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

SPRING 2021

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NEW COPE FOUNTAIN ADDS SPLASH OF COLOR TO CAMPUS Located between the Nebraskan Student Union and Calvin T. Ryan Library, Cope Fountain is a popular gathering place where students, staff, faculty and visitors can relax on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. Dedicated in 1995 in honor of the late Ron and Carol Cope, who were longtime UNK and community supporters, the original fountain was removed and replaced as part of a larger sanitary and storm sewer project. The new Cope Fountain, completed this summer, adds features that make it more of a year-round destination while improving accessibility. The design includes a large, central water column within an armature feature surrounded by 20 smaller jets on a flat surface. A lighting system allows for nighttime displays, and the jets can be programmed to spray in different combinations. Sitting stones line the fountain’s perimeter.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

14 FACING REALITY By Kristin Howard – University of Nebraska Foundation

UNK confronts a growing issue in early childhood education.

ONE BIG ADVENTURE By Shonna Hill - UNK Alumni Association At the age of 17, Jeremey Gee flew on a plane for the first time, making a 1,400-mile trip by himself from Oceanside, California, to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

ODALYS CRUZ AIMS TO INSPIRE STUDENTS IN HER HOMETOWN

PIANO MAN

By Tyler Ellyson – UNK Communications

Cruz knew Schuyler was where she was meant to be.

Mick Johnson plays important part at UNK.

ABOUT THE COVER

DEPARTMENTS

The University of Nebraska at Kearney partnered with Impact Art in the summer of 2020 to create the UNK mural. It is located at the corner of 21st Street and Central Avenue in downtown Kearney.

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22 LOUIE'S PRIDE 24 LOPER TRIBUTE 26 ALUMNI PROFILE 28 FOREVER A LOPER

LIFE 4

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UNK TODAY UN K A L U M N I | S P R ING 20 2 1 | IS S U E 3 5 VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & DEVELOPMENT

Lucas Dart ‘97 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

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

Shonna Hill ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Toni (Winsor) Meyers ‘93 ART DIRECTOR

Mitch Johnson ‘94 University of Nebraska Foundation PHOTOGRAPHY

UNK Alumni Association UNK Communications and Marketing University of Nebraska Foundation UNK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LEAD COUNCIL Curt Ott ‘07

PRESIDENT KEARNEY, NEBRASKA

Angela (Reynolds) Davidson ’09, MBA ‘10 PAST PRESIDENT GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA

Hilke (Brandon) Meyer ’12, MBA ’19 NEBRASKA REPRESENTATIVE OMAHA, NEBRASKA

Yousef Ghamedi ‘99

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE KEARNEY, NEBRASKA

Andy Greer ‘11

NEBRASKA REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

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

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

Jack Kreman ‘04

GREEK REPRESENTATIVE NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA

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

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

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

a MESSAGE from CURT OTT When I first began my term as president of the University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association LEAD Council, all things seemed normal. We were interacting with alumni through engagement activities in Kearney, throughout the state and throughout certain parts of the country. We were brainstorming fresh, exciting ideas to involve new faces in our events and continue to bring value to you, our alumni. Fast forward to today, and we have learned to not ever take for granted the ability to socialize in person! While this year has been interesting, to say the least, we are so fortunate to be a part of a campus that has done their very best to not allow these challenging times to become a detriment to student life and advanced learning. Sure, I regret that 2020 high school seniors did not have the full experience that comes along with the first year of being on campus at UNK, and I feel bad that our fall sports participants did not have the opportunity to showcase their hard work from the offseason. Thank you to UNK campus leaders and staff who have done a tremendous job of adjusting so that our current students can have as “normal” a year as possible. Our alumni engagement has really been no different. While in-person gatherings have been temporarily on pause, new outreach ideas have been put into effect. From Zoom gatherings with campus experts on hot-button topics to digital trivia nights, our alumni continue to be involved and show us how proud they are to be Lopers. Being able to offer these events digitally has introduced us to new names and faces that we may have not otherwise been able to reach. Though we so greatly miss shaking hands and conversing face to face, I hope you have been able to see the dedication that the alumni staff and LEAD Council have to you. It is so easy to dwell on the negative, when most times a positive outlook can provide a new way of approaching things and a new way for you to become even better than before. As light at the end of this pandemic tunnel is hopefully approaching, you can bet that we have become a better and more agile campus and alumni association because of everyone’s willingness to adapt. Thank you for all you do as UNK alumni, and please remember: Stay engaged, look for the positives, and always remember you have a Loper family that is willing to embrace you. Best wishes, Curt Ott UNKAA LEAD Council President

UNK Today is published twice a year by the UNK Alumni Association and the University of Nebraska Foundation and is the official alumni publication of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

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News and Events Across Campus

UNK celebrates ‘future of higher education’ at Discovery Hall grand opening Discovery Hall is much more than a fancy new addition to the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. The state-ofthe-art STEM facility will revolutionize higher education and workforce development in Nebraska. “This building is the future of higher education. It’s not just experiential. It’s immersive. It’s interactive. It brings a whole new definition to hybrid education,” University of Nebraska President Ted Carter said during an October ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the university system’s newest academic building. Speaking to about 150 guests gathered outside the three-story, 90,000-square-foot structure, Carter said Discovery Hall will take UNK to a new level by offering multidisciplinary, cross-functional education that prepares students for the high-skill, high-wage jobs that are in high demand across the state and country. “This building will serve as that mechanism, that pathway, to create the success of our students,” he said. Located on UNK’s west campus, Discovery Hall was designed specifically for the science, technology, engineering and math programs that will drive economic growth in greater Nebraska.

Chancellor Doug Kristensen speaking at the Discovery Hall grand opening.

Discovery Hall was constructed as part of a $30 million project replacing Otto C. Olsen, a 65-year-old industrial arts building that was on the state’s capital construction replacement list for more than two decades. The new STEM building was paid for by renewal bonds and through a state bill that directed deferred maintenance funding to NU facility replacement projects.

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Through new UNK scholarship, undergraduate tuition becomes same as in-state for non-Nebraskans

The University of Nebraska at Kearney just became a lot more attractive to out-of-state students. Beginning in fall 2021, on-campus undergraduate students from anywhere will get a discount that brings them to Nebraska residents’ tuition rate. It’s an offer equal to a 54% decrease — from the current $455 to $209 — per credit hour. The New Nebraskan Scholarship also applies to currently enrolled out-of-state students beginning next year. “UNK tuition has always been a tremendous value, especially when looking at the quality experience here with an affordable tuition rate,” said UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen. “Many students and

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their families from outside Nebraska will now find that their education is more affordable than the options they may be looking at in their home state. This is good for Nebraska — improving access to attract diverse newcomers to Nebraska who will love it here, find jobs here and settle down here.” UNK will be the only University of Nebraska campus to offer the new tuition discount. In 2018, UNK began offering a similar in-state tuition discount to residents of Colorado and Kansas, which resulted in enrollment increases from those two states. Through a Midwest Student Exchange, residents of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin have for many years received a discount equal to 150% of the in-state rate, or $313 per credit hour.

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UNK jumps to No. 6 in regional ‘Best Colleges’ rankings

UNK expanding educational offerings with College Park at Grand Island

The University of Nebraska at Kearney continues to climb U.S. News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” lists, reaching its highest ranking ever. UNK is No. 6 on the publication’s list of the top public regional universities in the Midwest, up three spots from last year. This is the 13th straight year UNK has been recognized as a top public regional university in the Midwest and the sixth time the school has been ranked inside the Top 10. No other Nebraska school cracked the Top 25 on this year’s list. Among all Midwest regional universities — both public and private — UNK improved its position from 46th to 33rd, ranking ahead of institutions such as Wayne State College, Chadron State College, Northwest Missouri State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and University of Central Missouri. UNK was also listed as a “best value school,” ranking 11th among Midwest regional universities. That list looks at total cost minus grants and the percentage of students receiving needbased grants. UNK’s average annual cost after grants was $20,011 in 2019. In the “best colleges for veterans” category, UNK ranked 24th among Midwest regional universities, with a veteran/military enrollment of 113 students for the evaluation period.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting in September marked the beginning of a renewed partnership between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and College Park at Grand Island that will bring expanded educational opportunities to central Nebraska and address workforce needs in the area. “This is such an exciting time not only for Grand Island, but for all of us in central Nebraska. As a UNK alumna, it gives me great pride to be part of this special event,” said College Park Board Chair Jodi Rauert, who earned a business degree from UNK. UNK’s presence at College Park will add opportunities for people to pursue professional certificates,

as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees, allowing them to advance in their careers and accept higherpaying positions. This creates more sustainability within the workforce, especially when it comes to highskill, high-demand jobs. UNK will collaborate with Grand Island-area businesses and high schools, Central Community College and other community organizations to provide education, training and professional development opportunities for both traditional and nontraditional students. This includes in-person and remote courses from across the university’s three academic colleges, certificate programs, workshops and seminars.

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Gabriel Amegatcher, Fayth Jackson named UNK homecoming king and queen

Brad Kernick receives UNK’s Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award

Gabriel Amegatcher of Romeoville, Illinois, and Fayth Jackson of Lincoln are UNK’s homecoming king and queen. They were crowned in October during a ceremony in the Health and Sports Center.

Brad Kernick ’71 doesn’t need a long list of reasons to give back to his community. His motivation can be boiled down to six words: “It’s the right thing to do.”

A junior math major with a construction management minor, Amegatcher is a member of the UNK football team and vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He also serves as a success coach for younger players and is involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, UNK Men’s Project and the Black Student Association. Amegatcher is active off campus through his volunteer work at New Life Church in Kearney. Jackson is a senior social work major with a psychology minor. She’s active with Gamma Phi Beta, holding numerous positions within the sorority and serving as a Panhellenic recruitment counselor. Jackson is also a member of the UNK cheer team, serving as a captain last season, and she’s involved with TRIO Student Support Services and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In the community, Jackson volunteers with the TeamMates Mentoring Program, Girls on the Run and The Arc of Buffalo County, which supports people with developmental disabilities. She’s also a hospice care companion.

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The longtime Kearney resident was raised with this attitude. “I don’t do anything to try to win an award,” Kernick said. But that doesn’t mean he’s not worthy of receiving one. Kernick was recognized in July with the Ron and Carol 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. Fittingly, Kernick received the award inside UNK’s Cope Stadium, where he’s spent countless fall afternoons. The Atkinson native and UNK alumnus is a diehard Loper football fan and one of the program’s biggest supporters. Kernick, who contributed to the Cope Stadium construction and field turf replacement projects, is best known for his role with the Loper Football Backers event. He co-founded the yearly fundraiser in 2010 and continues to serve as chairman. The Loper Backers event, a celebration of UNK football that includes a social hour, dinner, live and silent auctions and raffles, has generated nearly $2 million for student-athlete scholarships over the past decade.

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Work begins on University Village housing, tennis projects own and manage the housing. UNK is leasing the land to Millennium. The indoor tennis complex will be built along North Railroad Street on the south edge of University Village.

The next two additions to the University of Nebraska at Kearney's University Village development are beginning to take shape. Construction started this fall on the Element 30 housing project, and earthwork is underway at the site of a new indoor tennis complex. Planned in four phases over five years, the $48 million Element 30 housing project includes 230 total units – a combination of apartments, 10-plexes and townhomes. The $14 million first phase includes 86 units, as well as a clubhouse, outdoor swimming pool, indoor and outdoor gyms, carriage house, attached garages and courtyard. This phase is targeted for completion in June 2021.

UNK and the city of Kearney are partnering on this project, which has an estimated price tag of $8.5 million. The donordriven project will be paid for primarily with private contributions and a $1.125 million grant awarded to the city by the state’s Civic and Community Center Financing Fund. The city will construct, own and operate the sixcourt tennis complex, and UNK will provide operational and maintenance support. A proposed floor plan for the facility includes the six indoor courts, offices for UNK tennis and Kearney Park and Recreation, a meeting room, lockers and a reception and lobby area. Construction should begin this fall, with an expected completion date of February 2022.

There will also be a 5,000-square-foot retail space with a restaurant planned as the anchor business. The project is a publicprivate partnership between UNK and Grand Island real estate developer Scott Rief. His company, Millennium Development, will build,

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Regional Engagement and Alumni Center approved for UNK's University Village

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved a project in December that will connect academics, government and business while strengthening Kearney’s role as a regional hub and portal to greater Nebraska. The public-private partnership will add a Regional Engagement and Alumni Center to the University of Nebraska at Kearney's University Village development. Chancellor Doug Kristensen called the $15.6 million project a “centerpiece and anchor” for University Village that will attract talented students and faculty to UNK, bring new businesses to the city and benefit employers across the state. The two-story, 49,000-square-foot facility west of the Village Flats residence hall is slated for completion in summer 2022. It will feature meeting, conference and public gathering spaces designed to accommodate both large and small events, as well as state-of-the-art technology capable of connecting people from across the world through virtual meetings and presentations. The building could host career fairs, campus and community events, lectures, public hearings, government meetings and countless other engagements. The first of several office buildings planned at the 104-acre University Village development, the Regional Engagement and Alumni Center will also serve as a destination for professional firms, public and private agencies and nonprofits looking to lease office space in central Nebraska. UNK will own and occupy approximately 24,000 square feet, and the UNK Alumni Association and University of Nebraska Foundation, currently located at 214 W. 39th St. in Kearney, will also call the building home.

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FEATURE

By SHONNA HILL - UNK Alumni Association At the age of 17, Jeremey Gee flew on a plane for the first time, making a 1,400-mile trip by himself from Oceanside, California, to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney. This was the beginning of a journey that would lead him to his future career as a math teacher and coach and would spark his sense of wanderlust. “One might say that I can’t sit still,” Gee said as he recalls why he picked UNK. “Nebraska is obviously a long way from California, so I did get asked how I chose UNK. My answer is that sometimes you have to go on a big adventure to accomplish the goals you’ve set for yourself.” Gee, who is currently a math teacher at Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, said choosing a college came down to academics, athletics and scholarship opportunities. “I was looking for a school that had a

good criminal justice, math or teacher preparation program,” Gee said. “I hadn’t declared a major when I arrived, but I knew I wanted to be in one of those fields. I was also looking for an opportunity to run track, so I made a list of schools that offered those opportunities.” UNK was on that list, and while researching the campus and talking to admission representatives, Gee decided that the opportunities UNK offered pushed the university higher until it was his top choice. “After applying, I got a call from an admissions counselor at least once a week,” he said. “I thought if they are this supportive before I arrive, it is going to be amazing when I get there!” Gee didn’t visit UNK’s campus before moving to Kearney his freshman year in 1994, and the shift from California to Nebraska was quite a culture shock. In addition to living in a new state, UNK’s campus wasn’t as diverse as his hometown. But he quickly made friends and established relationships with mentors in both the athletics and the math departments that became like family and helped with his transition.

Jeremey Gee ’99

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Adjusting to college life also proved to be a struggle. A healthy student-life balance wasn’t easy to accomplish for Gee. “Freshman year was a challenge for me academically,” he said. “I was so distracted with sports, being a long way from home, general studies class sizes, freshman activities and work; classes just weren’t a priority for me.” However, despite a roller coaster of a first year, there were both positives and negatives that came from it. “I learned that it didn’t matter how bright of a student I was, my grades didn’t reflect that. I often share this story with my current students because it’s a good reminder that grades aren’t just given but earned,” he said. Learning how to set priorities and declaring math as his major helped focus Gee.

“The math department felt like a family,” he said, “and the class sizes made it easier to concentrate and have one-on-one conversations with the professors. Taking general studies classes can be overwhelming, but joining a department that had a family atmosphere helped ground me.” His sophomore year, Gee was a member of the track team, and after speaking with football players from his dorm and coaches regarding scholarship opportunities, he tried out for and made the team. Being a member of two UNK athletic teams had a major impact on his life, helping him with his academic focus and time management skills. Gee had a stellar athletic career at UNK, where he was a standout in both football and track. As a defensive back in football, he was a four-year starter, earning all-conference honors as a senior. In track, he served as the team captain and was an RMAC all-conference standout in the jumping events and as a member of the 400- and 1,600-meter relays, setting two school records in 1998.

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In 1999, Gee graduated from UNK, where he was the first AfricanAmerican student to earn a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. Since then, he has traveled not only across the country, but also around the world, teaching and coaching. “To say my journey has been interesting is putting it lightly. From Oceanside to Kearney, to coaching at Harvard University, to teaching in England and now Colorado, it’s been an adventure,” he said. “I feel extremely lucky to have been able to achieve all of this. This journey has been amazing! Coaching at Harvard was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and having the opportunity to teach in England allowed me to see students through multiple lenses, making me a more well-rounded instructor.” Through all his travels, one thing remains the same: his love for teaching and helping his students accomplish their goals. He routinely recalls his experiences at UNK and how they shaped his teaching style. “I often think back to my freshman year and the life skills I learned when I, now as a teacher, try to inspire, motivate, or influence a student,” he said. Looking back, Gee’s advice to current students is to “take advantage of the family atmosphere at UNK.” “I met so many wonderful friends, coaches, and mentors during my time on campus,” Gee said, “and those relationships helped to shape not just my career path but my life.”

Sarah Collins

Chelsea Bartling

FEATURE

UNK Confronts a Growing Issue in Early Childhood Education By KRISTIN HOWARD - University of Nebraska Foundation

Sarah Collins, a sophomore from Omaha, knew she wanted to be a teacher long before choosing the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She expected a standard arc of education classes to prepare her with method and theory, then a semester of student teaching to get real-world experience to launch her career in the classroom. Instead, she began working with students almost right away with a job at the LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center at UNK. Collins is delighted with the change of plans. “This job has been such a light in my life, and applying here was truly the best decision I have made as a college student thus far,” she said. The Plambeck Center opened in November 2019 in University Village, a mixed-use, urban-village development that's located just south of UNK's main campus. The center provides developmentally appropriate early education for up to 176 children from infants to 6-year-olds, including those with special needs. It features 11 classrooms dedicated to three research-based philosophies for early childhood education. “This hands-on experience has cemented my desire to pursue my career in education,” said Collins. “Working with kids of all ages has broadened my developmental experience. Interactions with the parents have improved my professionalism.” The Plambeck Center’s facility also serves as a lab where

students from UNK and the University of Nebraska Medical Center prepare for their future careers through experiential learning activities, such as classroom observations, practicums, internships, student teaching, diagnostic testing and research. Interim Director Chelsea Bartling ’09 manages the center’s day-to-day operations, collaborating with various campus departments and community organizations on learning, child development and research initiatives. “At the Plambeck Center we encourage our college students to come and learn through interactions with the children and teachers here at the center,” Bartling said. “Hands-on experiences with early childhood students provide our future educators a valuable learning experience that tandems the university teaching. It puts the practices learned into play and helps to guide our future educators in their teaching journey.” Collins said the learning is constant, and UNK and UNMC students are included in many aspects of the center. “I was recently promoted to teacher’s assistant and have been involved in lesson planning and have had experience being the lead instructor when the lead teacher is not in the room,” she said. In addition to serving Kearney-area families, the Plambeck Center addresses a statewide need for developing early childhood educators in a hands-on setting that exposes them to the best teaching methods.

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“We know there’s a severe shortage of high-quality early childhood education providers,” said Bartling. “That’s been a big issue, especially for rural Nebraska. It is important for our future educators to continue their educational journey, as students still need highly qualified teachers to teach even amongst the teaching challenges that our society is currently facing.” It’s a workforce need and a community need, she said, noting that child care and early education are among the top priorities for employees and businesses looking to move into a community. “As individuals come to town, child care is one of the first things they look for. We as a center and business need to be ready to help support families,” said Bartling. Kearney residents and UNK graduates Jennifer ’99 and Chuck Rowling ’03 recognize the advantages of the Plambeck Center’s educational approach. “Our family has been fortunate to have all three of our children attend the Plambeck Center,” said Jennifer Rowling. “The excellent teachers and students who work with the children daily are the true heart of the center and do an amazing job providing the early childhood education that sets these children apart from their peers. Learning through play and exploration is so important for children, and the center has figured out how to incorporate fun and learning daily. “The Plambeck Center is a perfect example of ... why the quality of the teachers and staff makes all the difference.” The center’s role in educating early childhood teachers and other professionals is expected to address a growing need across Nebraska. Through 2026, the Nebraska Department of Labor projects that there will be an average of almost 2,300 job openings for child care workers each year and a cumulative 12% expansion of total employment in this occupation between 2016 and 2026. Preschool teaching alone is expected to have more than 100 openings per year and a 9% total employment growth during this decade. The Nebraska Department of Education conducts its annual Teacher Vacancy Survey in PK-12 schools each

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fall. Its 2019 survey showed early childhood education sitting 10th among 15 endorsements with a shortage of educators — the fifth straight year it has been identified as a shortage area. UNK’s Early Childhood Inclusive Teaching Field Endorsement Degree program, which is among the largest in the state with more than 250 students, is playing a key role in building this skilled workforce. Students at the Plambeck Center are also being trained for all different types of classrooms. In January, the center opened its Montessori Early Childhood classroom, which will enable more teachers to complete credentials in Montessori and support LaVonne Plambeck’s complete vision. Mark Reid, Ph.D., who took the reins as dean of the College of Education in 2020, reflected on the impact Plambeck’s passion for education has had at UNK. “Many thanks go out to Dr. LaVonne Plambeck, for whom the center is named,” Reid said. “Her enthusiasm and generosity were imperative for this aesthetically and functionally beautiful facility to become a reality. In addition to the traditional classrooms, one of the spaces has been fully outfitted for Montessori teaching, for which Dr. Plambeck has an international reputation. At UNK, we are always looking for and improving the best and effective ways to prepare our teachers.” Bartling said, “As a graduate from the Early Childhood Inclusive Endorsement program at UNK, I feel that the program and those hands-on experiences of the university child care center played a huge role in where I am as an administrator and former preschool teacher/ special educator.” Bartling’s UNK teaching and administration experience has come full circle. Collins is at the beginning of her journey but loves what her future may hold. “One day, when I was working with the pre-K students, I spent the last half hour of the day working directly with a few of them on writing the alphabet. They were so excited about learning and displaying their knowledge, and it really made an impact on me,” said Collins. “That spark in their eyes — that’s what all of this is about. This moment painted a picture of what my future will be like.”

Piano man: By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications

Mick Johnson Plays Important Part at UNK A grand piano has roughly 12,000 individual parts. The vast majority of those pieces are tucked inside the cabinet, where a series of felt-covered hammers and tightly wound metal strings produce the instrument’s distinctive sound. It takes a skilled professional to keep such an elaborate apparatus in perfect harmony. “The more you learn about piano tuning, the more it unfolds in front of you,” Mick Johnson ’91 said. “I’ve been at it almost 25 years now, and I’m still learning new things.” Johnson, the piano technician at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, plays an important part in the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. It’s his job to care for the approximately 55 pianos on campus – plus one at the Museum of Nebraska Art in downtown Kearney – ensuring the instruments are in tiptop condition for rehearsals and performances.

Most modern pianos have around 230 strings that must be carefully adjusted to keep the instrument in tune. When regulating the touch of a piano, there are more than 35 individual adjustments for each key, all of which are interrelated. “If even one of those adjustments gets messed up, it becomes very obvious in how the piano feels and responds,” Johnson said. To make the process even more challenging, Johnson chooses to tune each piano aurally, with assistance from an electronic device. “Aural and electronic tuning both have their merit, but there is a level of refinement that can only be achieved with the trained ear,” he said.

Johnson says tuning a piano is “just like solving a puzzle.”

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Johnson, who can tune a piano in about an hour, has an extensive musical background to lean on. “When I was around 4 or 5, my folks would put on records and I could figure out the chord progressions by ear,” he said. The North Platte native started playing the drums in elementary school and continued to pursue his passion after enrolling at UNK (then Kearney State College). In addition to performing with the college’s Pride of the Plains Marching Band and Jazz/Rock Ensemble, Johnson and a few buddies formed their own rock band, The Untold. The band members, all music majors, took classes together and lived in the same off-campus apartment. “We spent our college years playing every weekend,” Johnson said. They even had their own tour bus, an old 88-passenger school bus that made countless trips to gigs across Nebraska, Kansas and eastern Colorado. “That’s how we paid our bills,” Johnson said. “Believe it or not, we made pretty decent money as a rock band in Nebraska.” After graduating in 1991 with a degree in music business, Johnson traveled the country as a professional musician before returning to Kearney in 1995. That’s when he met Wes Hird, who held Johnson’s current job for 23 years. “I heard through the grapevine that Wes was looking to take somebody on to train because he had to go in for heart surgery,” Johnson explained. The rocker with hair extending to the middle of his back called the clean-cut piano technician and they instantly hit it off. “Wes and I became great friends,” Johnson said. “He was very generous with his time and knowledge, and I’m forever in his debt.” A few months after Hird took Johnson under his wing, the apprentice left his full-time job

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at Yandas Music to devote more time to piano tuning, maintenance and repair. Within a year, he had his own business, Action Piano Services. “I found the work to be fascinating, and I took to it real easily,” Johnson said. “I never looked back from there.” A registered piano technician with the Piano Technicians Guild, Johnson works with a variety of clients through his business. He’s tuned pianos at private residences, schools and churches, as well as Nebraska Wesleyan University and Hastings College, and he completes full restorations and rebuilds at his home shop. When Hird retired, Johnson followed in his mentor’s footsteps by joining the UNK staff in 2007. “It just seemed like a good fit for me,” Johnson said. “It’s a great job. I like this town. And I have fond memories of this school. Some of the best times of my life revolve around my days here at UNK. “I’m lucky because I like everybody here. How many jobs can you go to and people say, ‘I like everybody I work with?’” Johnson also enjoys his time on the stage. After a seven-year hiatus, he resurrected his music career in 2014 when he joined Blackberry Winter, a classic rock band formed in the early 1970s at Kearney State College. Johnson, a guitarist, percussionist and vocalist, is a member of the spinoff groups Blue Plate Special and the dB Duo, as well. In his free time, the piano technician and musician can be found at various performances on campus, but he admits his career has “ruined” him as an audience member. “Most of the time I can’t sit there and just listen to the music and simply enjoy it,” Johnson said. “I’m listening through the performance, into the mechanics of the instrument. Sometimes that’s a little annoying.” It’s also what makes him so good at his job.

FEATURE

Odalys Cruz Aims to Inspire Students in Her Hometown By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications

In Schuyler, Nebraska, population 6,300, half of the residents were born outside the United States. Only 53% of adults ages 25 or older completed high school, and just 9% went on to earn a bachelor’s degree. The Colfax County community is a safe haven for people from across the world who left their home countries in search of a better life. Odalys Cruz’s story begins here. The daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, Cruz was born in New Jersey and raised in Schuyler, where her mother, Isabel, works at the Cargill beef-processing plant, the city’s largest employer. Like so many others in town, Isabel never had the opportunity to pursue an education in Guatemala. She was forced to quit school in the third grade so she could help support her family. “She tells me that story all the time,” Cruz said.

“She cried and cried because all she wanted was to go to school.” Cruz’s parents recognized the value of education, and they wanted their children to take advantage of an opportunity they didn’t get. “My parents always pushed me to get good grades, because that’s all they could understand,” Cruz said. “They knew that getting good grades meant I was learning.” And Cruz loved to learn. A self-described “nerdy kid,” the highlight of her summers was shopping for back-to-school supplies. That meant it was almost time to return to the classroom. She also used her fluency in both English and Spanish to help her parents understand the lessons she brought home each day. “It was exciting for me to teach them what I was

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FEATURE

Odalys Cruz shares her love for learning with students at Schuyler Middle School. The 24-year-old returned to her hometown in 2018 after graduating from UNK. (Photo by Todd Gottula, UNK Communications)

learning,” she said.Cruz enjoyed school so much, she didn’t want to leave. And there was one career that would allow her to stay in the classroom. “I realized I can share my love for learning with students,” Cruz said. “If I’m a teacher, I never have to say goodbye to school.” ‘A DIFFERENT WORLD’ During her senior year at Schuyler Central High School, Cruz joined a friend who was visiting the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Cruz knew UNK had a strong teacher education program, but she’d never seen the campus located 2 1/2 hours from her hometown. “UNK was something I hadn’t ever experienced. I think I had been on a college campus maybe once or twice because of high school activities,” Cruz said. “It was almost like a different world to me. It was exciting.” Her excitement continued to grow as she discovered all the ways she could get involved at UNK. When she was offered a Bilingual Educators Scholarship through the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Cruz knew she wanted to be a Loper. At age 17, the first-generation college student was ready to leave home and begin the next chapter in life.

“It was a big move, but we knew the scholarship was too good to pass up,” she said. Cruz fit right in at UNK, where she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, Hispanic Student Association, Kearney Association for Bilingual Educators and several other organizations. The campus tour guide and dean’s list student was named a homecoming royalty finalist in 2017. “I made a lot of connections with a lot of different people at UNK,” Cruz said. “If I could go back to being a college student solely for the purpose of reliving those years, I would. My years at UNK were honestly some of the best times.” UNK also had a big impact on her teaching career, fueling her passion for education and solidifying her decision to follow this path. “I appreciated the teacher education program at UNK because we were able to learn things in class, then apply this knowledge in an actual K-12 classroom,” she said. As a freshman and sophomore, Cruz was part of The Language Project, a national program that offers Spanish language programs for kids. She taught students at four different elementary schools in Kearney. Cruz gained additional classroom experience at Kearney Catholic High School, Gibbon Public

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Schools and Horizon Middle School in Kearney, where she completed her student teaching. She called her adviser, Patsy Bruner, a “huge influence” on her teaching style. “She was very helpful while guiding me through everything, and she really got to know me,” Cruz said of Bruner, a teacher education lecturer who retired in August 2018. “I felt like I wasn’t just a kid in college going through the steps. I was being prepared to impact others.” Amy Nebesniak, an associate professor in UNK’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, was another mentor. “She really taught me how to teach math and gave me a great philosophy,” said Cruz, who earned a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education with emphases in math and Spanish. She graduated cum laude, with a 3.73 GPA, in May 2018. ‘WHERE I’M MEANT TO BE’ Cruz was still student teaching when Michelle Burton, then the principal at Schuyler Middle School, called her out of the blue. Burton knew all about Cruz, and she wanted the UNK student to interview for a teaching position at the middle school. “I hadn’t even submitted an application,” said Cruz, who was aware of the opening but unsure about returning to Schuyler. “I felt like I still had a lot of growing up to do before I went back home,” she said. Cruz eventually agreed to the interview – her first for a teaching position – and was offered the job on the spot. “It all happened really fast,” she said. “It was such a great interview, and I felt like this was something I couldn’t pass up.” The 24-year-old made an immediate impact at Schuyler Middle School, where she’s taught seventh-grade math and Spanish since fall 2018. Jesse Zavadil, a former assistant principal who took over for Burton in June, called Cruz a hard worker whose positive attitude and openmindedness create an engaging classroom experience for students. “It’s really easy to come into a school and just teach your students the same way it’s always been done, but Ms. Cruz has been willing to

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try more innovative teaching practices and get students talking about math,” Zavadil said. “She really has done a great job of finding new ways to reach students.” Cruz has already become a leader at the school, according to Zavadil, who noted that her upbeat, approachable style is appreciated by her co-workers. The Schuyler Middle School principal is so impressed by Cruz that he nominated her for the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics (NATM) Rookie of the Year award, which she received in September. Presented during the association’s annual conference, held virtually this year, the award honors Nebraska math teachers in their first three years of service who demonstrate passion and excellence in math education. “When I saw NATM had an award for newcomer of the year, I instantly thought of Ms. Cruz,” Zavadil said. Cruz, who started attending NATM conferences during college, had a different reaction. “I was very shocked. It almost feels like imposter syndrome,” she said. “There are so many amazing teachers out there.” That may be true, but few find the perfect fit like Cruz has at Schuyler Middle School, where 89% of the students are Hispanic or Latino. Because she’s from Schuyler, Cruz is able to develop an instant connection with her students. These relationships are her favorite part of teaching. “I really like to get to know the kids and form those relationships with them. Then the content comes,” she said. “It’s so cool to see that growth and witness those aha! moments.” Cruz, who also coaches volleyball and is part of a community STEM committee, now realizes how important it is for her to be back in her hometown. She wants to serve as a role model for students from similar backgrounds, inspiring them to continue their education and pursue their dream jobs. “I think it’s so important for students to have people to look up to, and I hope to be that person in Schuyler,” said Cruz, whose younger sister Nayeli currently attends UNK. “That’s why this is where I’m meant to be.”

LOUIE'S PRIDE

I N S I DE LO PER AT HLET ICS

Donna Bamford – a ‘grandmother figure’ for UNK Athletics – supports students in many ways By TYLER ELLYSON - UNK Communications Donna Bamford has been a University of Nebraska at Kearney supporter for decades.

championship events or watching Loper legend Tom Kropp play football and basketball in the 1970s.

She was in the stands in December 1963 when UNK — then Kearney State College — hosted Prairie View A&M in the NAIA playoffs.

To this day, Bamford remains one of UNK’s most loyal fans.

“It rained. It sleeted. It snowed. It did everything that day. But they still won,” Bamford said with a chuckle, still questioning how a football team from Texas escaped the Nebraska elements with a 20-7 victory over the previously unbeaten Lopers. “I sat out in those bleachers all game,” she said. “It’s just something you do.” Bamford, a Kearney resident for nearly 60 years, never attended UNK. Her late husband, Jim, and four children didn’t either. But you’d never know that by talking to her. She can tell stories about trips to Kansas City for

“I just think you should support your hometown team,” she said of her dedication to the university. Bamford has done that and then some. In addition to being a regular at home sporting events — Athletic Director Marc Bauer is surprised when he doesn’t see her in the crowd — Bamford has personally contributed to the success of UNK Athletics in a number of ways. She’s involved with the Loper Football Backers fundraiser, which has generated nearly $2 million for student-athlete scholarships, and she helped create a fund to support UNK coaches. Bamford has also contributed to several capital projects, including

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the Foster Field turf replacement, weight room improvements and women’s basketball locker room. This past September, UNK players, coaches and athletics staff gathered in the Health and Sports Center to recognize Bamford and celebrate her latest gift — a dedicated locker room for the women’s soccer and softball teams. “Donna truly believes in our mission of providing the best possible experience for all of our studentathletes while preparing them for life after college,” Bauer said during the ceremony. Formerly a staff locker room, the renovated space will be utilized by roughly 50 student-athletes during offseason workouts and other team activities. “It looks amazing,” said UNK head softball coach Katie Ackermann, noting that a top-notch, oncampus facility will add value to the program and benefit recruiting. “We’re very grateful for Donna’s generosity.” Head soccer coach Chloe Roberts was equally impressed. “This is an awesome facility for our team to have. It helps the program in so many ways,” she said. “Words can’t express how thankful we are.” Bamford’s impact at UNK also extends into the classroom through an endowed scholarship she created for the construction management program. She and her husband Jim started Bamford Plumbing and Heating in 1958. Known as Bamford Inc. since 1971, the full-service fire sprinkler, plumbing and heating company remains family-owned. Lucas Dart, vice president of alumni relations and development at UNK, said, “Donna is the perfect example of a community member who sees the incredible value UNK adds to Kearney. She’s acted on that enthusiasm and used her resources to make a tremendous difference on our campus, particularly for our student-athletes. We are incredibly grateful for her.” In perhaps her most important role, Bamford serves as a “grandmother figure” to many UNK students and coaches by opening her home to anyone who needs someone to talk to. She’s spent countless hours around her kitchen table listening, learning and building relationships. “I love these kids,” Bamford said. The feeling is mutual. “One of the things she tells me all the time is, ‘I want to see everybody do well.’ That shows me her heart is in the right place and she really cares about these student-athletes,” Bauer said. “She’s just so genuine. It’s a joy to be around somebody like that.”

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LOPER TRIBUTE

Dick Collins ’76

Richard “Dick” Collins ’76 was the man behind the Loper athletic scenes. From 1976 to 2013, he was the University of Nebraska at Kearney equipment manager, and where he had the opportunity to mentor many students and athletes. His ability to listen, talk and remember each person's name was a gift. He loved everything about sports and rarely missed a Loper game before and after his retirement. Collins began his career in athletics as a student assistant in 1967, before heading to the U.S. Navy. The Ord native returned to campus in 1975 and graduated a year later with a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation. He was responsible for outfitting all Loper teams, which numbered 10 when he began at then-Kearney State College. With the advent of women's sports, the number of teams grew to 17. In 2014, he married the love of his life, Shirley Johnson, after many years of bachelorhood. They loved attending UNK functions, their church and gatherings with family and friends. Collins was blessed with a wonderful family that included three stepchildren (whom he claimed as his own), Cindy and her husband, Kim Johnson; Scott and his wife, Kathy Johnson; and Brad and his wife, Diane Johnson. In 2015, he was inducted into the University of Nebraska at Kearney Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Athletic Equipment Manager's Association since its inception in 1976, and after 38 years, he became a lifetime member. In 1990, he helped design the current equipment room housed on the ground floor of the Health and Sports Center. In 2017, the space was named the Dick Collins Equipment Room in his honor. Collins died January 19 at the age of 73.

To donate to the Richard “Dick” Collins Memorial Scholarship Fund, please visit nufoundation.org/fund/01155210

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“IT’S IMPORTANT TO PLAN AHEAD, SO YOUR MONEY GOES WHERE YOUR HEART IS.” — CHARLOTTE PERRY

For Charlotte, that place is the University of Nebraska. Even though she’s lived in the San Diego area for decades, the North Platte native established a fund to benefit the University of Nebraska at Kearney, because “Nebraska stays in your veins.” Before establishing her fund, Charlotte says she “put a lot of thought into where her money would do the most good.” In the end, that came down to future generations of UNK students, who will benefit from Charlotte’s thoughtfulness and estate planning for many decades to come. “I think it’s important to give back no matter what the situation is. It makes you feel good, too.” — Charlotte Perry

Visit nufoundation.org/charlotteperry to learn more about Charlotte’s story. For more information about how you can include the University of Nebraska in your estate plans, email gift.planning@nufoundation.org or contact a gift planning officer at 800-432-3216. nufoundation.org/giftplanning

ALUMNI PROFILE Jack Kreman ’04 I came to the University of Nebraska at Kearney because they chose to invest in a local kid in need of a lot of polish. I was fortunate enough to receive the Regents Scholarship, which paid for my tuition and set me up to complete my undergraduate degree with no debt. I had a great high school teacher in Anne Bauer who told me, “Don’t go into debt for your undergraduate degree. Save it for graduate school.” I was just smart enough to listen to her advice, and it has been a blessing. While I came because of the investment, I stayed at UNK due to the highquality faculty, the fun I had as a member of the student body and the engaging extracurriculars. Looking back, UNK was the perfect place for a young me to grow up. When I was a student, I loved just sitting in our old fraternity chapter room in the basement of Randall Hall. It was our place. It wasn’t the nicest or even always the warmest, but it was us. Today, I love spending time in the Nebraskan Student Union. I love watching students go about their day, eager and full of promise. You might not enjoy going to class every day, or you might not enjoy going to the bursar’s office, but most people are happy in the union. When I get introspective and think back on my time at UNK, I always come back to all the other people who have helped me get where I am today. While at UNK, I had great people push me — people like Peter Longo, Tom Martin, David Bauer, Dick Beechner and so many others. Most importantly, everything I do is because I have a great wife, Lorissa (Mohling) Kreman ’05, and two great boys who inspire me. At the end of the day, I would say my biggest achievement is surrounding myself with so many great people. Success takes care of itself. I am currently the chief executive officer for Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity located in Fishers, Indiana. I joined the chapter as a sophomore at UNK to meet people and have fun. Since then, Delta Tau Delta has become a calling. I believe our men are falling behind, and organizations like Delta Tau Delta are uniquely positioned to support young men.

Every day, I get to come to work and know we are changing lives. Since moving away, I try to get back to Nebraska at least twice a year. I love the state. I miss the state. I love running the hills beyond my brother-in-law's place in Berwyn; hiking the bluffs in Sioux County; the way the Platte River smells in the fall and the sound of cranes moving at dusk in the spring. No one has Bob Ross-like sunsets, burgeoning thunderheads or razor-sharp winter mornings like Nebraska. Hawaii is nice, and New York is fun to visit, but life just makes sense in Nebraska. My advice to students is say yes to the unknown and don’t be afraid to take risks and fail. Only good comes from saying yes. Either you change your life positively or you learn. Particularly when you are young, take risks. You have more time to learn and bounce back. Fail over and over and over. Hate failure, but don’t fear failure. I think your success is directly proportionate to the amount of times you fail early in life.

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ONLINE MASTER’S PROGRAMS TO FIT YOUR SCHEDULE Curtis Reese Biology, MS University of Nebraska at Kearney I took my passion for the sciences and my ability to affect students through teaching to the next level with the online Biology, MS program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. It helped me become a better educator because now I’m more comfortable and have more knowledge that I’m able to use to get my students interested. I’m now teaching high school biology and environmental science, while also teaching anatomy and physiology as an adjunct instructor at a community college. It was hard work, but the program has opened up opportunities for me.

Take a course or two this summer 150+ online programs online.nebraska.edu

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY ALUMNI

FOREVER A LOPER

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Alumni are making an impact in their communities every single day. Please share those stories with us at lopers@unkalumni.org. of Kearney, whose parents owned Baumgartner’s Variety Store. When Al returned to Kearney from college in Lincoln to go into business with his father, he and Pearl became engaged. As the United State entered World War II, like many young couples across the country, they married in 1941 before Al entered the military. The war and marriage brought an end to her college education.

LOPER ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Pearl (Wollen) Baumgartner A recommendation from her high school superintendent brought Pearl (Wollen) Baumgartner to Nebraska State Teachers College in the fall of 1939. It was a recommendation that turned into a lifetime of involvement. Baumgartner, who celebrated her 100th birthday in January, would become the first person in her family to attend college when she won a scholarship to any teacher’s college in the state. She settled into Case Hall that fall and set her sights on obtaining a teaching certificate in home economics. She was delighted when approached by the women of Juanita Sorority, considered the top sorority on campus. Recruitment, or rush as it was referred to then, was different. “It was much more casual then. There were no structured parties,” said Baumgartner. “I was amazed they rushed me. I arrived on campus with wool skirts and cashmere sweater sets during a heat wave. I was a mess.” She thoroughly enjoyed her college life, especially getting to know many new people and attending social events. Those connections led her to meet her future husband, Al Baumgartner,

Baumgartner worked in the Industrial Arts Department at Kearney State College in the mid1960’s, then went to work full time in the family retail business until its closure in 1983. Greek life and Kearney State College played important roles in the lives of the Baumgartner children as well. Susan (Baumgartner) Sutherland ’64 attended KSC and became a member of Chi Omega at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. James Baumgartner MBA ‘89, now deceased, attended KSC and was one of the founding members of Phi Delta Theta. Debra Baumgartner ‘76 was a Chi Omega at KSC. The Juanita Sorority changed its name to Delta Pi Beta in 1944, then colonized as Chi Omega in 1962. Baumgartner became an initiated member of Chi Omega alongside her youngest daughter in 1973. She stayed active in Chi Omega for nearly 30 years, holding several advisory positions and serving on the House Corporation until the local chapter closed. “I really enjoyed working with the girls over the years. It could be frustrating at times, but we always had laughter and friendship,” Baumgartner said. “I really think it played a big part in keeping me young at heart.” Baumgartner received well wishes for her 100th birthday from Chi Omega alumni across the country. “I was so surprised and touched that they remembered me,” she said. “I would tell anyone to stay involved. You don’t know how many people you might influence.”

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FOREVER A LOPER 1962

1972

Bob Jennings of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, retired in 2003. Bob enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing and e-bicycling.

Susan (Spracklen) Knights MSE ’74 of Boise, Idaho, retired after teaching college mathematics for 46 years in California, Wyoming, Oregon and Idaho.

Gib Quadhamer of Loveland, Colorado, was inducted into the Loveland Hall of Fame class of 2017 as a golf and basketball coach. He led the boy’s hoops team to the 1986 state title, the only such championship in school history.

1963 Vernon Brown MS ’70 of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, has retired and is enjoying his two great grandchildren.

1964 Ken Aldridge of Mansfield, Texas, published his 10th crime novel, “The Romance Now Con Game.” Aldridge served 24 years as a special agent with the FBI.

1966 Bonnie and Ralph Roland of Johnson Lake celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Sept. 10.

1967 Ron Williams of Denver has been named 2022 Citizen of the West by the National Western Stock Show. This prestigious annual award recognizes those who embody Western pioneers’ spirit and determination and perpetuate their agricultural heritage and ideals.

1973 Curtis Beyer of Cathedral City, California, is retired.

1974 Daryl and Gena (Irish) Rodgers MSE of Kearney celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary Nov. 21.

1975 Paul Younes of Kearney is the Kearney Sertoma Club's 2020 Service to Mankind award recipient.

1976 Sharon Pelc MAE of Kearney is celebrating 42 years of service to UNK.

1980 Carl Streeter of Ord has been a teacher and coach at Ord High School since 1980. Carl is married to Donna, and together they have four children, two of whom are UNK graduates, and eight grandchildren.

1982 Doug Holtmeier MBA ’89 of Kearney is a wealth management advisor with Farm Bureau Financial Services.

1985 Jeff Kirkpatrick of Lincoln recently finished six years as Lincoln City Attorney. In September, he became legal counsel with the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association, the self-insurance pool for Nebraska counties. Katie (Shada) Ramsey MSE ’92 of Minden retired from Grand Island Public Schools with 35 years of service.

1986 Alex Willford of Grand Island has retired as director of the Central Nebraska Veterans' Home.

1988 Sheila Gawrych of Kearney is the public health center office assistant at UNK. James Hollenbeck MSE of Jeffersonville, Indiana, is the secondary education chair at Indiana University Southeast and is a 2015 Fulbright Research Chair to Lakehead University, Ontario, Canada. Patrick Korell of Torrington, Wyoming, is a district court judge in Wyoming’s Eighth Judicial District.

1989 Fred Lowery of Grand Island teaches special education classes at Grand Island Senior High School. He works with students in the Engineering & Technology Academy and teaches Transition, Transition Tech and NonPaid Jobs classes.

Jerry Mays of McGregor, Iowa, worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Albania in 2019 and 2020.

1982

Chris (Christensen) Wilson of Kansas City, Missouri, is a quality assurance analyst at UMB Bank.

Denny Placzek of Kearney retired from the Kearney YMCA with 26 years of service.

1990

1971

1983

1970

David and Nancy (Frey) Brown of Beaver City celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 16. Brad Kernick 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.

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Steve Steinbrink of Omaha retired from the U.S. Department of the Treasury – Office of the Comptroller of the Currency with 35 years of service.

1984 Bonnie (Hershberger) Coffman of Kearney retired from UNK.

Doug Koebernick of Lincoln was recently appointed to a second five-year term as the inspector general of corrections by the Nebraska Legislature (provides legislative oversight over the Department of Correctional Services and the Division of Parole Supervision). Doug's wife, Carry (Mason) ’91, is a fourth grade teacher at Kooser Elementary School in Lincoln. Their daughter, Madison, is majoring in elementary education at UNK.

FOREVER A LOPER Kenneth Larson of Berthoud, Colorado, manages all warehousing, inventory management and transportation for Canyon Bakehouse in Johnstown.

an athletic trainer and research coordinator with Heartland Orthopedic Specialists and has been elected as a member of the editorial board for the international, peerreviewed publication Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery.

1991 Jane (Jensen) Christensen MAE ’94 of Minden retired after 30 years at UNK, as an undergraduate, graduate/graduate assistant, senior lecturer in English, and associate director of the UNK Honors Program. Karen (Dewitt) Griffith ’91 of Spearfish, South Dakota, works for Black Hills Counseling Services but is now semiretired. Timm Wilson of Kansas City, Missouri, is employed with Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

1992 Laura (Drake) Jay of Omaha was promoted to software research analyst at Applied Underwriters. Angela Salas MAE of Madison, Wisconsin, is the vice president of academic affairs for Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin.

1993 Julie (Schipporeit) Smith MS ’16 of Kearney is the assistant director of Thompson Scholars at UNK.

Angela Mercer of Kearney is an enrollment evaluator in the office of the university registrar at UNK.

Kate (Snyder) Heelan MAE faculty award recognizes an outstanding teacher-scholar for their achievements in education, research and service. The award also honors UNK alumnus Leland Holdt and commemorates his many years of leadership at Security Mutual Life. Mark Kjar of Kearney is the president/ general manager of Chief Agri.

1996

2002

Amy (Helzer) Nebesniak of Kearney is associate director for the honors program at UNK.

1998

Keri (Eberhardt) Pearson of Kearney is the assistant director of institutional research at UNK.

Josh Erickson of Kearney is the Hastings College head men’s wrestling coach.

Amber (Schmeits-Brown) Lewis of Wimberley, Texas, is city administrator at City of Rollingwood.

Christine Knezevic of Lone Tree, Colorado, is a senior investment analyst for University of Nebraska Foundation.

Angie (Vanlengen) Mohr of North Platte is an accounting associate for UNL's Greater Nebraska Business Center in North Platte.

Kate (Snyder) Heelan MAE of Kearney is a professor and assistant chair at UNK in the department of kinesiology and sport sciences, as well as coordinator of the exercise science program and director of the physical activity and wellness lab. She was honored with the Leland Holdt/ Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award. Presented each year during winter commencement, UNK’s most prestigious

Molly Brost, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of English at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha.

Brad Maul of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, is the president and CEO at the East Tennessee Economic Development Agency.

Kevin Classen of Niwot, Colorado, is the president of FirstBank.

Dawn Bartlett MAE ’99 of Watertown, New York, is an associate professor of communication studies and first-year experience faculty coordinator at State University of New York-Jefferson in Watertown, New York.

2001

Kristin (Miller) Gottula of Kearney is the manager of strategic partnerships with Wildix.

1994

1995

Alex Straatmann of Kearney is a legal advisor for the United States Space Command.

Stephanie King-Witt, MSE ’05 of Cairo is now director of marketing for Central Nebraska Rehabilitation Services, the parent company for 16 physical therapy clinics throughout the tri-cities and Lincoln. She also owns Stephanie Lynn Wedding Photography, providing wedding and engagement photography in central Nebraska since 2004.

1999 Jessica (Wilson) Galles of Omaha graduated with her MSN in nursing education. Stefani (Rowe) Wegner of Kearney is a health sciences advisor at UNK.

2000 Rich Hardy MAE of Chokio, Minnesota, is

Rakesh Srivastava MSE ’06 of Hastings is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2020 Nebraska Small Business Person of the Year.

2003 Riley Ross of Hilliard, Ohio, is a sports science performance coach at Ohio State University.

2004 Robin Burton MAE ’09 of Oakland works for Oakland-Craig Public Schools and coaches football and basketball. Lance Kosch of Norfolk is the head boys golf coach at Norfolk High School. Lance has coached the girls golf program for the past eight seasons and will continue leading them as well. His teams have qualified for state three times.

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FOREVER A LOPER Pamela (Sanford) Moritz MSE ’18 of Grand Island is a special education teacher at Grand Island Public Schools.

Stephanie (Morosic) Hoffman of Kearney is an online program coordinator for UNK’s eCampus program.

2005

Tim Hruza of Lincoln has become a partner at Mueller Robak LLC.

Michelle (McGeorge) Burton MA ’12 of Oakland is the 7-12 principal for OaklandCraig Public Schools.

2006 Kara (Sasek) Buss of Omaha is a human resources business partner at PayPal. Sarah (Schaaf) Sell of Lincoln is an assistant principal at Crete Elementary School.

2007 Ray Longoria of Kearney is executive director at the Kearney Family YMCA. Lillian (Younes) Simpson of Kearney is an APRN specializing in oncology and hematology at the CHI Regional Cancer Center at Good Samaritan.

2011 Ann (Thurin) Carlson of Kearney is the human resources manager for BluePrint Engines.

Meghan Forsgren of Omaha is a senior marketing representative for Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

Roxanne (Steinbrink) Knutson of Seward is a human resources generalist at UNL. Brandon Smith of Holdrege opened Holdrege Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab.

2012

Hilke (Brandon) Meyer MBA ’19 of Omaha is a private banker at American National Bank.

2013 Jacob Deines MS of Kearney is a mental health practitioner at UNK. Lauren Stehlik of Lincoln is assistant director of Nebraska Business Career Center at UNL.

2014

Lynelle (Snider) Fritzen of Kearney is the associate director of sponsorships for UNK.

Cory Foote of Omaha is a business development representative at Buildertrend.

Lacey (Helmer) Johnson of Beatrice teaches fourth grade at Paddock Lane Elementary School in Beatrice.

Paul Pape of Kearney is a certified occupational therapy assistant at Alpha Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy. Paul and his wife, Amy, have a 2-year-old son, Caleb.

2009 Chelsea (Schultz) Bartling of Kearney is interim director of UNK's LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck Early Childhood Education Center. Molly (McConnell) Hall MAE of York teaches second grade at York Elementary School.

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2016

Andy Greer of Lincoln is a director of development for Messiah Lutheran Church.

Nick Brennan of Kearney is a Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Premier Real Estate.

Sarah (Stewart) Mattson MSE of Kearney is a TRIO disability advisor at UNK.

Andrea La Rosa of Fairfax, Virginia, is a seventh grade ESL math teacher at Sterling Middle School in Sterling.

Sasha (Mettenbrink) Miller of Grand Island is a senior accountant with Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway & Luth.

2008

Joe Ellenberger MAE ’10 of Omaha will be inducted into the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association 2021 Hall of Fame. Joe was a two-time All American and member of the 2008 national championship team.

Dominique Kropp of Cincinnati, Ohio, is teaching sport management courses at Xavier University.

Cade Craig, M.D., ’12 of Kearney is practicing family medicine at Kearney County Health Services in Minden.

Gavin Denton of Kearney is the fire inspector for facilities management and planning at UNK.

Jamie (Clausen) Clemans of Doniphan is a senior manager at Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway & Luth P.C. in Grand Island.

Morgan Kristensen of Lincoln is an attorney with Johnson Flodman Guenzel & Widger.

Lindsie (Lybarger) Thiems MAE ’18 of Kearney won the 2020 Christa McAuliffe Prize for Courage and Excellence in Education. Thiems is a preschool teacher for Kearney Public Schools.

2015 Trevor Crowell MA of Palo Alto, California, is a Spanish teacher at Palo Alto High School.

Nick McGrath of Omaha is an employment and labor attorney for Jackson Lewis P.C. Jason Owens MS of Lincoln is the principal for the Kearney Public Schools Hanny Arram Center for Success, opening in fall 2021. Ryo Suzuki MBA ’19 of Kearney is an international recruitment specialist and adjunct lecturer at UNK.

2017 Courtney (Hayden) Burbach is the program manager for the Kearney YMCA. Paige (Kordonowy) Kelly of Appleton, Wisconsin, is a scrum master at Cerner Corporation. Micah Stall of Gibbon is an assistant athletic trainer for UNK. Rachel Stauffer of West Fargo, North Dakota, is assistant director of annual giving at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.

2018 Kelsey Baxter of Kearney is a library access services associate at UNK. Odalys Cruz of Schuyler teaches at Schuyler Middle School. McKenzie Cuba MSE ’20 of Kearney is the learning strategies coordinator at UNK. Nolan Hollibaugh of Las Vegas, Nevada, earned his MBA at University of South Dakota in 2019, graduated in 2020 from Amazon University in Sarasota, Florida, and is now an area manager at Amazon Delivery Center in Las Vegas.

FOREVER A LOPER Clark Pohlmeier of West Des Moines, Iowa, is a senior health information solution coordinator at Telligen. Morgan Stute MBA ’19 of Omaha is a corporate tax accountant at ACI Worldwide.

2019 Cam Chau MBA of Kearney is an international recruiter and student support specialist at UNK. Tristan Crook of Kearney is a registered financial representative for Barney Financial Services in Kearney. Kelsey Hassenstab is the assistant director of fraternity and sorority life at UNK. Logan Krejdl of Aurora is a graduate student at UNL and works in football equipment and operations. Augustine Ume-Ezeoke MAE of Kearney is an assistant football coach and offensive coordinator for UNK. Andrew Venneman of Beatrice teaches English at Beatrice High School. Francella Wiles MSE of Kearney is an applications and records evaluator at UNK.

2020 Kelsey G’Schwind of Johnson Lake is a personal trainer in the wellness center at Good Samaritan Hospital. Abel Juan of Kearney is a diversity and community outreach counselor in admissions for UNK. Taylor Lenz of Marquette is the recipient of the Gerry Cox Memorial Nebraska Language Arts Student Teacher of the Year/Future Teacher Award. Taylor teaches English and is the cheerleading sponsor at Central City. Hailey McNee MAE of Laramie, Wyoming, is an athletic trainer at the University of Wyoming. Shelby Nethercot of Greenwood is a diversity program and retention coordinator at UNK.

Loper Unions

Chance Lienemann and Megan Moss ’14, MAE ’17 of Grand Island married on July 25. Megan and her mother, Dorothy (Cyboron) Moss ’86 both teach at Centura Public Schools. Adam McLaughlin ‘12 and Darryn Werner of Lincoln married Nov. 2, 2019.

Jordon ‘15 and Lindsay (Klassen) Potthoff ’16 of Kearney are parents of a son, Everhett Kristopher, born Sept. 19.

Loper Legacies

Jon ’06 and Rebecca (Bay) Reiter ’05 of Elm Creek are parents of a son, Samuel Christian, born Sept. 30.

Travis ’13 and Kayla (Karlson) Arnold ’15 of Shelton are parents of a son, Emmett Cole, born July 6.

Connie and Matt Riha ’06 of Rapid City, South Dakota, are parents of a son, Wyatt Matthew, born Sept. 24. He has a brother, Tucker.

Brooke and Ian Blaha ’14 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Hayden Grey, born July 2.

Kath and Cory Shield, D.O., ’11 of Holdrege are parents of a son, Bo Terry, born July 3.

Matt ’10 and Jenny (Dietz) Demoret ’13 of Kearney are parents of a son, Zachary Allen, born Nov. 29.

Nolan and Katherine (Sizer) Shinn ’08, MBA ’20 of Kearney are parents of a daughter, Brenlee Mae, born Oct. 1. She has two siblings, Evelyn and Landon.

Jennifer and Benjamin Dennis ’08 of Aurora are parents of a daughter, Claire Margaret, born Oct. 22.

Kristina and Andrew Spracklin, D.C., ’08 of Kearney are parents of a son, Drew Allen, born Oct. 31.

Chad `12 and Emmylou (OBrien) Flanagan ’11 of Omaha are parents of a daughter, Brinley Noelle, born Sept. 23.

Turner ’12 and Sarah (Abels) Vollmer ’12 of Omaha are parents of a son, Jack Turner, born Jan. 26.

Benjamin ’14 and Katelyn (Crowell) Gillming ’14 of Minden are parents of a son, Easton Jon, born March 20, 2020. He has a sister, Savannah.

CALLING ALL ALUMNI

Jordan ’12 and Ellen (Thomas) Gonzales ’13, MA ’15 of Omaha are parents of a son, Lincoln Thomas, born Oct. 27. He has a brother, Graham.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Kenny ’14 and Laura (Sonnek) Hill MA ’14 of Pflugerville, Texas, are parents of a son, Jeremiah Joseph, born Nov. 24. Tim ’09 and Rachel (Jensen) Hruza ’09 of Lincoln are parents of a son, William Dennis, born Oct. 30. He has a sister, Eleanor. Mallory ’08 and Seth Jones ’08 of Omaha are parents of a son, Svend Julian, born Sept. 9. Jacob ’15 and Amanda (Schipporeit) Keating MS ’15 of Cozad are parents of a daughter, Ellie Faye, born July 7. She has a brother, Robert.

Kayla Peters ’17 and Thomas Geiger ’19 of Grand Island married July 18. Kayla teaches math at Westridge Middle School and Thomas is a staff accountant at Dana F. Cole & Co.

Brian `08 and Emily (Engler) Kimmins ’08 of Yuma, Arizona, are parents of a daughter, Ainsley Elise, born Feb. 14. She has a brother, Lucas. Brian is an executive officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 in Yuma and flies the F-35B Lightning II. Emily is an occupational therapist.

Justin Hall and Molly McConnell MAE ’09 of York married Aug. 3.

Darryn and Adam McLaughlin ‘12 of Lincoln are parents of a son, James Henry, born July 31.

Liam and Lisa (Klingelhoefer) Mendoza ’13, MS ’16 of Kearney are parents of a son, Enzo, born Dec. 9.

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

UNK TODAY

FOREVER A LOPER Lopers In Memoriam The following Lopers were reported as deceased to the University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association and University of Nebraska Foundation betwen July 7, 2020, and Jan. 31, 2021. We share our condolences with their family and friends. Michael Heaton Sr. of Omaha

Gary Blessen of Creston

1941

Irene (Campbell) Strong of Aurora

1947

Ilene (Refshauge) Gotobed of Denver, Colorado

Gary Hubbard of Elm Creek

Keath Sandberg of Holdrege

1948

Lorraine (Schmidt) Bockerman of Ravenna

Betty May (Harvey) Kennedy of Cozad

Gale Thomsen of Exeter

1949

Norma (Lewis) Gillming of Gibbon

1961

1968

Albert Cuellar of McCook

1969

Evelyn (Smeaton) Stutzman of Fort Collins, Colorado

Robert Zimmerman of Lincoln

Fred Harvey of Lubbock, Texas

1970

Daniel Baker of Grand Island

1950

Jack Hurt MAE ’59 of Kearney

Karen (Hinrichs) Hawley of Hildreth

1951

Rodney Wendell of Axtell

Mary (McAuley) Kite of Gothenburg

1971

Sally (Zikmund) Husen MAE ’89 of Grand Island

1953

Irma (Novy) Alcorn of Lincoln

Alice (Jezbera) Ostrand of Broken Bow

1971

Jacqueline (Quisenberry) Jacox of Omaha

1956

Leonard Skov MAE ’60 of Kearney

1963

Jerry Dunlap MSE ’67 of Omaha

James Maxon of Kearney

Andy Tetzlaff of Georgetown, Indiana

1964

Carroll Barnes MSE ’82 of Ord

William “Bill” Morrow of Bridgeport

Larry Hall of Carbondale, Colorado

Cliff Underwood of Doniphan

Lucille (Meyer) Kuhlman of Lincoln

Roger Wilmot of Escondido, California

1962

Melvin Wattles MAE ’61 of Fountain Hills, Arizona 1957

Ron Bickford MSE ’61 of Grand Island

1964

Phil Stineman of Lincoln

Dale Bubak of Tekamah William “Bill” Rauert MS ’67 of Kimball

1965

Barbara (Nickerson) Sherlock of Lexington

Norman “Mark” Breen MSE of Holdrege

1972

Ila (Jensen) Dailey of Arnold

Mary (Wright) Samp of Bellevue

Gary Lynch of Kearney

Jerry Stromer MSE ’66 of Doniphan

Carol (Beien) McInturf of Stamford

Lois (Crouse) Dunwoody of Keystone

Marbeth Sahn of Everett, Washington

1957

Ardyce “Pinky” (Carroll) Wiemers of Wylie, Texas

1959

Jan (Vandewerker) Eickmeier of Kearney

Barbara (Junker) Meyer MSE ’69 of Cairo

Carol (Kindig) Sole MSE of Hastings

Dale Falter of Rolling Hills Estates, California

Marcia (Tyner) Trimble of Kearney

Cliff Wiseman of Emerson

Garey “Pappy” Yocum of Kearney

Mary Lou (Ferguson) Wegener of Lincoln

Jeanne (Gordon) England of Kearney

Cheryl “Cherry” Witham of Omaha

Peggy (Poullos) O'Dea of Kearney

Gail (Mills) Arnold of Elkhorn

Edward “Ed” Slips of Grand Island

1960

Francis Fisher of Omaha

1961

1966

1967

1973

Don Bratten of Cozad

James Bailey of Fallston, Maryland

Karen (Cushing) Yant of Minden

Richard Jenkinson of Columbus

Jackie (Johnson) Brink of Omaha

Nancy (Wilson) Larsen of Kearney

Virginia (Ibsen) Collins of Orleans

Esther (Martin) Colburn Ed.S. ’93 of Aurora

Shirley (Yelken) Quadhamer of Kearney

Jim Frazier of Cozad

UNK TODAY

1974

FOREVER A LOPER Mike Klein of Holdrege

Margaret (Knepper) Harders of Grand Island

Robert Lamborn of Blue Hill

Connie (Golden) Schiel MAE ’97 of North Platte

Jim Sutton of Holdrege 1975

1976

1988

Nadine (Fischer) McHenry MSE of Plattsmouth

Kent McCance of Omaha

Karen (Harmon) Verraneault of Kearney

Shirley (Rossitto) Young of Ord

Frank Vetter of Gilbert, Arizona

1989

John Ransom of Kearney

Dick Collins of Kearney

1990

Pat Haverty of Papillion Todd Westerbuhr of Phoenix, Arizona

Ruth (Hasenauer) Garrison of Atlantic, Iowa Darlene (Johnson) Hughes of Hazard 1978

Laila Briquet-Mosig of France

1991

Lynn Johnson of Kearney

Rosalie (Ekstrom) Engelhardt of Hastings

Jackie (Pahl) Lashley of North Platte

Edward Schulte of Broken Bow

Marcia (Meisenheimer) Misegadis MSE `01 of North Platte

Bruce Blankenship of Kearney

1992

Lynn (Steinkruger) Meyer MSE of Riverton

Craig Gissler of Gretna

1993

Brett Luddington of Lincoln

James Ross of Doniphan

1994

Tony Snyder of Broken Bow

1980

Eileen (Bradley) Paine of Kearney

1995

Justin Halbgewachs of Kearney

1981

Terry Reichert of Scottsbluff

Jim Sander MBA ’00 of Doniphan

Beverly Weddle of Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bob Talbitzer MSE of Kearney

1979

Lynne (Price) Jackowiak MSE ’83 of Omaha

1998

Shari Kralik of Seward

Jan Shafer of Alamo, Texas

1999

Sara Heser of Omaha

1983

Betty (Benne) Knapper of Scottsbluff

2000

Jodene (Waldman) Caruthers of Kearney

1984

Sue Dinsdale of Alamogordo, New Mexico

2001

Brent Orme of Holdrege

1982

Pat Taylor of Broken Bow

Debbie Holt of Omaha Robert Ruff of Lawton, Oklahoma

2002

Karen (Schneider) Mezger MSE of Table Rock Danielle (Meyer) Naslund of Columbus

Stacey (Mowrey) Russell MSE ’91 of Kearney

1987

Bruce Blankenship ’79 of Kearney was affectionately known as Mr. Kearney because of his commitment and dedication to the community, sharing his time and expertise with the City of Kearney, Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Kearney and numerous other businesses and organizations. He died Dec. 27, 2020

Tim Warneking of Grand Island

2010

Nicole (Smith) Frerichs MSE of Lincoln

Terry Fusco MAE of Shelby

2011

Beverly (Johnson) Smith of Hampton

UNK TODAY

Help Us Create a Stronger Future. Just like we need your support when we’re on the field or court, we need your support when we’re in the classroom. In the lab. Helping in our community. We’re inviting you to join the NU Advocates team— a group of students, alums, faculty and staff sharing how UNK makes a difference in their lives and the lives of others. Join us in advocating for a stronger future for UNK, Nebraska and the world.

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

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