‘THEY WANT YOU HERE’: RURAL IMMERSION PROGRAM BRINGS UNK HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THEM
UNK TODAY
UNK ALUMNI | SPRING 2025 | ISSUE 42
VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & DEVELOPMENT
Lucas Dart ’97
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Tricia (Sunderman) Danburg ’94
As I eagerly anticipate spring and the season of renewal, I’m reminded of the remarkable growth the University of Nebraska at Kearney has experienced during the 2024-25 academic year.
ONE ROOM, ONE TEACHER AND THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THEY SERVED
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
AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSTY KEMP ’98 22
VICTORY BELL RINGS AGAIN: UNK ATHLETICS REVIVES CAMPUS TRADITION
UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LEAD COUNCIL
BRYCE ABBEY, PH.D., ’04, MAE ’06
PRESIDENT KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
JADE (MEADS) BROWN ’09, MAE ’11
ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
ANITA (FRITZ) CORY, PH.D., ’90, MSE ’93
Enrollment has surged in key areas, particularly health science, with 34% of all incoming freshmen declaring a related major. In 2024, UNK post-graduate acceptance rates across 23 health science fields reached 85%, while medical school acceptances averaged 68%, far exceeding the national average of 10%. Most of these students continue their education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Political science is also expanding, thanks to the Kearney Law Opportunities Program, which guarantees seats at the University of Nebraska College of Law. Additionally, the Nebraska Good Life Opportunities Program is a partnership with the University of Nebraska at Omaha, offering a seamless path from a political science degree at UNK to a master's in public affairs at UNO. The industrial distribution program remains a top-three major, with graduates securing multiple job offers in logistics and related fields.
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
UNK’s facilities are also advancing. The Regional Engagement Center serves as a hub for university and community events. The Rural Health Education Building, set to open in early 2026, will expand UNMC programs in nursing, allied health, medicine, pharmacy and public health — allowing students to complete their entire medical education on the UNK campus. This unique partnership between UNK and UNMC represents a significant step forward in health care education.
As I reflect on my time as Interim Chancellor, I take great pride in UNK’s role as a thriving academic, cultural and economic center in central Nebraska.
308-698-5271 lopers@unkalumni.org 20
MAKING A GENERATIONAL IMPACT: RETIRED SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR’S ESTATE GIFT SUPPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS, STUDENT RESEARCH, A LECTURESHIP AND A FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECT
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: UNK TODAY / UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2204 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, SUITE 103 KEARNEY, NE 68845
My hope for all of us is to embrace the promise offered by spring and summer — seasons of renewal, growth and new possibilities. Just as our campus thrives with academic and professional advancements, I find personal fulfillment in witnessing the incredible progress of our students, faculty and staff. May this season bring you the same inspiration and growth.
Go Lopers!
Charlie Bicak Interim Chancellor
MESSAGE from CHARLIE BICAK
‘THEY WANT YOU HERE’
RURAL
IMMERSION PROGRAM BRINGS UNK HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THEM
By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications
Brodie Mitchell and Alexys Hurt sat at a table inside a cozy coffee shop just off Interstate 80, sipping specialty drinks and discussing their decision to pursue a health care career.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney students talked about their desire to help others and make a positive impact on their communities.
“It’s a very challenging career, but yet a very gratifying one,” said Mitchell, a sophomore from Cambridge in the pre-medicine program. “When you can directly see how your work is improving somebody’s life, that’s something that’s just so rewarding.”
Mitchell wants to practice family medicine with obstetrics, allowing him to care for patients of all ages. Hurt plans to work in radiologic technology, another of the 20-plus preprofessional programs offered by UNK Health Sciences.
“There’s such a wide variety of options in health care,” the sophomore from Dannebrog said. “You can go into a lot of things. It’s not just one specific career path.”
Both UNK students are part of the Health Science Club and Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP), a collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center that provides scholarships, academic support and professional development activities for Lopers who plan to practice health care in rural communities.
“Being from a small town, I know what rural hospitals do for communities,” Hurt said. “It’s a completely different experience from larger hospitals. In a rural hospital, you
<< UNK students Alexys Hurt and Brodie Mitchell gained firsthand experience in rural health care through the Rural Immersion Program. They shadowed professionals at Sidney Regional Medical Center and spent five days in the western Nebraska community.
(Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)
can do a lot more and you build more personal connections with patients because you’re in a smaller community. at’s a big part of why I want to stay rural.”
“I think there’s something to be said about the camaraderie that you build in a small town,” Mitchell added. “You’re not just another doctor. I want those personal relationships with my patients, because I feel like that makes everything much more gratifying and rewarding.”
ey heard the same comments during a summer trip to Sidney, population 6,400.
TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE
Mitchell and Hurt spent ve days in the western Nebraska community while participating in the Rural Immersion Program.
Available to any UNK health science student, this innovative program gives Lopers an opportunity to experience rural health care rsthand, going well beyond the traditional networking events and hospital tours. Participants are exposed to numerous aspects of the profession – administration, laboratory services, emergency department, surgery, radiology and pharmacy, to name a few –allowing them to see how people in those departments work together to care for patients.
Julie Calahan, engagement and retention coordinator for UNK Health Sciences, calls it a “transformative learning experience.”
“ e Rural Immersion Program is a unique opportunity for our students to gain valuable insights and experiences that go beyond the classroom,” she said. “Students are able to connect with health care providers and participate in hands-on experiences, and they’re also able to learn more about the hospital and community as a whole.”
Ten UNK students have participated in the Rural Immersion Program since it was launched in January 2024. Hospitals in McCook, Sidney and Cozad have hosted students so far, with York and Albion scheduled to join the program this summer.
“Our goal is to help with workforce demand across the state,” Calahan said. “When we place students in these communities for a longer period of time, they have a more in-depth opportunity to be engaged and learn about the dynamics of the hospital. ey also have an opportunity to meet with community leaders and learn about local initiatives.
“When they nish their professional school and are ready to start their career, they have these connecting points back to these rural communities.”
FILLING A NEED
With nearly 900 undergraduate students currently enrolled in UNK Health Sciences, the Rural Immersion Program could serve as an important recruiting tool for hospitals that are struggling to ll their workforce needs.
ere’s an urgent demand for more health care professionals in communities across Nebraska, and Sidney is no exception.
Jason Petik, chief executive o cer at Sidney Regional Medical Center, called the current shortage “scary as hell.”
“We have a workforce that unfortunately went through a pandemic in the last four years, and that really hit us hard,” he said. “We’re really struggling to replace the people we lost.”
With roughly 400 employees and an annual payroll over $55 million, Sidney Regional remains an economic driver for the region and, more importantly, a necessity for the people living there. It’s the second-largest critical access hospital in the state, providing services that would otherwise be a 90-minute drive away.
During their visit, the UNK students got to see a new long-term care addition and heard about plans to build a new cancer center. e current Sidney Regional facility was completed in 2015, so it’s also a sign of the progress happening there.
“Sidney has a lot of great things going for it,” Petik said. “Yes, it is rural, and we don’t have access to absolutely everything all of the time. But we do have a very tight-knit community and
a very positive culture. We’re trying to grow.”
And they want UNK graduates to be part of that growth.
Sidney Regional and more than a dozen other providers are part of UNK’s Hospital Partners program.
Representatives traveled to Kearney for the rst-ever Hospital Partners Networking Event in February 2024, and a group of KHOP students visited the Sidney hospital later in the semester.
patient care is to them and how they’re trying to make it more e cient and e ective for people makes me even more excited about where the future of health care is going,” Mitchell said.
Obviously, Petik hopes these interactions lead to employment o ers down the road. But he also understands the importance of promoting rural health care across the state.
“We want to help them recognize that they can have a huge impact on people’s lives in health care, and it doesn’t have to be in Lincoln or Omaha,” Petik said. “It can be in Holdrege. It can be in Imperial. It can be in Gordon. ese young adults need to realize that their skill sets are so needed in rural areas.”
BETTER FUTURE
Mitchell’s grandparents live in nearby Lodgepole, and his aunt and uncle own and operate a popular ice cream shop in Sidney, so he was already familiar with the community.
Still, he was excited to see health care “from a di erent perspective.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from job shadowing, it’s that no matter where you go, it’s almost always di erent,” said Mitchell, who works as a medical scribe at Tri Valley Health System in Cambridge. “Yes, you’re still treating patients, but the structure isn’t always the same.”
He was “really impressed” by Sidney Regional and the amount of community support the hospital receives.
“Listening to them talk about how important
Hurt also had a positive experience.
“I really like it,” she said of Sidney. “ ere’s a lot more than what I thought. When they say a rural town, it’s not really what I expected.”
During a community tour, Cheyenne County Tourism Director Kendra Mitchell showcased life outside the hospital. ere’s a stunning golf course, beautiful parks and trails and vibrant downtown with a historic steakhouse, fancy boutique, unique bicycle shop, two-screen movie theater and numerous other businesses.
Kendra Mitchell and her now-husband moved there from Fort Worth, Texas, more than a decade ago to work for Cabela’s. Although the outdoor retailer is no longer headquartered in Sidney, the young couple stayed because they love the close-knit community.
“You don’t have to live in a big city to have a full life,” she said. “You can pursue a pretty adventurous career here in our small community.”
at message wasn’t lost on the visiting UNK students.
“ ese critical access hospitals in rural communities, they want you here,” Brodie Mitchell said. “ ey want to show you what they’re all about because they want you to come work for them someday.”
e countryside was for growing things –corn, cattle, wheat. But most of all — the minds of children.
Since opening its doors in 1905, the University of Nebraska at Kearney — then the Nebraska State Normal School — has played a major role in educating Nebraska’s future educators.
Many of those early educators went on to teach in Nebraska’s rural areas, often in oneroom schools where they did everything. Not only were these educators the only teachers students had from kindergarten through eighth grade, but they also maintained the school. Whether they taught in one-room schools or not, these rural teachers played a vital role in educating students in Nebraska.
ese intrepid educators are honored through UNK’s One Room, One Teacher program in the College of Education. Housed inside the College of Education atrium stands a large plaque displaying the names and schools of 97 educators who were honored by family, friends and former students.
“Giving back to UNK through the One Room, One Teacher program was a special experience," said Nora (Van Pelt) Lindner '63 of Central City. e scholarships from this
program help current UNK students — especially student teachers. “I credit my love of teaching and my success as a teacher to many of my experiences in the one-room, one-teacher and rural schools. ere, I learned so many attributes necessary to succeed as an educator,”she said. She and her eight siblings attended a one-room, oneteacher school known as District #43 or “ e Stove Poker School.” She went on to a successful teaching career.
Educators are honored each year at a special ceremony during homecoming week. Friends, family, faculty and students gather to honor teachers and students who attended one-room or rural schools.
Among those attending are recipients of the One Room, One Teacher scholarship. When the teachers are honored, the students
want to honor them and their families as well and say, “ ank you.”
Abigail (Almanza) Bauerle ’20 MAE’23 was student teaching in the fall of 2020 during COVID-19, which she recalls was “so hard! I couldn’t go to my job as a tutor. Without the One Room, One Teacher scholarship, I would have been in limbo,” she said. “ e scholarship helped me pay for my tuition.”
Bauerle is a fth grade ELA teacher in Chase County Schools, where she went to elementary school. It’s her third year in the classroom. " at makes it extra special to me," she said.
“My heart bursts with pride and happiness when I see the lightbulb turn on after a student has been working so hard on a concept," Bauerle said "Donors’ support helps teachers like me who have a love and passion for teaching.”
Honoring teachers and preparing the next generation of Nebraska educators are goals of the One Room, One Teacher program. More than 70 UNK students have bene ted from scholarships.
“ e program honors the legacy of rural schoolteachers in Nebraska,” said Mark Reid, Ph.D., dean of the UNK College of Education. “ e rural school spirit lives on through the many scholarships awarded each year.”
FAMILY CELEBRATION -
The Ploma (Weinman) Geiser '66 family honors her (posthumously) for years teaching in a rural school. She began her teaching career in a one-room school, signing her first contract at the age of 16.
For further information or to give to the One Room, One Teacher scholarship fund, go to nufoundation.org/OneRoomOneTeacher, email Kristin Howard at kristin.howard@nufoundation.org or call the University of Nebraska Foundation at 308-698-5270 or 800-432-3216.
Nora (Van Pelt) Lindner '63
AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSTY KEMP ’98
We recently caught up with Rusty Kemp ’98, from Tryon, Nebraska. He recounts his education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, a career that revolves around ranching and launching the Sustainable Beef project.
TELL US WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY?
My journey as a nontraditional student began with just three classes left to nish my degree at my previous institution, but I ran out of money. At the age of 25, I decided to enroll at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I had always loved the city of Kearney and the community. e agribusiness program and the economics department were impressive, and I thought this would be the best place to nish my degree.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR AGRICULTURE?
Growing up during the ’80s farm crisis was challenging, especially when my generation was told there was no future in agriculture. We were told to learn something new and nd a di erent career. But luckily, my wife, Rachael, and I managed to nd a way to make it work. After buying our ranch in the Sandhills, we committed to raising all-natural, export-eligible Angus feeder cattle. It's been a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun, and a fantastic way to raise a family.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH? WHERE YOU STARTED AND WHERE YOU ARE NOW.
After high school, I found myself in Lincoln — a small-town kid in a big city. I was just a typical boy who didn’t know what I wanted to do. I always had a job and was constantly working, whether it was on ranches or in construction. It wasn't until I hit 24 that something clicked, and I realized I needed to accomplish something. So, I went back to college and cranked out an agribusiness degree from UNK, with a minor in marketing. Since then, my goal is to surpass my achievements each year. If I don’t accomplish more this year than I did the last, I feel like I am failing.
HOW DID THE SUSTAINABLE BEEF PROJECT COME ABOUT?
e idea for this project came after I had a signi cant personal incident: the loss of my pinky nger while working on a ranch we leased in South Dakota. I spent a year trying to save it. However, the nger ultimately had to be amputated in the summer of 2019. While rehabbing, I was o ered an opportunity to join then-Gov. Ricketts on a trade mission to Vietnam. at trip is when Sustainable Beef started.
During our last night in Vietnam, I found myself discussing the challenges facing the beef industry with Gov. Ricketts. He listened to my complaints and then asked me: "OK, Rusty, how do we x it?" His challenge inspired me to act and is an example of why strong leadership is so important. When I got back home, my partners and I took about eight months to research the needs of the industry. We decided that an additional packing plant was necessary, leading us to seek out progressive, heavy-hitting agricultural producers in the western part of Nebraska. We rallied seven or eight key players to support our project. e plant will open in April 2025, and when it opens, it will showcase more than ve and a half years of hard work.
WHAT WERE YOUR ORIGINAL FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE BEEF INDUSTRY?
In 2019, there was a re at a packing plant in Holcomb, Kansas, causing a major disruption to the beef supply chain. ese packing plants are huge, so when one shut down, it completely disrupted the supply chain and forced producers to ship cattle from Nebraska all the way to Washington state for processing. Prices completely fell through the oor; it was a terrible shock to the beef industry. e situation worsened with COVID-19, which prevented many producers from getting their cattle harvested. We had a lot of frustrated producers, and it became clear that the timing was perfect for initiating a project with a signi cant economic impact, like Sustainable Beef.
YOU ARE ON THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT BOARD. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?
rough the years I’ve learned a lot, and it’s been a fun journey. ere was an opening for an NPPD board member, and some folks in my area encouraged me to apply. I went for it, was interviewed by Gov. Pillen and was appointed in April 2023. is role has given me the chance to interact with many wonderful and smart people, which is important to me. I believe that if you’re ever the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
My wife Rachael is incredible. We got married, and in 2001, we bought Pioneer Ranch. She works harder than anyone I know. If she ever left, we'd need to hire two ranch hands, a bookkeeper and a cook to ll her shoes. She has a deep love for our boys and her animals, and she's also an amazing businesswoman.
Our oldest son, Cash, has joined us in the family business and has taken on a lot of responsibility, making us very proud. He works on agricultural operations, and when I took on the NPPD board role, which is a big-time commitment, he stepped in to help run the ranch. He’s been doing a lot of heavy lifting. Our younger son, Tucker, is a student at North Platte St. Pat’s High School and is active in football, wrestling and golf. He's also a great student, and we couldn't be prouder of him.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO CURRENT UNK STUDENTS?
Stick with the winners — the conversations are di erent. Your peer group is one of the few things you have complete control over, and it is important.
BUILDING TOMORROW’S WORKFORCE. LIKE ONLY NEBRASKA CAN.
In 1979, Donald E. and Viola C. Fox donated $1,000 to the chemistry department at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. This established the Donald E. Fox Endowed Scholarship Fund, an award that supports first-year students studying chemistry. Now, 45 years later, thanks to an estate gift from Viola after her passing in 2023, the Foxes’ endowment has grown to more than $675,000.
Viola’s estate gift supports Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, which prioritizes scholarships and workforce development, among other key pillars. With the Foxes’ generous philanthropic support, UNK can further its dedication to those who come first: students. Instead of giving a scholarship to one student who shows promise, character and motivation, 20 students will now receive a scholarship.
Helping students succeed. Like only Nebraska does.
Making a Generational Impact
Retired sociology professor’s estate gift supports scholarships, student research, a lectureship and a future capital project
By ED RIDER - University of Nebraska Foundation
Every teacher wants to positively in uence the students in their classroom. e late Ruth Ann Pigott-Janssen, Ph.D., did just that and much more.
e beloved former professor and chair of the sociology department at the University of Nebraska at Kearney left a record-setting gift that will impact the lives of students for generations to come. is extraordinary investment — totaling nearly $2.25 million — is the largest estate gift from an emeritus faculty member in UNK’s history. She died in 2022 at the age of 87.
UNK Interim Chancellor Charlie Bicak, Ph.D., said Pigott-Janssen’s legacy at UNK extends far beyond her distinguished career as a sociology professor.
“Ruth dedicated her life to education, fostering a passion for learning in her students and colleagues alike,” Bicak said. “Her gift is a testament to her enduring commitment to advancing sociology and empowering future generations. Ruth’s impact will continue to enrich the academic experience at UNK for years to come. We are profoundly grateful for her generosity and the indelible mark she has left on UNK.”
Pigott-Janssen began her teaching career at Kearney State College, now UNK, in 1974 as a sociology instructor. She continued her education and earned her doctorate in sociology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1985.
Pigott-Janssen spent ve years as chair of UNK’s sociology department before retiring in 2000.
During her time as a sociology professor, Pigott-Janssen provided her students not only with a top-notch education in sociology classes, but also the gift of her time. One former student credits Pigott-Janssen with preparing him for college-level work and a higher education career.
“Not only was I the only male in the class, but I was also woefully unprepared,” said Daniel Bruggeman, a 1980 KSC graduate. “She called me into her o ce for a series of tutorials where she patiently walked me through some of the essential features of a well-written and thoughtfully argued college-level paper. is had a transformative e ect on my development as a student. It was a gift that would profoundly impact my future as a student and a teacher.”
Bruggeman, senior lecturer emeritus at Carleton College in North eld, Minnesota, retired in 2023 after 30 years of teaching at the college level. He credits Pigott-Janssen for being a role model for how a great educator leads a class.
“I developed a passion for not only well-researched and skillfully presented course material, but also empathy and patience for the students who arrive less prepared than others to learn,” Bruggeman said.
Pigott-Janssen’s generous gift was made through the University of Nebraska Foundation. A portion of the gift is directed to three priorities in the sociology department: an endowed scholarship fund, an endowed undergraduate student research fund and an endowed fund to support a lectureship program. e rest of Pigott-Janssen’s gift will be invested for 20 years, with the resulting funds allocated to a future capital project based on a campus priority.
Suzanne Maughan Spencer, Ph.D., succeeded Pigott-Janssen as chair of the sociology department at UNK. She said she is grateful for the time she was able to spend with Pigott-Janssen as the retired chair contemplated how her gift could assist students as well as the department.
“Her gift has had a profound impact on students and the department,” Maughan Spencer said. “Now, as the current department chair who also teaches the same classes Dr. PigottJanssen once taught, I am appreciative of her foresight, her contemplative planning and her generous legacy. And I know she would be overjoyed to see the students’ eagerness to pursue their passion for sociological education without the stress of nancial burdens.”
One of those students is Crista Manning, a senior from Grand Island, Nebraska, majoring in sociology and pre-public health.
“ e Ruth Pigott-Janssen Sociology Scholarship has greatly in uenced
my educational experience at UNK by alleviating the nancial strain of college,” Manning said. “ is scholarship has allowed me the opportunity to redirect funds to professional development, such as the research conference I plan to attend in a couple of months.”
“ e Ruth Pigott-Janssen Sociology Scholarship has assisted me in my academics here at UNK,” said Hannah Reeve, a senior sociology major from Potter, Nebraska. “ is helping hand has allowed me to continue to pursue my goal of introducing social programs and support for the Nebraska Panhandle where I’m from.”
Pigott-Janssen’s gift supports Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. e campaign seeks to engage 12,000 donors to raise $70 million for UNK.
While Pigott-Janssen’s gift is the largest ever received from an emeritus faculty member, philanthropic gifts from former sta are not new to UNK, according to Lucas Dart '97, vice president of alumni relations and development at the University of Nebraska Foundation.
“ rough the years, many emeriti faculty have prioritized UNK in their philanthropic goals. ey’ve been di erence makers,” Dart said. “No one understands the lives of students better than a faculty member. Ruth and many others have acted on their capacity to change others’ lives through estate gifts. ose decisions improve the UNK of today and the future.”
Ruth Ann Pigott-Janssen, Ph.D.
Daniel Bruggeman '80
Crista Manning
Hannah Reeve
Suzanne Maughan Spencer, Ph.D.
VICTORY BELL RINGS AGAIN: UNK ATHLETICS REVIVES CAMPUS TRADITION
By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications
“I’m guessing every decade from the ’50s through the ’80s, the bell was stolen and/or vandalized,” Paxson noted.
Tom Paxson '68 had a grin on his face as he leaned against the metal trailer.
“It’ll make some noise,” he said before ringing the largest of two cast-iron bells attached to the blue and gold rig.
With each chime, time seemed to slip a little further into the past. Paxson started thinking about homecoming parades, pep rallies and football games at Foster Field.
He was proud to see this prominent piece of UNK history back where it belongs.
EARLY ORIGINS
e long and mysterious journey of what’s now known as the Loper Victory Bell began around 1950. Or 1960. Depends on whom you ask.
at’s when Phi Tau Gamma, the rst fraternity on campus, acquired the 36-inch-diameter, roughly 1,000-pound church bell.
Paxson, the chapter’s uno cial historian, roster keeper and alumni president, can only imagine where it came from.
“ ere were a lot of farm brothers in the fraternity back then, so my best guess is it came out of some small church in a Hildrethtype town,” he said. “Somebody probably got it for a song and it was sitting in the back of a barn somewhere.”
A California native and Beatrice High School graduate, Paxson attended UNK from 1963 to 1968, immediately after the school’s transition to Kearney State College. He believes the Victory Bell predates his enrollment by more than a decade, although the earliest reference in the UNK Archives doesn’t come until an Oct. 21, 1960, edition of e Antelope student newspaper.
at article mentions approximately 20 members of Phi Tau Gamma traveling to Chadron State for the annual football game between these in-state rivals.
“ ey will be accompanied by the Phi Tau bell to ring the team on to victory,” it reads. e nal score was 25-0, with Kearney coming out on top.
Back on campus, the Victory Bell was a xture during football games and homecoming festivities. Strategically positioned in front of the main grandstand, it served as a rallying call and signal of Loper success.
During homecoming parades, the two-wheeled trailer hauled fraternity members and cheerleaders, often marking the end of the procession. Phi Tau Gamma won the $100 grand prize for its “For Whom the Bell Tolls” oat in 1961, according to a student newspaper report. Many more homecoming awards followed.
In 1962, a “bell pull” was proposed and unanimously supported by the student council. e plan was to pull the Victory Bell trailer from Kearney to Hastings using a team of Shetland ponies to “channel student enthusiasm during the Bronco Days celebration.”
However, this idea was scrapped after administrators from both campuses expressed concerns.
Eventually, a smaller school bell was added to the Victory Bell setup, allowing students to ring one after Loper touchdowns and the other following a win.
LOST AND FOUND
e pony pull plan was far from the only hijinks associated with the Victory Bell.
One time, it was found partially submerged in the mud and muck at Cottonmill Lake. Another time, it ended up in a corn eld north of Kearney. On a third occasion, it was hidden in a shed on an abandoned lot in town, covered in camou age paint.
Usually, the fraternity received a phone call or cryptic clue revealing its location.
“I don’t think anybody wanted to destroy it,” said Paxson, who blames the shenanigans on rival fraternities.
“But I can’t prove any of that.”
Mark Reid '89 also remembers a few of these “kidnappings.”
Originally from Australia, he joined the fraternity in 1984, nearly 20 years after Phi Tau Gamma a liated with a national organization and became Alpha Tau Omega. Reid graduated from KSC in 1989 and served as an adviser for ATO in the early 1990s and again from the 2000s until the chapter disbanded in spring 2015.
“It’s a mystery. It really is,” Reid said of the Victory Bell. “It de ned ATO for a long time because it was always associated with the fraternity. Whether it was being used or not, it always had a prominent place outside both residences, the old house and University Residence South. It really became an icon for the fraternity.”
END OF AN ERA
e fraternity stopped bringing the bell to football games — likely sometime in the 1980s — but it was still featured in homecoming parades and showcased at the ATO house.
When the fraternity moved onto campus in 1991, it was displayed outside University Residence South.
“For a long time, it didn’t get a lot of love,” Reid said. “It just sat out there and su ered the
elements, all through the Nebraska summer and winter. And it held its own.”
In 2016, alumnus Duane McCan '69, MSE '71 restored the bell and trailer for a fraternity anniversary, which drew 150 brothers to Kearney. It was the Victory Bell’s last public appearance before being stored for several years in an outbuilding on Paxson’s property between Kearney and Gibbon.
‘WE NEED THIS’
UNK Athletic Director Marc Bauer MAE '99 was looking for old Loper sports memorabilia to display — items that represent the school’s storied history.
But he didn’t expect this email from Rich Brodersen '94, a UNK graduate who works for the University of Nebraska Foundation:
“How would you like to revive the Victory Bell?” Bauer jumped at the opportunity. “We need this,” he thought to himself.
“ ere are institutions that would love to have something like this,” he said. “I think our history is important, whether it’s the Normal School, Nebraska State Teachers College, Kearney State College or UNK. To be able to revive a tradition like this, that’s pretty awesome.”
e Victory Bell returned to campus this summer and was unveiled during this past football season. Former Phi Tau Gamma and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity members were on hand for the event.
“I’m so glad this is happening,” Paxson said at the time. “ATO will have a presence on campus again, and I think that’s important.”
“It’s something that’s unique,” Reid remarked. “It’s one of those things that ties back to the history of UNK and one of its legendary fraternities.”
Just like the glory days, UNK students are celebrating their beloved Lopers by ringing those big bells again.
LOUIE’S PRIDE
INSIDE LOPER ATHLETICS
Moore Siblings Bring Competitive Nature, ‘Ranch Toughness’ to UNK Basketball
By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications
Clayton Moore’s teammates call him a “country boy.”
His older sister, Samantha Moore, often hears a similar term — “ranch tough.”
They’re both references to the siblings’ blue-collar upbringing and the work ethic, determination and discipline they display as University of Nebraska at Kearney basketball players.
“Where we grew up, there’s not much to do but work,” said Clayton, a redshirt freshman at UNK. “And competitiveness kind of comes along with that. Growing up, all you could really do for fun was compete with each other. It was either that or go outside and work. And competing with each other was more enjoyable than throwing hay bales around or fixing windmills.”
Raised on a ranch in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills, the Moores have never known a life that didn’t revolve around hard work, humility and sports.
Their parents, Rusty and Jennifer, instilled those values.
player and five-time All-American in track and field. Rusty also competed in track, earning All-American honors and winning two national championships in the 4x400 relay.
They were both standout athletes at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where Jennifer was a volleyball
He coached basketball at Mullen High School for 14 years, leading the boys’ team to its first-ever state title in 2017. Rusty died in 2020 following a two-year battle with brain cancer.
Jennifer taught and coached at Mullen and McPherson County high schools before moving to Alma, where she’s the head volleyball coach and an assistant track coach.
To nobody’s surprise, their children followed in those footsteps.
SIBLING RIVALRY
If they weren’t assisting with chores, the Moore kids were likely challenging each other in some sort of activity.
As youngsters, they played basketball in the house, using tape stuck to the basement wall as a hoop. Later on, those games moved to the driveway, where Clayton and Samantha battled their older brother, Lance.
“You can kind of imagine how that went,” Clayton said with a smirk. “Sometimes it got a little rough. I mean, there were no referees out there.
“I think that’s really where our competitiveness started to grow,” he added.
Although Clayton and Samantha both admit they could have been nicer to each other growing up, that passion and intensity helped fuel their success.
“Over the last couple years, from high school to college, I feel like we’ve grown our friendship,” said Samantha, a senior at UNK. “We’re still competitive, but I feel like we’ve gotten closer.”
Now, if you ask the siblings who the better athlete is, neither will claim that distinction.
Instead, they talk about each other’s accomplishments.
Samantha was a three-sport star at Mullen High School, scoring 1,550 career points in basketball and helping the Broncos finish third in the 2021 Class D2 state tournament. She also led the volleyball team in kills and blocks as a senior and qualified for the Class D state track and field championships in three events, including a runner-up finish in the 100-meter hurdles.
Clayton was equally successful. He averaged 18.1 points and 10.5 rebounds as a senior, earning Class D2 First-Team All-State honors in 2023. Also a three-sport standout, he played quarterback and defensive back for the football team and was a state champion in the 300-meter hurdles and state runner-up in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump and 4x400 relay.
VERSATILE VETERAN
When the time came to select a college, Samantha was the first family member to break the Wesleyan connection.
“I can be the guilty one,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll take the blame for that. Right when I stepped on campus, I knew this was my place.”
The 6-foot-tall guard/forward battled injuries early in her UNK career and played behind some experienced starters. She appeared in eight games as a freshman and 26 as a sophomore. The Lopers reached the NCAA Division II national tournament both seasons.
UNK Head Women’s Basketball Coach Drew Johnson calls her a hardworking, high-octane player.
“Sam is someone who brings a lot of energy to the team, whether she’s on or o the court,” Johnson said. “When she’s playing her best basketball, she’s really energetic and engaged, having fun and cracking jokes. That energy really
resonates with our team. It’s a lot of fun to be able to coach her because of that.”
She’s also versatile.
After an injury forced her to miss the early part of the season, Samantha came back strong for the Lopers as a junior. She played in 21 games and started 16 of them, averaging 6.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest.
Those numbers were even better this season. Samantha started every game for the Lopers and was a standout performer, finishing as one of the team’s top scorers, rebounders and playmakers. She recorded the first triple-double in program history when she scored 16 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists in a 95-26 victory over York University.
“She’s been really dynamic for us,” Johnson said. “She shoots the 3 at a high percentage. She’s able to post up smaller guards. And she’s a great defender.
“It doesn’t get a lot better in this world than Sam Moore, and I’m thankful to have gotten a chance to coach her.”
YOUNG LEADER
Clayton joined his older sister at UNK in fall 2023. He liked the location and smaller, close-knit community — “I’m not a big-city guy,” he firmly declared — as well as the opportunity to play against top-notch teams.
“As athletes, you want to compete at the highest level you possibly can,” Clayton said. “We were given the chance to compete here at UNK, a Division II university in one of the best conferences in the country.”
First-year Head Men’s Basketball Coach Marty Levinson describes Clayton as hardworking, humble, attentive and selfless — “pretty much all the qualities you would want in a teammate.”
“Even though he’s so young and he doesn’t have a ton of on-court playing experience at the college level, he’s already been a leader for us because of those characteristics,” Levinson said.
Following a redshirt season, Clayton was an important contributor for Levinson and the Loper men, playing in every game while averaging more than 5 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest.
Calling him a “pusher” who’s always looking to learn and grow, Levinson expects Clayton’s role to continue to expand.
Siblings Samantha and Clayton Moore were threesport standouts at Mullen High School. Now, they both play basketball at UNK.
(Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)
>> Redshirt freshman Clayton Moore (24) played in every game for the Lopers this season, averaging 18 minutes, 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest.
(Photos by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)
“He’s going to be a di erence maker by the time he’s a junior or senior, even by next year,” the UNK coach said. “He’s been a blessing to have, not just on the floor but because of who he is every day.
“Clayton is much more than just a basketball player. He’s an amazing human being. That doesn’t always show up in the box score, but he’s a big part of our recent success.”
STRONG BONDS
Now that they’re 20 and 22 years old, Clayton and Samantha can fully appreciate their relationship and the benefits of having a sibling to lean on.
They live in the same apartment complex, just south of the Health and Sports Center, and often get together to watch sports or play video games.
“Who wouldn’t want to attend the same school as their sibling, hang out and play the same sport?” Samantha said. “It’s so awesome. When we traveled on the road, I got to watch my brother play right after us and he got to watch me play. I’m beyond grateful. It’s such a blessing.”
“I can’t imagine it any other way now,” Clayton added.
Both recognized on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, Samantha is studying elementary education and Clayton is an agribusiness major. She wants to teach in a small town in Nebraska, and he plans to return to the family ranch near Tryon.
Those rural roots run too deep to change.
The Younes family is unparalleled in the support they provide UNK both personally and through their business. Whether it’s endowing scholarships, building new facilities or sponsoring activities and programs, they always step to the front of the line for us.
<< UNK senior Samantha Moore averaged 8.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game for the Lopers, who finished 20-9 overall and 13-6 in the MIAA.
(Photos by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)
Both UNK and the Kearney community are stronger because of Paul, Linda and their entire family!
1960
FOREVER A LOPER
Mary (Wrin) Bergsten Axtell
Ellen (Raymond) Boroff Kearney
Jack Crowley Hastings
Ronald Jorgenson Callaway
Robert Noah Kenyon, Minnesota
1961
Dean Waddel Lincoln
1962
Joyce (Brock) Boss Elizabeth, Colorado
1963
Joseph Coble Bennington
1964
Donna Bryan Morrill
Phyllis (Dokken) Gengenbach MSE ’68 Cozad
1965
Larry Barnhart
Bonita Springs, Florida
Nanna Cross Chicago, Illinois
Virginia "Bunny" (Johnson) Wattles MAE ‘83 Scottsdale, Arizona
Terry Young Olathe, Kansas
1966
Eugene "Butch" Ortgiesen Wilcox
Marcia (Broom) Pierson
Minden
Cheryl (Wood) Ryan Minden
Norm Sheets Hastings
1967
Janette (Kruse) Vanderbeek Wahoo
1968
Art Fritson Kearney
Hugh Miner Jr. Grand Island
Carole (Alberts) Scherff Saint John, Washington
1969
Hon. Richard Kopf Lincoln
Raymond "Boyd" Lindsay Lincoln
Marjorie (Smith) Schneider Grant
1970
David Babbitt Kearney
Susan Baumann Grafton
Galen Conn MSE Beatrice
Tony Weidner Grand Island
1971
Larry Carmann Davidson, North Carolina
Nancy Garringer MAE ’90 Kearney
Sally Gilbreath Omaha
Daniel Imel Holdrege
Harold Sawyer MSE Central City
Barb (Haley) Skaden York
Ronald Upson Beaver City
1972
Gary Bergstrom Lincoln
Phyllis (Babcock) Clement Ord
Mary (Bronson) Losey MSE ’94 Kearney
Bruce Whitten Lincoln
1973
Jerry Foote MSE ’92 Kearney
Al L’Heureux Hordville
Caroline Mazankowski Le Roy, Kansas
Larry Paul Lincoln
Larry Schumacher Kearney
1974
David Baisinger MSE Lincoln
Larry Gries Omaha
Marge (Augustyn) Mroczek Loup City
1975
Don Cunningham
Lincoln
Rick Freese Ashland
1976
Dan Hersh MAE
Ord
Ron Jurgensen Kearney
1977
Karen (Prather) Brown MAE Kearney
Gary Buehner Cozad
Carol (Gronewold) Hudson MAE ’91 Shelton
1978
Connie (Engel) Homan North Platte
1979
Tom Kruger MAE ’82 Grand Island
1980
Mary Jo (Meyer) Breece Holdrege
Jean (Gettelfinger) Krejci, Ph.D., MSE San Antonio, Texas
Dan O’Dea
Lincoln
Rebecca (Roenfeldt) Freeland Marquette
1981
Patrice "TeeDee" (Elworth) Peterson Plattsmouth
1983
Jackie (Hutsell) Adelung MBA ’88 Amherst
Angela (Wichman) Ziemer MSE ’84 Kansas City, Missouri
1985
LeAnn Elliott Kearney
Scott Lindstedt Cozad
1989
Marguerite "Lu" (Forney) Krueger MSE Phoenix, Arizona
1991
Dallas Clayton MSE Villisca, Iowa
Chuck Hervert MAE, Ed.S. ’97 Omaha
Michael D. Martin Denver, Colorado
1999
Lisa (Cornelison) Reed Omaha
Mary (Ladwig) Strohmyer Lyons
Tom Kunkel, Ed.S. Hastings
Loper Faculty and Sta Notes
Marshall Barth, Darla Morris and Travis Reynolds were selected as the October 2024 Teamwork Excellence Award recipients.
Greg Benson, Ed.D., received the Wayne Klein Teaching Excellence Award. He is a professor in marketing, agribusiness and supply chain management.
Ted Eichholz was selected as the September 2024 UNK Employee Achievement Award recipient. He is the assistant chief of police for UNK Police.
Chris Exstrom, Ph.D., was recognized with the David Stevenson Faculty Senate Distinguished Service Award.
Lori Frickey was selected as the June 2024 UNK Employee Achievement Award recipient. She is the office associate in teacher education.
Rob Fuller is an assistant coach for men’s basketball.
Matthew Roehrs North Platte
Timothy Gleason MA Hanover Park, Illinois 2005
Mary (Goshorn) Fink Norfolk
2009
Nick Bolander Omaha
Kirstin (Killion) Kirkland Kearney
Mary "Kate" Tworek ME ’13 Omaha
Erick Wadsworth MA Nampa, Idaho
1992
Richard Bracha Mission, South Dakota 1995
Deb (Fecht) Wilbur MAE ’21 Kenesaw 1998
James Koontz MAE, Ed.S. ’05 Hastings
Kearney
Marcus Fox Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Toni Hill, Ph.D., was recognized with the Pratt-Heins Award for Service.
J.D. Meyers was selected as the May 2024 UNK Employee Achievement Award recipient. He is a custodian with facilities.
Mitch Runco is the assistant head men’s basketball coach.
Patty Seevers was selected as the July 2024 UNK Employee Achievement Award. She is an office associate with the admissions office.
Scott Shafer was named MIAA Coach of the Year. He is the head tennis coach.
Amanda Sladek, Ph.D., was recognized with the Faculty Award for Inclusive Excellence.
Rick Squiers was named the 2024 MIAA Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Melissa Wuellner, Ph.D., was recognized with the Pratt-Heins Award for Scholarship and Research.
Loper Faculty and Sta Service Anniversaries
10 years
Mathew Begnoche maintenance supervisor, facilities
Derek Boeckner, Ph.D., chairperson and associate professor, mathematics & statistics
Meredith DeHaven employment specialist, human resources
Anthony Donofrio, Ph.D., associate professor, music, theatre and dance
Bryan Drew, Ph.D., professor, biology
Tim Farrell, D.M.A., professor, music, theatre and dance
Shane Hernandez, custodian, facilities
Evan Hill, Ph.D., chairperson and associate professor, psychology
Jia Huang, Ph.D., professor, mathematics & statistics
Adam Jensen, Ph.D., professor, physics & astronomy
Chris Moran, budget officer, budget office
Sharon Obasi, Ph.D., associate professor, counseling, school psychology and family science
Michael Pettigrew, custodian, facilities
Jacob Rosdail associate professor, communication
Wendy Schardt director, student health and counseling
Terry Seals, carpenter, facilities
Patty Seevers, office associate, admissions
Megan Strain associate professor, psychology
Allen Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor, chemistry
Dana Vaux, Ph.D., associate professor, industrial technology
Jim Vaux, Ph.D., chairperson and associate professor, industrial technology
Mallory Wetherell professor, art and design
20 years
Greg Brown, Ph.D., professor, kinesiology and sports science
Ting-Lan Chen, D.M.A., professor, music, theatre and dance
Victoria Goro-Rapoport professor, art and design
Suzanne Hayes, Ph.D., professor, accounting, finance and economics
James Lester event/move team leader, facilities
Tami Plugge executive associate, academic affairs
25 years
Kelly Bartling, vice chancellor, enrollment management and marketing
Julie Shaffer, Ph.D., senior vice chancellor, academic affairs
Rick Squiers, head coach, volleyball
Glenn Tracy, Ed.D., associate professor, teacher education
Nita Unruh, Ed.D., associate vice chancellor of academic and student affairs; professor in kinesiology and sports sciences
Scott Unruh, Ph.D., director for assessment and accreditation, academic affairs; assistant dean, College of Education; professor, athletic training
Alan Wedige, university architect, physical planning real estate
Peter Yazvac, assistant athletic director of media relations, intercollegiate athletics
30 years
Mark Ellis, Ph.D., dean of graduate studies, graduate studies and academic innovation
Anne Foradori, D.M.A., professor, music, theatre and dance
Jean Jacobson, collection coordinator, Museum of Nebraska Art
David Nabb, Ph.D., professor, music, theatre and dance
Jill Purdy, director of finance, finance office
40 years
Karla Bauer accounting technician, finance office
Loper Faculty and Sta Retirements
Rick Allum custodian, facilities
Kathy Benne office assistant, cyber systems
Jane Blum director of field experiences, educator certification office
Deborah Bridges, Ph.D., professor, marketing, agribusiness and supply chain management
James Cook, Ph.D., professor, music, theatre and dance
Jeff Dummer, custodian, facilities
Gene Fendt, Ph.D., professor, philosophy
Dora Gonzalez-Bermudez custodian, facilities
John Hastings, Ph.D., professor, cyber systems
Darcy Isaac office associate, political science
Julieta Johnston, senior lecturer, mathematics & statistics
Katherine Kime, Ph.D., professor, mathematics & statistics
Doug Kristensen, J.D., chancellor
George Lawson, Ph.D., professor, communication
Jeff Morehead locksmith, facilities
Patty Reifenrath, senior lecturer, mathematics & statistics
Janna Shanno administrative associate, graduate studies and academic innovation
Ross Taylor, Ph.D., associate professor, cyber systems
Dick Wardyn grounds manager, facilities
Sherri Harms, professor, cyber systems
Barton Willis, Ph.D., professor, mathematics and statistics
Loper Faculty and Sta Deaths
David Bauer Ed.D., professor, music, theatre and dance
Lyle Colsden professor, family studies
Bruce Eichhorst, Ph.D., professor, biology
Howard “Jake” Jacobson II professor, art and art history
Joan Lewis, professor, teacher education
Elizabeth Peck, Ph.D., director, Center for Teaching Excellence
Ruth Schmitz, professor, marketing
Phil Shade, professor, accounting and finance
STRENGTHEN THE UNIVERSITY’S FUTURE BY SECURING YOUR OWN.
When you contribute cash, appreciated securities or IRA assets to support the University of Nebraska at Kearney, not only will you advance the university’s mission, but you’ll also receive fixed lifetime payments with return rates based on your age.
us in advocating for a
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