10 years of service to UNK and is the head wrestling coach.
John and Hilke (Brandon) Meyer MBA '19 of Omaha are parents of a daughter, Della Yang, born Feb. 22. She has a sister, Vera.
2013
Cam Deter of Corpus Christi, Texas, is an account manager at The Reynolds Company.
Shawn Lienemann MBA '22 of Kearney earned the KUDOS award from the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
Taylor (Nation) Majerus of Minden gave a talk on her artwork exhibit, “A Tribute to My Hometown,” at the Minden Opera House.
2014
Mannie Reinsch MA '16 of Chadron is Chadron State College's athletic director.
Nathan Richardson of Lincoln owns Relentless Merch, which was selected as the printer for the official Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Champion T-shirts.
Jackie Ziemke of Holdrege married Seth Weidt June 22.
2015
Stephanie Brand MAE '18 of Kearney is the head volleyball coach for Kearney High School.
Robbie Jochum of Kearney is the head volleyball coach at Kearney Catholic High School.
Stephanie Moorberg of Fort Worth, Texas, is the head men's and women's golf coach at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas.
Emily (Olsufka) Ridgeway of Kearney is the manager of athletic development and community relations at UNK.
2016
Jenn DeBord of Kearney is the elementary principal at Axtell Community School.
Patrick '17 and Jordanna (Glock) Knott of Omaha are parents of a son, Baker Eugene, born March 30.
Ryo Suzuki MBA '19 of Kearney is the senior director of strategic marketing and external relations for the UNK College of Business and Technology and the Nebraska Safety Center. He was also appointed to the AsianAmerican Affairs Commission by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen.
2017
Michael Buck MS '19 and Hailey Schroer '16, MAE '20 of Olathe, Kansas, married on May 13.
Creighton Reed MAE '19 of Juniata is the head football coach at Grand Island High School.
2018
Ty Danielson of York is an assistant men's basketball coach at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.
Adam and Micah (Stall) Dickey '17 of Gibbon are parents of a son, Knox Lincoln, born April 30.
Courtney (Lierman) Glock of Grand Island is the marketing director for the Nebraska State Fair and Aksarben Stock Show.
Gina Jespersen MAE of Hemingford graduated from Leadership Nebraska's Class XV and teaches fourth grade at Hemingford Public Schools.
Luis Olivas of Kearney is the associate dean of students at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
Kendra Peters of Fort Collins, Colorado, is the head of people operations at Perennial.
Brandt and Carlie (Prososki) Runge MAE '20 of Axtell are parents of a son, Robert Hollis, born Aug. 19, 2023. Brandt teaches social studies at Holdrege High School, and Carlie teaches English as a second language at Holdrege elementary, middle and high schools.
2019
David Gifford MSE of Kearney is a business developer at BD Construction.
Kaleb and Alyson (Matulka) Jones of Lincoln are parents of a daughter, Samiera Sue, born Feb. 3. She has a sister, Elise.
Sara Jane Ruggles MA of Post Falls, Idaho, is the nation's first public historian working in health care. Employed with Auburn Crest Hospice in Bonners Ferry and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, she has helped 55 individuals in hospice whose ages ranged from 9 to 106 share their life story through oral history.
2020
Grant Buschkoetter of Kearney is a police officer with the Kearney Police Department.
Tatiana Moore of Kearney was named UNK's 2024 Graduate Student of the Year.
Laura Wardyn of Kansas City, Missouri, retired from UNK as a business systems analyst in the Finance Office.
2021
Tanner and Kelsie (Ienn) Barth '19 of Gibbon are parents of a daughter, Teagyn Elaine, born May 11.
Cheyanne Diessner of Lincoln was awarded the High Personal Standard of Integrity Award at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services' Living the Values and Core Competencies Annual Awards. She is the marketing and coordination specialist for the Tobacco Free Nebraska program at DHHS.
Brady Holtmeier and Shelbee Lemburg '19 of Omaha married on April 6.
Rebecca Meusch of Bellwood is a physician assistant at Butler County Clinic PC. She holds professional memberships with both the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants.
Kimberley Orcutt of Kearney celebrated 15 years of service with UNK and is the operations support supervisor with Facilities Management and Planning.
Maddie Squiers of Kearney founded the Antelope Volleyball Club in Kearney.
2022
Elisa Backes of Salina, Kansas, is the reserve head coach for Kearney High School girls basketball.
Taylor Bunde of Hastings is a client services assistant at Barney Financial Services in Kearney. She was the student speaker for the spring 2022 commencement at UNK.
Samantha Moss of Wood River is the program coordinator at Leadership Unlimited in Grand Island.
Riley and Abigail (Campbell) Mrkvicka of Farwell are parents of a son, Isaiah Thomas, born Feb. 15.
Aaron Walker MSE of Van Buren Township, Michigan, is the director of exam administration at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School.
2023
Joseph Hiatt MBA '24 of Kearney is a chapter leadership consultant at Delta Tau Delta while pursuing his doctorate in public administration and organizational leadership at the University of Illinois Springfield.
Shelly (Mejstrik) Koch
Sara Jane Ruggles
FOREVER A LOPER
Alyssa (Dutenhoffer) Holbrook of Kearney is an orthodontist assistant at Longo Family Orthodontics.
Jocelyn Rauert of Wood River teaches second grade at Meadowlark Elementary in Kearney.
Landon Seibert of Omaha is an inside sales associate for ABC Supply.
Lopers in Memoriam
1942
Arlene (Christensen) Holly Omaha
1949
Dwight “Dewey” Adams, Ed.D. Helena, Montana
1950
Georgia (Jackson) Van Ornam Indialantic, Florida
1951
Elinor (Cook) Hardin Kearney
Ernie Matuschka, Ph.D. Sun Lakes, Arizona
Beverly Soderholm BS '75 Lincoln
1954
Margaret Briggs, Ed.D. Kearney
Joyce (Psota) Wink Lincoln
1955
Kenneth McAninch Arvada, Colorado
1956
Kyler Nelson MAE `60 Fremont
1958
Charles “Bill” Hammond Centennial, Colorado
1960
Janette (Swanson) Stanek
Papillion
1961
Nancy (Hill) Cassel-Peters Ashland
1962
Sherry (Hemje) Alberts
Jorgensen
(Reiman) Caress
Junker
Thorell
Doris (Huffman) Corder Kearney
Marlene (Snyder) Ferguson
Kilgore
Hirsch North Platte
Mary E. (Rockefeller) Nelson Kearney
Marlene (Aden) Rasmussen Kearney
Judy (Gunther) Weers Diller
1970
James Faimon Stratton
Dennis Pool, Ed.D. Omaha
Stanley Staab Kearney
1971
Lynne (Fahrenbruch) Favinger MAE '98 Kearney
Vicki (Gosch) Scholting Gretna
Jerry Smith Florence, Arizona
1972
Jeannine (Hager) Jensen Holdrege
Donna (Bishop) Liske
Albion
Daniel Sasek Sargeant
Fay (Thomas) Sechtem Kearney
1973
Rex George North Platte
Chris Jacobson Kearney
Gary Roberts Broken Bow
1974
William “Jim” Troshynski MAE '80, Ed.S. '84 Atkinson
1975
Kathy (Schlienz) Casper
Lincoln
Cheryl (Brummels) Meier Orchard
Judy Shea Ardmore, Pennsylvania
H. Alan Sheffield Grand Island
1976
Dan Carpenter Kearney
Capt. Don Dreyer Kearney
Robert Wicht Grand Island
1977
Gary Clement Elm Creek
Janet Vandeventer Hastings
1978
Gay (Welty) Correll Kearney
Mary (Schwery) Holmberg Omaha
1980
Stuart Schlatz Doniphan
Lennis Sytsma MAE '88 Kearney
1981
Kathy (Kuhn) Carlsen Loup City
Kathy Cochnar Grand Island
1983
Curtis Jensen Blair 1984
Bonnie (Nichols) Alloway MSE Burwell 1986
Father Thomas Ryan, Ed.S. Grand Island
Karen (Kirwan) Sall MAE Elkhorn
1987
David W. Jones Poulsbo, Washington
Tim “Pete” Peterson MSE
Omaha
1988
Gene Gangwish MBA Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
1989
Sue (Johnston) Treffer Kearney
1990
John McTygue Overton
Jean (Reynolds) Parry MAE McCook
1991
David Francl Omaha
1995
George Loofe, Jr. MAE Neligh
1997
Cecil Parker Holdrege
2012
James Watkins Kearney
PROVIDING RELENTLESS SUPPORT. LIKE ONLY NEBRASKA CAN.
John and Anita Hertner are known for their philanthropic commitment and their affinity for the University of Nebraska at Kearney. For 37 years, John worked as a professor and chair in the Department of Biology. Since his retirement, he’s continued to support students through the John F. and Anita A. Hertner Biology Scholarship Fund.
“My wife and I have a great deal of affection for this campus and UNK’s commitment to maintaining high standards while dedicating resources to student success,” said John, now professor emeritus. “Retirement is not enough reason to stop helping.”
Learn more about leaving a remarkable legacy through gift planning.
nufoundation.org/giftplanning
