VOLUME 6 | 2020
Justin Haag
MCC Alum finds himself through nature (p6)
FROM THE PRESIDENT
service to the college. Their dedication and commitment to MPCC was second to none.
Greetings Alumni of Mid-Plains Community College, The ending of the 2019-20 year will go down as one of the most memorable periods of our lifetime. On March 30, we made the difficult decision to move for-credit courses to a remote format for the remainder of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no instruction manual on how to navigate this unknown, but we knew that we had to look out for the safety of our students, staff and the communities we serve. We successfully celebrated our students’ educational accomplishments with face-to-face on-campus commencement ceremonies on July 31. Of the 334 students who graduated with 378 certificates, diplomas and degrees, nearly half returned to campus with their families and friends to walk across the stage.
WE ARE
MPCC.
In last year’s newsletter, we said thank you to Garry Lawyer, one of two outgoing Board of Governors. On October 1, 2019, we said good-bye to Garry after his short battle with cancer. He had a love for his family, education and cars. He will be greatly missed. Our first-time, full-time student retention from the fall of 2018 to the fall of 2019 matched a five-year high of 67 percent for third best among our 15 peer institutions. That was an increase of five percent over last year. We celebrated three bittersweet faculty retirements at the end of 2019-20. Sally Thalken, physical education instructor and division chair for math and science, Kathleen McCune, business instructor, and Kent Beel, diesel technology instructor and division chair for the applied sciences, had a combined 94 years of full-time and part-time
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The community campuses in Broken Bow, Imperial, Ogallala and Valentine continued to shine in student enrollment. Full-time equivalent (FTE) in students for 2019-20 was 160 compared to the record 2018-19 year of 161. Graduates from those community campus areas totaled 42. Mid-Plains Community College student-athletes representing McCook Community College, North Platte Community College and the rodeo team continued to shine in the classroom and on the field of competition. The MCC men’s golf team was named the top academic team in the nation with a combined 3.67 GPA while also cracking the Top 20 in the national JUCO rankings at No. 19 - just prior to the season being cancelled. The MCC baseball team and the MPCC men’s and women’s rodeo teams were at or near the top of the standing in their respective regions when seasons were cancelled. At MCC, 24 student-athletes were named to NJCAA All-Academic teams. At NPCC, 22 student-athletes were named to the NJCAA AllAcademic teams. Thank you all for your continued support of MidPlains Community College before, during and after the pandemic. We take pride in serving our communities. Our vision is to be First Choice for our Region for education, partnerships, employers, and employees. Please reach out to us. We always want your input on how we can better serve you as we desire to continue to improve in all areas to sustain and grow Southwest and West-central Nebraska.
RYAN PURDY, MPCC President
Dear Alumni and Friends,
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Fostering connections has never been more important to all of us at MidPlains Community College. The way we connect now, in a global pandemic, has taken on a whole new meaning. Email, social media, and word of mouth have always been a great way to invite alumni and friends to events where you could visit with fellow friends of MPCC, shake hands and converse with campus employees and students, and learn about what’s happening on campus. But over these past several months, these media outlets have become our primary means of connecting with you. I hope that a picture you saw on one of the MPCC Facebook pages prompted a memory of a time which caused you to think about an instructor that influenced your path, a group of friends you spent time with while on campus, or an athletic event that brought you to your feet cheering with excitement. I hope you smile with pride as you remember the impact MPCC had – and continues to have – on your life as you know it today.
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The College is deeply appreciative of the support alumni and friends of MPCC have provided, through contributions to the McCook and North Platte Community College Foundations, so future generations of MPCC students can realize the benefits of postsecondary education. And no matter how we have to do it, we’ll continue to foster your connection to our campus and our fellow alumni and friends. Hope to see you soon!
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Message from the President
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Miller finds true calling in health care
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NPCC Alum Starts New Business
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MCC Alum Finds Himself Through Nature
into a Family Affair
10 Father/Son Turn Auto Repair
BONNIE KRUSE, Area Director of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director, NPCC Foundation
Merna Woman Earns College Degree After 30 Years
Connect with us!
Three Longtime Instructors Retire
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MPCC Campuses Receive Face-lift
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MCC Honoring 1980 Volleyball Team This Year
MPCC Navigates Through Covid-19 Pandemic
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@mpccedu CREDITS
Editor Jo Ann Lundgreen
Designer Stephen Barkley
Story Contributors Brent Cobb Heather Johnson
Photo Contributors Brent Cobb Heather Johnson
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FROM ATHLETE TO NURSE
MILLER FINDS TRUE CALLING IN HEALTH CARE The sky’s the limit when it comes to options in nursing. Philip Miller (’06) can attest to that. From emergency care to oncology, he has seen and experienced nearly every aspect of the nursing profession. That’s one of the reasons he chose it. “I like the variety,” Miller said. “I never see the same thing twice when I go to work. When you’re based along the interstate, you never know what’s going to come in.” Nursing wasn’t initially the field he planned to go into. After graduating from Maxwell High School in 1996, Miller headed north to Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. to play football and study athletic training. “I had to do an internship in cardiac rehab to finish my degree, and about that time my grandpa had open heart surgery,” Miller said. “The internship, along with the nurses who worked on my grandpa, really made an impression on me.” He didn’t continue his pursuit of athletic training after receiving a degree in wellness management in 2001. Instead, Miller moved back home and spent a couple years working on his family’s ranch and at an appliance store in North Platte. Still, he couldn’t get the idea of being a nurse out of his head. 4 | w w w.m p cc . e du | 8 0 0 . 3 45. 36 00
“I ended up going through the EMT program at Mid-Plains Community College while waiting to get into the nursing program there,” Miller said. “EMT training got me that much closer to the medical field and taking classes through Mid-Plains allowed me to keep working and continue my education at the same time.” He appreciates MPCC for providing him with a well-rounded experience. “I was as prepared coming out of MPCC’s nursing program as I would have been going to a larger school in Lincoln or somewhere else,” Miller said. “I spent a lot less money and still got a good, quality education. The clinicals were conducted at a bigger hospital, and the instructors were great. I felt like Mid-Plains provided a smooth transition into the workforce.” Miller became a registered nurse in 2006 and was subsequently hired at Gothenburg Health. He worked his way up to trauma care coordinator, and about seven years ago, began filling in as an oncology nurse at the Callahan Cancer Center in North Platte. “There are so many avenues with nursing – from working as a floor nurse or in the emergency room to pursuing a career in pediatrics, obstetrics or a specialty clinic,” said Miller. “Wherever you are, one thing stays the same. Patients really do appreciate the care they get, and that’s what fills your bucket at the end of the day. I don’t think there’s another job that’s more rewarding.”
NPCC ALUM
STARTS NEW BUSINESS
Maddy Krebs (’10) is using skills she gained at North Platte Community College in her new role as owner of North Platte’s Jazzercise studio. “It’s pretty amazing,” Krebs said. “I never would have had the confidence to be where I am today without NPCC.” Krebs’ history with North Platte runs deep. She graduated from St. Pat’s High School in 2008 then attended NPCC on a volleyball scholarship. “Going to NPCC was a pretty easy choice,” Krebs said. “The scholarship was a big incentive, but I had also been offered a scholarship somewhere else. I chose NPCC because I could still be close to my family, and because I liked the size of North Platte. I did live in the dorms to make it feel more like I was away from home.” Aside from playing volleyball, Krebs wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do with her college career. “I love children, so I knew I wanted to work with kids somehow,” Krebs said.
“The advisors at NPCC were great. They helped me narrow down a path, and I never had to guess what classes to take. They lined me up in the right direction.” Krebs graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from NPCC in 2010 then transferred to Peru State College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2012. In 2014, Krebs also obtained a master’s degree from Peru State in curriculum and instruction. She returned to North Platte after that and spent three years teaching at Jefferson Elementary and two years at McDonald Elementary before deciding to be a stay-at-home mom for her two
daughters. By the fall of 2019, she was ready to go back to work. “I had been a Jazzercise instructor since 2014,” Krebs said. “For some time, the Jazzercise owner had been talking about selling the business if the opportunity came up. In November, I decided I was ready to be that opportunity.” Krebs took over the business, formerly located at 1220 W. A St. and moved it to 421 N. Dewey St. She plans to fall back on many of the skills she learned at NPCC as the new owner. “Those personal skills will definitely come into play,” Krebs said. “I will be using all of the things I learned about communication, time management and expectations. I also have a lot of great connections in the community from my time spent at NPCC. I’m excited about what the future holds.”
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MCC ALUM FINDS HIMSELF THROUGH NATURE
Justin Haag’s days are filled with wonder. From watching a rising sun cast pink and orange rays across snow-covered hills to chasing lightning bolts raging through a summer sky — Haag (’91-’93) is constantly immersed in beauty.
I live in a great part of the world to do it,” Haag said. “The landscapes, parks and wildlife of the Panhandle give me a lot of opportunities. I love bringing attention to some of Nebraska’s best places and most captivating wildlife and fostering a deeper appreciation for them from the public.”
The only other witnesses to his experiences are those of the natural world — the prairie chickens, antelope, bighorn sheep and coyotes that call Western Nebraska home.
Developing interests
Haag wouldn’t want it any other way. In fact, he’s living out his dream. As the public information officer for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Panhandle region and regional editor of, “NEBRASKAland Magazine,” Haag’s job is to capture those moments in time that most people don’t get to see. “A big part of my job is nature photography, and 6 | w w w.m p cc . e du | 8 0 0 . 3 45. 36 00
Nature has always been a big part of Haag’s life. A native of Southwest Nebraska, Haag attended elementary and high school at Beaver Valley. “I’ll be the first to admit that I was a less than ideal student,” said Haag. “Until late in high school, I didn’t think much about going to college. I was more concerned about fishing at Medicine Creek, Red Willow and Swanson reservoirs and hunting squirrels and pheasants along Beaver Creek.” It took the encouragement of his guidance
counselor to convince Haag to at least consider a postsecondary education. Haag eventually decided to enroll, as a first-generation college student, at McCook Community College where he had qualified for scholarships and financial aid. “That financial aid allowed me to study in McCook for two years without amassing any school debt, which was huge,” Haag said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and always said I would have stayed for a four-year degree had it been offered.” He credits former instructors Rod Horst, Roger Wilson and Sue Watts with being some of his biggest academic influencers.
A persistent calling It was during his time in McCook that Haag was introduced to journalism.
“I worked as a part-time sportswriter at the ‘McCook Gazette’,” Haag said. “I was part of a team of writers who reported to duty on busy Friday nights, and some Saturdays, to field calls from high school coaches after games. Even though the articles were short, it gave me some great experience writing on a deadline, and it was fun seeing my work in the following morning’s newspaper.” Despite that, Haag wasn’t planning on becoming a journalist. He had already decided to be a teacher. “I grew up in a small town,” Haag said. “I gradu-
ated from a class of 11 in high school, and there wasn’t a huge variety of professions around me. I saw a lot of ag producers, and I saw a lot of teachers. I really admired my teachers, and they had a huge influence on me, so I had decided to be like them.” Studying at MCC helped Haag gain enough confidence to pursue a four-year degree, and he transferred to Chadron State College. About a year in, he decided to change paths. “I took a journalism class, and met the great LaVida Dickinson,” Haag said. “She was a fantastic
instructor and pulled me into working on the student newspaper, ‘The Eagle.’ I thought that was pretty fun to be someone reporting on the news. I think the idea of finding something that fit my talents and capabilities is what attracted me to it. I really took to the whole romanticism of the newspaper industry.” “The Eagle” exposed Haag to a lot of different aspects of newspaper production – from writing stories and shooting photos to layout, pulling papers off the press and even delivery. He started out writing sports, then became a
“I am a firm believer in the role and mission of community colleges and am thankful for the opportunities provided to me in McCook. I’m not sure where I’d be now without that experience. While I may have somehow stumbled into an equally fulfilling career, there’s no doubt that my time at McCook Community College broadened my options and set a great educational foundation for what I’m doing today.”
news editor, editor and production manager. Haag also did some of the department’s first digital photography. He graduated from CSC in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in English: Journalism and a minor in political science. Haag then spent a couple years working as a news and sports reporter for “The Chadron Record” before returning to McCook to serve as associate editor for the Gazette. One of his favorite parts of the latter job was that it allowed him to stay connected to nature. He photographed wildlife and put together an outdoor page for the newspaper every week.
Starting a new chapter It was during his time at the Gazette that Haag began dating his future wife, Cricket Morehead, a certified public accountant, who was also a MCC and CSC grad. The couple married in 2000 and moved back to Chadron. Justin spent 12 years as the communications and marketing coordinator for CSC. He covered
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many speakers at the college during that time, one of whom was Michael Forsberg, a prominent conservation photographer.
When the opportunity arose to make his passion a career, he jumped at it. He began his current role with Game and Parks in January of 2013.
“That was a changing point for me,” Justin said. “The things Forsberg talked about really struck a chord. He did a wonderful job of tying photos into a message of conservation, and I just really admired how he used photography to foster an appreciation for wildlife – especially threatened and endangered species. I had never thought about photography being a good tool for that sort of thing until I saw that presentation.”
When not peering through a lens, Justin can be found writing news releases, playing around with video and producing a weekly radio segment. His efforts have earned him awards from the Association for Conservation Information.
Justin had been a photographer for years by that point and had always maintained an interest for capturing imagery of wildlife. However, his gear was limited. After paying off his student loans and completing a wildlife course at the college, he decided to buy a telephoto zoom lens and try his hand at photographing the region’s fauna. Justin was amazed at how many different species he could photograph in a short amount of time, and the hobby became his new obsession.
Although Justin is grateful for the many blessings and experiences he’s been given over the years, he remains true to his roots. Southwest Nebraska and MCC will always have a special place in his heart. “I am a firm believer in the role and mission of community colleges and am thankful for the opportunities provided to me in McCook,” Justin said. “I’m not sure where I’d be now without that experience. While I may have somehow stumbled into an equally fulfilling career, there’s no doubt that my time at McCook Community College broadened my options and set a great educational foundation for what I’m doing today.”
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FATHER/SON TURN AUTO BODY
REPAIR INTO A FAMILY AFFAIR
Call it fate. Call it coincidence.
“Eventually, I got the bug to start my own business,” Tim said. “It’s just the American Dream I guess — to be your own boss.”
Whatever the reason, Tim (’77) and Brad O’Keefe (’99) never intended to spend their lives immersed in the world of auto body.
“It was hard,” Tim said. “I was the new kid on the block. Plus, it was a small town, and everyone knew I had quit my old job. We didn’t show a profit at all for a while, and I was a little worried about whether we could make it work.”
They didn’t have to. The profession chose them. The father and son duo have been the driving forces behind Southside Body and Paint in Valentine for almost 40 years. “I kind of fell into auto body because I didn’t know what else to do,” Tim said. “Our high school guidance counselor never spent much time telling students about career options, and back then, I wasn’t looking too far ahead.” Once high school was over and adulthood was looming ahead of him, he had to choose something. “I heard about the auto body program at North 10 | w w w. m p cc . e du | 8 0 0 . 3 45. 36 00
Platte Community College when some recruiters came to town,” Tim said. “I thought that might be something I could do. I had a good friend who had graduated from the program, so I was somewhat familiar with it, but I didn’t have any background in auto body. I wasn’t a gearhead like a lot of my classmates were.” Tim, who had spent his entire life in Valentine up to that point, decided to give NPCC a try. He packed his bags and headed south. “We had a classroom, but hardly ever used it,” he said of the auto body program at NPCC. “Everything was hands-on, and that’s the way it should be. I’ve always felt that was the strong point of the program.” Tim graduated from NPCC in 1977 then returned to Valentine and worked for Kuhl’s Auto Service for three and a half years.
In 1981, he set up shop in a two-car, 816-squarefoot garage next to his house.
But work it did. The business wasn’t high volume or high dollar in the early days, but Tim and his crew kept busy with an average of three big jobs per week. By 1984, his business had grown to the point that he needed to expand. Tim moved it to its current location at 405 S. Airport Rd. and subsequently added on in 1996. It was also in the ’90s that Brad began working for Tim — cleaning cars and prepping parts. Like his father, Brad hadn’t thought too far beyond high school. “I was just having fun and playing sports, then graduation came, and I had to figure out what to
do,” Brad said. “My dad told me I should get out of town for a while. I hadn’t really planned on auto body, but it was something familiar to me, and NPCC offered a one-year program that was affordable.” Brad finished a year in NPCC’s auto body program then opted for a second. He graduated from the college in 2000. Ten years ago, he made the decision to move back to Valentine. Brad purchased the shop from Tim in 2011. By that time, the building was paid off and overhead was low. A large customer base had already been established. The business has continued to grow under his leadership. It now serves about a 60-mile radius. Increased demand led to the need for more space, which led to another addition in 2019. The facility is currently 8,400-square-feet.
“I like the challenges that come with auto body” Brad said. “There’s something new and different every day. The procedures are basically the same, but body styles change, and the way vehicles are put together is constantly evolving — you really have to stay on top of things.” Tim agreed. “It’s been rewarding,” Tim said. “Anytime you can take something that’s broken and fix it, or, from the business aspect, start with nothing and turn it into something that grows and becomes successful — there’s a sense of accomplishment in that.”
MPCC ranks in
TOP 10 best community colleges in the nation
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MERNA WOMAN
EARNS COLLEGE DEGREE AFTER 30 YEARS
Some dreams are worth the wait. That’s how Cynthia Huhman (’20), of Merna, feels about finally earning a college degree. This year, Huhman graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business with emphases in Business Administration and Marketing, as well as a leadership certificate, from Mid-Plains Community College. “It feels so amazing,” Huhman said. “If I can do it with all the obstacles I faced — anyone can.” Huhman started out as a traditional college student. She began taking business classes from MPCC as soon as she graduated from Anselmo-Merna High School in 1986. “Then life hit,” said Huhman. “I got married and started a family right away. I had a baby on Christmas Day of my first semester. I continued taking classes through the following spring, but it was just too hard. I decided I couldn’t do it and took some time off.” By the age of 27, Huhman had two children and her marriage had ended in divorce. Two years later, she remarried and started over with two more children. 12 | w w w. m pcc . e du | 8 0 0 . 3 45. 36 00
“That marriage ended in divorce as well,” Huhman said. “I decided I was going to try for a degree again so I would have something to fall back on. Over the next several years, I took one class at a time. I couldn’t travel back and forth to North Platte with the kids at home, so I attempted classes online with dial-up Internet. That, too, was unsuccessful.” Over time, the Internet improved, but Huhman couldn’t always afford it. She would check her assignments at the radio station where she worked, then after work, would put the kids to bed and drive six blocks to her parents’ house to send assignments through her parent’s Internet. “I would also take any classes I could at the Broken Bow Library,” Huhman said. “Thank goodness we now have a campus in Broken Bow. If not for that, I don’t think I ever would have finished my degree.” Huhman started taking classes at the campus as soon as it opened in 2011. Her course load consisted of one or two classes per year. It was her children who pushed her to pursue college full-time. Last spring, her final semester, she took 18 credit hours. At age 52, as a mother of five, she was also raising a family, working part-time jobs and managing her own social media marketing company, Bootstraps Marketing. “I know there were people who thought I was just playing in pursuing a higher education,” Huhman said. “I wasn’t playing.” She hopes she has served as an example for others, and especially her children, that anything is possible if you’re willing to work for it. “I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me,” Huhman said. “This was just my path. I made some bad decisions in life, but I couldn’t give up because my kids were watching. Everything I did, I did for them, and education is never a bad decision.”
THREE LONGTIME INSTRUCTORS RETIRED FROM
NORTH PLATTE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THIS YEAR. We wish them well on this next chapter of their lives.
Kathleen McCune Business Instructor 1979-2020
Kathleen McCune began teaching at NPCC more than 40 years ago. “I never intended to go into education, but I’m glad I did.” said McCune. “Teaching has given me a great deal of satisfaction over the years.” McCune earned bachelor’s degrees in both business and foreign language in 1977 then obtained a Master of Business Administration degree in 1979. After graduation, she moved with her husband to Sutherland. It was then, she landed a job at NPCC. McCune said. “I’ve truly enjoyed the students, my co-workers and the creative aspect of education. There hasn’t been one August that I haven’t looked forward to going back to school, and a lot of that is because the college has been a great place to work. I always tell people, ‘It’s the best gig in town’.”
Sally Thalken
Kent Beel
“If you work hard and surround yourself with good people, you can accomplish a lot.” That’s the lesson Sally Thalken, has learned throughout her 45 years of teaching, and it’s one she tried to pass on to her students. She was hired by NPCC in1981 as a health education instructor and coach for volleyball and women’s basketball. Thalken coached women’s basketball until 1991 and volleyball until 2014, at which time, she retired as the winningest active coach in the National Junior College Athletic Association. Upon retirement Thalken said, “I can look in the mirror and say I’ve made a difference in a lot of people’s lives, and I think I’ve done that because a lot of people have made a difference in mine. I’m thankful to the college for the opportunities it has provided. It’s been a wonderful career.”
Kent Beel worked in NPCC’s applied technologies division for 35 years. After graduating from High School in 1971, he started taking automotive classes with NPCC at a warehouse downtown. He earned his associate degree in automotive and a diploma in diesel. After working for a few years as a general mechanic, a former instructor asked him if he would substitute teach for him. That temporary position eventually led him to a full-time job with the College. Beel has enjoyed the many aspects of teaching over the years – especially helping students grasp new concepts and grow as individuals. “I’ve made a lot of friends here, but the timing just felt right,” Beel said of why he decided to retire. “I want to have some years left to travel and do other things with our grandchildren.”
Division Chair of Science and Mathematics and a Health and Physical Education Instructor 1981-2020
Area Division Chair for Applied Technologies and a Diesel Technology Instructor 1988-2020
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MPCC Campuses Receive Face-lift CAST BUILDING
Mid-Plains Community College campuses in McCook, North Platte and Imperial have new looks for the fall semester. CAST Building The college completed Phase Two of the remodel on Center for Applied Science and Technology in McCook. Walls were removed to expand the shop. An air compressor room and tool room were created, and all windows were replaced to let in more natural light. LED lighting was also added, the interior was painted and two classrooms in the front of the building were expanded.
WRIGHTSTONE
“We put in a storage area for information technology and improved the overall general appearance of classrooms and the entryway — including new windows along the street,” Area Vice President of Administrative Services, Mike Steele said. “Next summer we will start on Phase Three, which will be the exterior façade and signage.”
Wrightstone The Wrightstone Fine Arts Gallery in McCook also received a facelift. The drawing and painting labs were completely renovated. The stairwell is now hidden and lockable, a storage room and new display areas were added as were cabinets so students can store supplies.
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“The whole building has a better look and feel to it,” said Steele. “It was repainted, the windows and lighting were updated and an overhead projector and screen were installed so that art instructor Rick Johnson can better project demonstrations to students.”
Imperial Campus Crews have been working on the construction of a 2,800-square-foot addition on the north end of the MPCC Imperial Campus. Once complete, the building will have grown from three classrooms to seven – two with movable walls. It will also have dedicated areas for ESL classes and health and science instruction as well as new restrooms, a mechanical room and a storage room.
South Campus – North Platte The last big project inside the McDonald-Belton Building on NPCC’s South Campus was wrapped up with the remodel of the Welcome Center and entryway. The spaces on either side of the entrance are filled with TVs and soft seating that matches the modern theme throughout the building. The
HEALTH AND SCIENCE CENTER
SOUTH CAMPUS
Southwest view of the proposed addition to the North Platte Health and Science Center Welcome Center received new carpet, paint, ceiling tiles, lights and a panel storage system. Around the corner, outside the gym doors, a glass trophy case featuring digital screens was added to highlight the college’s athletics. New parking was created on the west side of McDonald-Belton to better accommodate buses and make up for parking that was lost with the creation of a new grassy area in the middle of campus. The campus now has about 1,300 parking stalls altogether. A road was built behind the dorms. It intersects with the campus’ new driveway that was moved north to accommodate expected access from U.S. Highway 83. A connection to the Willow Street hike and bike trail was also added. The “Quad Project,” or green space in the middle of campus will serve as the focal point of the campus. It will feature a 30-foot by 50-foot pavilion and accompanying sound system for events. There will also be an amphitheater with seating for 160 people, a gas-fed fire pit, Wi-Fi, ports for charging cell phones and other devices and the entire area will be monitored with security cameras. The next project on South Campus will be an expansion of the Health and Science Center.
North Campus – North Platte Half of the parking on the west side of the W.W. Wood Building on NPCC’s North Campus was replaced as was the parking for student housing. The island in the student housing parking lot was narrowed to make room for larger vehicles, and the sidewalks were widened to make them more accessible. On the east side of W.W. Wood, the island was removed, and the parking lot was repainted for a new series of motorcycle classes.
TROPHY CASE
Inside the building, a data center was created. The Wood Grille dining hall and kitchen were remodeled to include a new façade, flooring, paint, lights, equipment, signs, digital screens and electrical service. The Auto Body classroom across campus was also revamped with new flooring, paint, lighting and upgraded technology.
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MCC HONORING
1980 VOLLEYBALL TEAM THIS YEAR MCC Indian Athletics web site unveils ‘Championship Volleyball Season: On This Day in 1980’ hen the coronavirus pushed back the start of McCook Community College volleyball schedule until January, it also changed MCC’s plans to honor the school’s winningest volleyball program on its 40th anniversary. College officials were looking forward to bringing back members of the 1980 team for a weekend tribute this fall. That will have to wait until fall scrimmage schedules and the revised spring schedule is complete. For now, fans will have one immediate option. Throughout this fall the MCC Athletics Website is featuring a game-by-game rewind with “Championship Volleyball Season: On This Day in 1980.” This feature will track the 1980 season -- 40 years to the date. The 1980 schedule and roster have been loaded on the website and fans can track the team in real time (40 years later) through an epic 56-match season which began in North Platte on Sept. 9 and finished up 86 days later. “1980VB” has been added to the list of sports fans can access from the “sports” pulldown menu on the Indian Athletics landing page. Coach Stan Garretson led his team on a run that 16 | w w w. m p cc . e du | 8 0 0 . 3 45. 36 00
included five tournaments and 29 tournament games, 10 triangulars and one stretch where the team played 12 matches in five days in three cities.
“The current players and I were really looking forward to getting that team in here this fall to celebrate their accomplishments,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. “When our season got pushed back to January it prevented us from celebrating on the official 40th anniversary of that team, so maybe we can do it on the 40th and a half anniversary in the spring and hopefully some of that 1980 team can be a part of our alumni scrimmage this fall.” Volleyball was the first women’s intercollegiate sport at MCC starting in the fall of 1975 and entering the 1980 season the team had complied a 106-66-1 record. The team was coming off a 16-13-1 record in 1979.
Players on the 1980 team included: Barb McBee, setter Culbertson; Katrina Minnick, setter, Franklin; Kristine Mason, Sandy Creek; Shelly Hurt hitter, Loup City; Denise Garey, hitter McCook; Marian Kotschwar, hitter McCook; Lynn Krolikowski, hitter Wood River; Beverly Willems, hitter Blue Hill; Louise Koerperich, hitter, Cambridge; Jeanne Porter, setter, Crawford; Julie Quaduor, setter, Beaver Valley, Kris Thompson, Orleans; Deb Jones, hitter, Oxford; Julie Wetherington, setter, Wray, Colo.; Tammy Middaugh, hitter, Bertrand; and Cheryl Husted, hitter Palisade.“On paper, we’ve got a very good team this year,” said Garretson just prior to the start of the 1980 season. “We’ve got eight sophomores and against Mid-Plains North Platte we’ll be starting six sophomores.” To follow the 1980 team you can view the schedule, roster and eventually game stories on the MCC Indian Athletics web site by filtering past seasons which now includes 1980 volleyball. You can also link to the season at: https://mccindians.com/index.aspx?path=80vb
he COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic changes to Mid-Plains Community College operations this year — beginning in March. The college closed its campuses March 30 as a precaution and employees worked from home. Staff and administration were slowly transitioned back May 11 through June 1, but the college remained closed to the public until July 15. Faculty was tasked with moving instruction to a remote format, and any needs by the public were addressed either by phone or virtually. All events that had been scheduled for the end of the spring semester were cancelled or postponed. That included commencement, which was moved to July 31. A COVID-19 response team was formed among college employees, and President Ryan Purdy became a frequent speaker at town hall meetings regarding the pandemic and the local response to it. The college was able to start fall classes as originally scheduled but did so with numerous safeguards in place. Among other things, dining halls, lobbies and lounges were reconfigured to promote social distancing. Signs reminding students to social distance, wear masks, wash hands frequently and stay home if sick were posted throughout buildings at all campus locations. Students were also required to wear masks covering their mouths and noses in all indoor public areas of the college if 6-feet of social distance could not be maintained. That included commons areas, restrooms, elevators, hallways, lobbies and outside. Student were encouraged to eat meals in their dorm rooms, and guests were not allowed to join them. Protective barriers in the form of plastic shields were implemented at MPCC’s Welcome Centers, advising desks and other locations where there could be frequent face-to-face conversations.
All facilities were disinfected daily, and hand sanitizer was made available in classrooms and public spaces. International students were required to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days and be symptom-free before they could participate in campus activities. The college set aside housing units as quarantine spaces that could be used for any students who tested positive for or were exposed to COVID-19. Additionally, the college offered free COVID-19 testing for its students and employees as part of the TestNebraska initiative. The precautions will continue into the unforeseeable future.
Students were very positive when asked about MPCC during COVID-19 outbreak.
Satisfaction with academic and student services ranked very high among students during COVID-19 disruptions.
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