Alumni & Friends Magazine Volume 7 | Summer 2021

VOLUME 7 | 2021

Danni Franzen MPCC Distinguished Alumnus (pg.10)

FROM THE PRESIDENT Greetings Alumni & Friends of Mid-Plains Community College,

WE ARE

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The 2020-21 year was a success despite many challenges presented as a result of the continued COVID-19 Pandemic. MidPlains Community College (MPCC) was the only community college in Nebraska with enrollment greater than the previous year. The combined enrollment at our four community campuses reached an alltime high. Our graduation rate increased to 47%, and tied for first amongst our 15 peer institutions. Our first-time, full-time student retention from the fall of 2019 to the fall of 2020 reached a MPCC record of 69% for second best amongst our peers and ahead of all other Nebraska community colleges. We attribute many of our 2020-21 enrollment successes in part to our commitment to provide a variety of options to serve our students during this unprecedented time in our college’s history.

After more than 30 years, Board Member, Louie Stithem, representing District 3, did not seek another four-year term on the Board. Louie was first elected in 1984 and served from 1985 – 2004 and was re-elected in 2008 and served from 2009 - 2020. Louie held every officer position, except Treasurer, during his time on the Board. He represented MPCC well at national, state, and local levels. He was a great ambassador for community colleges and his service to MPCC is greatly appreciated.

This past year, we said goodbye to two of our very best. In February, Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Coach, passed away following a horse accident. Garret was posthumously awarded the Great Plains Region and National Coach of the Year awards in addition to many other recognitions around the rodeo community. In May, Janet Stalder, MCC Business Instructor of 40 years, passed away following a courageous battle with cancer. Janet was

frequently awarded with recognitions for her teaching excellence. She was a longtime sponsor of Phi Beta Lambda and mentored hundreds of students as they pursued their educational goals. Garrett and Janet were two amazing people and leave giant holes in the hearts of their MPCC family.

Mid-Plains Community College studentathletes representing McCook Community College, North Platte Community College and the MPCC Rodeo Team continued to shine in the classroom and on the field of competition. The NPCC men’s basketball team was named the top men’s basketball academic team in the nation with a combined 3.62 GPA. The MPCC men’s rodeo team won the Great Plains Region team title while the women’s team was fourth. At MCC, 29 student-athletes were named to NJCAA All-Academic teams. At NPCC, 25 student-athletes were named to the NJCAA All-Academic teams.

As you flip the pages of this 2020-21 Alumni Newsletter, you will read a few of the many successes of our Alumni. You will also see many new and exciting opportunities taking place on our campuses. You will learn about several faculty and staff who were recognized for excellence at National, Regional, and State-wide conferences over the past year. And lastly, I would ask that you consider giving back for what MPCC has done for you, so together we can leave a lasting legacy for tomorrow.

Thank you all for your continued support of Mid-Plains Community College. We take pride in serving our communities. 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 our region.

RYAN PURDY, MPCC President

Dear Alumni & Friends,

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Message from the President NPCC Alumna Fulfills Dream with Fine Arts Studio MCC Alum Dedicates Lifetime to Protecting Others Student Earns Seal of Biliteracy with Assistance from MPCC

10 Franzen Named MPCC Distinguished Alum 16 Clark Named MPCC Rodeo Team Coach 18 MPCC Starts Fall with Renovated Facilities

We have much to be proud of here at Mid-Plains Community College. The programs, facilities and, most importantly, the people are what makes MPCC a fine institution. Thank you, alumni and friends of McCook Community College and North Platte Community College, for welcoming me as your new Director of Institutional Advancement. I am honored and humbled to serve you and connect you with your fellow alumni, help you decide how to best allocate your donation, and guide you in the decision to impact generations to come through charitable giving.

To those of you who have already contributed to capital projects such as the Health and Science Center, Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center and the Knights Gymnasium, included MCC or NPCC in your estate plans or started an endowed scholarship, I thank you on behalf of MPCC faculty, staff, current and future students. Each student attends MPCC with a unique collection of backgrounds and experiences. The generosity of alumni and donors greatly empowers these students to achieve their educational goals, employment ambitions and lifetime dreams.

As the new Director of Institutional Advancement, I am very interested to hear about your continued educational successes, new career moves, or retirement. Soon you will be able to read about the achievements of your fellow alums, as a class notes section will be added to future editions of this publication. Be sure to share your individual experiences – recollections you may have of a professor, advisor, administrative assistant or custodian who made your time at MPCC memorable. Feel free to send us updates about your fellow alums from around the region as well. We would also love to include stories from McCook, North Platte, Broken Bow, Imperial, Ogallala and Valentine. These memories make up who we are — We Are MPCC!

Connect with us!

JACOB RISSLER, Director of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director, NPCC Foundation

@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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NPCC ALUM

FULFILLS DREAM WITH FINE ARTS STUDIO Amariah Gesinski can’t imagine life without the fine arts.

Performing is all she ever wanted to do – that and own a dance studio.

The latter dream came true when the North Platte native opened Encore Performing Arts Studios in Kearney.

Recently, she was able to expand the business, which offers training in dance, music and theater – all the things Gesinski has been enamored with since she was a child.

“Theatrical arts were always something I loved growing up,” Gesinski said. “They took different forms over the years. Music and theater performance are huge passions of mine.”

Gesinski began taking piano lessons from her sister and singing in church at the age of 6. By the time she was 9, she was also taking dance lessons at the Dance Factory. She continued her passion after high school by enrolling at North Platte Community College.

“NPCC just made sense,” Gesinski said. “The college had great music and theater programs, and the instructors developed me so much as a performer.”

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Gesinski graduated from NPCC with an Associate of Arts degree. In 2016, she moved to Kearney and launched Encore.

Building the business up to what it is now took time and effort.

“I started from scratch,” Amariah said. “I didn’t have a staff initially. I was teaching all the classes by myself in the basement of my sister’s church. That fall, I rented a fitness studio for a couple hours per week then worked my way up to renting it for a couple days per week.”

Eventually, she was able to take over a suite in the fitness studio and offer a week’s worth of classes.

In February of 2020, Amariah leased a building downtown that could accommodate her growing clientele as well as additional classes.

Encore is a performance-based studio rather than competition-based. Emphasis is put on the joy of creation and sharing the arts with others.

“Fine arts are essential in keeping us human,” Amariah said. “They don’t just teach us to be good performers – they teach us to be good people, and that’s the ultimate goal.”

MCC ALUM

DEDICATES LIFE TO PROTECTING OTHERS

Bill Hoyt has spent a lifetime looking out for those around him.

He wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m a guard dog by nature,” Hoyt said.

“I have no problem focusing my time and energy taking care of those in need.”

It’s a philosophy he developed at an early age thanks to his background in agriculture.

Hoyt graduated from McCook High School in 1974 and enrolled at Fort Hays State University. When that didn’t pan out the way he planned, Hoyt transferred to McCook Community College in the fall of ’75.

“I got more out of my time there than I ever did at Fort Hays,” Hoyt said. “But, by the end of with my second semester, I realized I didn’t want to be stuck in a building. That being said, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I took time off to figure it out.”

That meant returning to the lifestyle he was familiar with – farming and ranching. Unfortunately, his success in agriculture was short-lived. High interest rates in the ’80s made it hard to stay in business, prompting Hoyt to take a job as a policeman in McCook in 1985.

lot of value in going back and picking up classes when I did because, at that point in my life, I was finally prepared to learn.”

By 1991, he had been promoted to detective.

Hoyt spent four years on the Middle Republican Natural Resources District and is currently the District 4 director for the Nebraska Public Power District Board of Directors, which he has been part of for the past four years.

As it turned out, MCC played a bigger part in his life during his career than when he was a traditional student.

“I’m a guard dog by nature. I have no problem focusing my time and energy taking care of those in need.”

“I was able to keep up my EMT certification over the years because I had easy access to MCC’s continuing education classes,” Hoyt said. “I found a

Hoyt was forced to retire from law enforcement in 2010 due to medical reasons, at which point he moved back to the family farm.

“NPPD has given me an opportunity to still ‘protect the herd,’ and do it from a chair,” Bill said. “I’ll keep doing that for as long as I’m able.” www.mpcc.e du | 80 0 . 3 4 5. 3 6 0 0 | 5

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STUDENT EARNS

SEAL OF BILITERACY WITH ASSISTANCE FROM MPCC A whole new world has opened up for Elli Springer.

The Valentine native has been honored with a Seal of Biliteracy, acknowledging that she is now proficient in Spanish as well as English.

The recognition comes after Springer took online Spanish classes through Mid-Plains Community College. She will now be able to communicate with a wider range of people – no matter where life takes her.

“I really like languages,” Springer said.

“They are fascinating to me. Being bilingual is such an important skill to have because it provides so many opportunities.”

Springer began taking Spanish classes through Valentine High School as a sophomore and enjoyed them so much that, for a while, she considered becoming a translator. By her senior year, she was taking Spanish courses through MPCC as an independent study.

“Mid-Plains Community College is a great place for an education because the instruction is so individualized,” Springer said. “My instructor was really helpful. I could contact him anytime with questions, and he would answer them. He also provided me with a lot of online resources for things like pronunciations and verb conjugation.

He made it easy to learn.”

“That was a big cost savings for me,” Springer said. “I had been considering going out of state for college, but when I looked at those prices compared to MidPlains – MPCC just made sense. Not only did I save on tuition, and time down the road, but I also got a great education because of the oneon-one instruction.”

“Regardless of what my future holds, I will benefit from the skills I acquired through MidPlains.”

The Spanish classes through MPCC were separate from her high school course load, but Springer also completed dual credit classes through Mid-Plains. By the time her high school graduation rolled around, she had a total of 30 credit hours from MPCC, and 10 of those were in Spanish.

Springer earned a 4.0 GPA from both MPCC and Valentine High School and graduated valedictorian.

“Regardless of what my future holds, I will benefit from the skills I acquired through Mid-Plains,” Springer said. “My grandma always said, ‘The more you can expand your mind, the better off you’ll be’.”

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RIBBON CUT ON MPCC

IMPERIAL CAMPUS EXPANSION Students at the Mid-Plains Community College Imperial Campus are learning in a newly renovated facility that is better set up to meet area demands.

Since the campus opened at its current location in 2008, it has provided the Chase County region with both traditional and non-traditional classes, business and targeted industry trainings and a variety of avocational and recreational courses.

A steady increase in full-time enrollment as well as additional partnerships with local businesses and industries resulted in a need to accommodate enhanced workforce training, state-of-the-art mobile equipment and advancements in distance learning technology.

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In the summer of 2020, ground broke on a 2,500-square-foot addition on the north end of the existing campus building.

The addition consists of two new classrooms, a multipurpose community room, an office that doubles as a storm shelter, restrooms, a mechanical room and a storage room.

In January, classes were moved into the new space so they could continue uninterrupted. The second phase of

the expansion project began a month later. Crews remodeled the south end of the facility – overhauling the distance learning classroom, creating a testing room, adding a simulation lab to the health sciences classroom, updating the building entryway and implementing new furniture and equipment throughout.

The expansion has provided more opportunities for additional enrollment in nursing, CPR and Emergency Medical Services. Not only is there increased class space for general education/transfer courses, but the multipurpose room can also be used for on-site, applied technology courses and new, hands-on learning opportunities.

Those opportunities include everything from meetings and business trainings to children’s classes and community education workshops.

SPURGIN WINS

BROKEN BOW CAMPUS

KC LAUNCH BUSINESS COMPETITION

RECOGNIZED FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE

A Paxton woman is the winner of Keith County’s first KC Launch Business Competition.

Mid-Plains Community College was honored by the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce this year for 20 years of service to the community and surrounding area.

MaKenzi Spurgin won $10,000 to assist her in starting MAK’s Party Express, a party bus that will provide transportation for groups, businesses and civic and sports organizations.

“I am an avid ‘Shark Tank’ viewer and was so excited for the opportunity that KC Launch provided,” Spurgin said. “I am over the moon excited that I won because all of the ideas were amazing.

I am thrilled to bring the idea of MAK’s Party Express to life for Ogallala, Keith County and the surrounding area.”

The Mid-Plains Community College Ogallala Campus joined forces with Keith County Area Development to offer the KC Launch Business Competition. The contest was modeled after similar competitions MPCC has offered in McCook and Valentine.

The goal was to stimulate entrepreneurship and support business expansion. Winnings had to be used to establish or continue operations that would employ people in Keith County.

There were 10 entries in the competition.

The prize money was a combination of $5,000 contributed by Keith County Area Development and a $5,000 grant from the Keith County Foundation Fund. Approximately $2,500 worth of inkind donations were also received and awarded.

The MPCC Broken Bow Campus has seen a lot of progress over the past two decades. Mid-Plains had only been offering two to six classes per semester in Broken Bow and the surrounding communities prior to the establishment of a campus in 2001.

The “campus,” at that time, was essentially a 10-foot by 18-foot office MPCC rented in the back of the city library. Most instruction took place at the high school after regular school hours.

Over the course of a decade, demand grew to the point that more than 40 classes were being offered to approximately 200 students every semester.

Both college and city officials recognized the campus could no longer keep up with the community’s needs. On Nov. 5, 2010, ground broke on the new, larger facility that exists today.

By 2017, there was a need for expansion again. Another 3,500-square-feet of space was added to the south end of the shop to accommodate more classes and trainings for local businesses.

The annex led to dedicated space for welding and electrical classes - including a grinding room. That freed up the original shop space for automotive technology, small engine repair and other programs to be determined based on industry need.

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FRANZEN NAMED

MPCC DISTINGUISHED ALUM Danni Franzen, of North Platte, is the recipient of the 2021 Mid-Plains Community College Distinguished Alumni Award.

She was honored Oct. 3 during the Nebraska Community College Association’s annual meeting at the John N. Harms Center in Scottsbluff.

“I’m kind of shocked but also proud to have been selected,” Franzen (’94) said of the recognition. “I think it speaks volumes to the opportunities MPCC offers.

Mid-Plains Community College is a huge asset to our community, and this award just goes to show that you can do a lot with a good foundation.”

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As the chief provider network officer at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Franzen leads the division responsible for creating a unified physician group that works cohesively to ensure quality health care is available and accessible throughout the hospital’s service area.

She was nominated for the Distinguished Alumni Award by MPCC cabinet members.

“Danni is extremely deserving of this award,” said Dr. Jody Tomanek, MPCC’s

Vice President of Academic Affairs and North Platte Community College. “I have known Danni for a number of years - first as an alumni member of the MLT Program Advisory Board. As an alumnus, she continues to support the MLT program by helping to recruit students as well as provide input to make our program even better. With her help, we were able to enter into an agreement with GPHealth to help provide adjunct instructors for the program. I have also watched her career continue to excel at GPHealth, and we

are so proud that she is an alum of MPCC and that she got her start with us.”

She has had several positions of increasing responsibility in laboratory and management since that time.

Franzen enrolled at MPCC after graduating from North Platte High School in 1991.

Franzen worked her way up to transfusion medical supervisor, laboratory director, senior director of Ancillary Services and senior director of Provider Network before assuming her current role.

About Franzen

She initially chose the college because of its affordability. By attending MPCC, she could take classes while living at home, and tuition was much less expensive than if she would have begun her educational journey at a four-year college or university.

She entered the college’s MLT program in 1992 – having developed a fondness for microscopes in her biology labs.

“I can remember the MLT instructor asking me why I wanted to study med lab tech, and I told him it was because looking through microscopes was cool,” Franzen said. “I was pretty naïve at the time, and I really believe the personalization and individualized instruction were what got me through.

Because the class sizes were small, I was able to spend more time with the instructors, and they genuinely cared about any challenges I was facing. I feel like we lose that sometimes with bigger institutions.”

Among her many responsibilities over the years, Franzen helped develop the lab and manage its day-to-day operations, developed and managed clinical services and was instrumental in implementing automation to improve productivity and efficiency within GPHealth.

She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah in 2006 and obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Bellevue University in 2016.

“I’ll be forever grateful to MPCC for helping shape me into the person I’ve become and for giving me a foundation that allowed me to be successful,” Franzen said. “I was able to get a great education that set me up for a lifelong career - without taking on any student debt. I’m living proof that MPCC is important to our community and our region.”

Franzen graduated from MPCC in 1994 and was immediately hired for two part-time MLT jobs – one of which was at GPHealth.

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The NEXT EDITION of the alumni magazine will include class notes!

• Alumni Job Changes • Life Events • & Other Updates

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MPCC TO IMPLEMENT

VR/AR TECHNOLOGY IN CLASSROOMS Mid-Plains Community College is on the cusp of something big Thanks to new technology, the way students learn is about to change – forever.

“From the student perspective, we’re seeing this technology spark a lot of interest,” said Paul Knopick, MPCC Director of Early Entry and Program Development. “From the college perspective, it gives our faculty another creative way to teach and engage students.”

Knopick’s comments were made in reference to eight new zSpace units now in use at the college. Each offers an explorative and experiential learning experience through virtual and augmented reality.

VR and AR provide lifelike simulations in fun, immersive and interactive ways. By transforming the delivery of educational content, VR and AR promote creativity and curiosity, stimulate interest and offer visualizations not always possible in traditional classroom settings.

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“With zSpace, our programs can have topics and resources at their fingertips at the click of a button,” Knopick said. “For example, classes won’t have to have a cadaver because there’s an app for that. They won’t need an electric car to learn about one because there’s an app for that, too. In this day and age, technology is king, and this is a great way to create more opportunities for students and take the education we provide them to another level.”

The zSpace units consist of eight oversized tablets installed with apps for anatomy and physiology, biological sciences and chemistry. They come with special glasses that allow wearers to view scenes in 3-D – as though they were part of them.

Additionally, the eyewear provides students with the freedom to move and interact with the objects they are studying.

Students can either view objects on their own or see what their instructor is seeing.

Styluses allow students to pick up and hold 3-D objects to examine them, and images can be projected thanks to a zView camera.

McCook and North Platte each received two zSpace units. The remaining four were sent to the community campuses.

MPCC CELEBRATES

MPCC REMEMBERS

DR. PETE JOHNSON

JANET STADLER

Longtime psychology instructor to retire from NPCC Longtime psychology instructor Dr. Pete Johnson retired from North Platte Community College in December of 2020.

Johnson taught psychology for more than five decades – at NPCC, specifically, for 20 years.

“I’m a pretty serious Christian and I felt led to North Platte in 2000,” Johnson said. “I had been through the community around 1990 on my way to Oregon and had stopped and walked around the pond by the Veterans Memorial. During the walk, I had an overwhelming feeling that I was going to return to that place someday. The premonition always stuck with me.”

Johnson enjoyed watching his NPCC students grow and succeed over the years. He knows of several who went on to receive doctorates of their own.

“Watching students accomplish things, no matter what field they went into, really tickled my fancy,” Johnson said. “I always encouraged them to have faith and turn it into a purpose and meaning for their lives.”

Since retirement, Johnson has started a ministry with four of his friends called, “God’s Five PRs.”

Janet Stalder, a McCook Community College instructor who was an instrumental part of the campus for almost 40 years, passed away May, 19, 2021.

Stalder was hired Aug. 14, 1981, as a full-time business and office technology instructor and taught accounting/business, business and technology and computer science classes to thousands of students.

She was involved in many facets of the college beyond teaching and was an active member of the McCook community, the chamber of commerce, the McCook Cordials and Sertoma. When she wasn’t teaching, she worked at other jobs, including customer service training at The Coppermill, the marina at Johnson Lake, Tied House Pizza and Citta Deli.

In 2020, Stalder was named postsecondary teacher of the year by the Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska. She was the McCook Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Educator of the Year award. In May of 2012, she was named MCC’s winner of the Dr. Gene Budig Outstanding Faculty Award. She was recognized for 40 years of service.

Stalder served as co-advisor of Phi Beta Lambda and was named to its national Wall of Fame in 2005 and the Nebraska Phi Beta Lambda Advisor Wall of Fame in 2017. She served on a number of college committees over the years and was a major advocate for the employee wellness program. The past several years she also instructed students from McCook’s Work Ethic Camp.

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MPCC WELCOMES

NEW FACULTY Mid-Plains Community College started the fall semester with four new full-time faculty members: Dr. Cassandra Pfeifer, Lindsay Schwartz, Stephen Chicoine and Courtney Johnston.

Dr. Cassandra Pfeifer Pfeifer teaches English at the McCook campus.

Originally from Northern Illinois, she also lived in England for a year and, prior to moving to McCook, was living in Southern Louisiana.

“After earning my MA, I spent some time working in insurance in Rockford, Ill. before pursuing my Ph.D. in 2014,” Pfeifer said. “After that I taught English for the UL system in Louisiana and for South Louisiana Community College.”

Lindsay Schwartz

Schwartz, originally from McCool Junction, has served as an adjunct nursing clinical instructor for MPCC for the past two years.

She is now a full-time nurse educator in North Platte.

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“As an adjunct instructor, I really found my passion for teaching nursing students,” Schwartz said. “I love the nursing faculty team at MPCC.” She gained a lot of preceptor experience as a staff registered nurse in a medicalsurgical unit at Great Plains Health.

Schwartz has been employed at the hospital for the past five years and will continue to work there on an “as needed” basis.

Stephen Chicoine Chicoine is the college’s new sociology and criminal justice instructor in North Platte. He was born in Troy, N.Y. and raised in Beaufort, S.C.

“As a graduate student, I found that I had a passion for introducing fields of sociology and criminal justice to students,” Chicoine said. “My teachers were critical to my development, and I believe it is important to help provide the same opportunities to my own students.

Teaching at Mid-Plains gives me the opportunity to help prepare students for academic success.”

Chicoine previously taught sociology for two semesters at Claflin University, in Orangeburg, S.C. and had a postdoctoral position from 2019-21 at the University of South Carolina teaching ethics and social advocacy.

He takes over for Courtney Johnston, who had been the sociology and criminal justice instructor in North Platte. She is now the psychology instructor.

Courtney Johnston Johnston is from a ranch south of Brewster. She earned an Associate of Arts degree From MPCC in 2007.

“Most of my professional experience is from the field,” Johnston said. “I worked as a probation officer for District 11 and District 12 probation offices in North Platte and Gering where I developed a love for working with people. I later worked for Region II Human Services in North Platte as a community support care coordinator - deepening my love for working with those who were atrisk or suffering from mental illness or substance abuse issues.”

She began teaching for MPCC as an adjunct instructor in 2014, and in 2016, hired on as a full-time sociology and criminal justice instructor.

MPCC FACULTY/STAFF RECOGNITIONS

Our dedicated employees make MPCC great!

Cathy Nutt

Sharon Kircher

Lorrie Mowry

Jean Condon

Business instructor Cathy Nutt was recognized by the Nebraska State Business Education Association. She received the Teacher of the Year Award for Outstanding Contributions to Business Education by a Postsecondary Teacher.

Sharon Kircher received the Administrator’s Award from the Nebraska Community College Association during the NCCA’s annual conference in Scottsbluff

As the Business and Community Education coordinator for Mid-Plains Community College, Kircher works with area businesses to create training courses and professional development opportunities.

Lorrie Mowry was named Postsecondary Business Teacher of the Year by the National Business Education Association. The criteria for the award included contributions to business education through teaching, participation and publishing – to include major articles, grant proposals and both scholarly and nonscholarly publications.

Business instructor and chair of the college’s Business and Technology division Jean Condon won the 2021 Dr. Donald L. Moore Leadership Award from the MountainPlains Business Education Association. The award, which recognizes outstanding leaders within the M-PBEA, is the most prestigious honor that a member can receive.

Teacher of the Year Award

NCCA Administrator’s Award

Business Teacher of the Year

Dr. Donald L. Moore Leadership Award

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CLARK NAMED MPCC

RODEO TEAM COACH Mid-Plains Community College has a new rodeo team coach.

Wyatt Clark, of McCook, has been hired to lead the timed events, joining roughstock coach Aukai Kaai. Clark takes over the role of former MPCC rodeo team coach Garrett Nokes who passed away in February.

After high school, in 2009, he headed to Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, Wyo. where his uncle, Jake Clark, is the rodeo team coach. It was there that Wyatt added saddle bronc riding to his list of events.

Originally from Wellfleet, Clark has spent more than 20 years competing in the rodeo arena. The sport, itself, has been part of his life for as long as he can remember.

He qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in bareback riding in 2010 as a freshman then was temporarily sidelined because of a shoulder injury.

Clark competed in calf roping, team roping and bareback riding in high school – earning the state championship in bareback riding as well as a National Little Britches Rodeo All-Around Cowboy title.

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After three years at EWC, Wyatt transferred to the University of Wyoming. He returned to the CNFR in the bareback riding in 2013 and finished fourth in the nation.

Wyatt made a final trip to the collegiate finals in bareback riding in 2014 – that

time representing Chadron State College where he was pursuing a master’s degree in organizational management.

Wyatt went on to spend two years as the assistant rodeo team coach at CSC. He got his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association permit in 2009 and his card in 2015. In 2014, Wyatt qualified for the PRCA Permit Holder of the Year Challenge, finishing fourth in the bareback riding. He also ended up fourth in the bareback riding at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo that same year.

While he continues to team rope at jackpots, Wyatt has left most of the professional competitions behind. He currently works as a vice president at First Central Bank McCook but stays involved with the rodeo world as a judge for the PRCA, National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, Mid-States Rodeo Association – and now as a coach for the MPCC Rodeo Team.

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Mid-Plains Community College students began the fall semester in updated, fresh-looking facilities and spaces.

MPCC STARTS FALL

WITH RENOVATED FACILITIES

Construction was almost nonstop over the summer as crews worked on projects at MPCC campuses in Imperial, McCook and North Platte.

“Having nice facilities is important in attracting prospective students, but it’s also important in the students’ day-to-day experiences at MPCC,” said Mike Steele, Vice President of Administrative Services. “Not to mention, if we don’t keep structures up-to-date, they will fall into disrepair and cost us twice as much to fix down the road.”

Child Development Center

Quad

The Quad has been the biggest renovation project in North Platte.

The landscaped area features an amphitheater, a 50-foot by 60-foot pavilion, two gas fire pits, 220-volt outlets, a sound system, picnic tables, benches and charging stations.

The Child Development Center in McCook is currently under construction. The goal is to expand and modernize the space.

Imperial

Sidewalk

The Imperial Campus features a 2,500-square-foot addition on the north end – complete with two new classrooms, a multi-purpose community room, an office that doubles as a storm shelter, restrooms, a mechanical and storage room.

Sidewalks on the McCook campus were improved this year. A focus was put on those in greatest need of replacement because of tripping hazards, holes and other blemishes.

McDonaldBelton 134

Classrooms in both McCook and North Platte got a makeover during summer break. McDonaldBelton 134 in North Platte is now the home base for Project Search students.

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Student Activities Center

The Student Activities Center on the South Campus in North Platte was remodeled to create a space better suited for hosting student events.

Make an impact today.

Leave a lasting legacy for tomorrow.

The funds provided by you today stay in our community and help to create a stronger tomorrow.

To discuss your impact, contact Jacob Rissler, Director of Institutional Advancement 308-535-3754 | risslerj@mpcc.edu | visit mpcc.edu/about/invest-in-mpcc.php

MID-PLAINS COMMUNITY COLLEGE MCC | NPCC ALUMNI OFFICE 601 W STATE FARM ROAD NORTH PLATTE NE 69101 WWW.MPCC.EDU

TELL US YOUR STORY WE WANT TO CELEBRATE & SHARE 308-535-3754 alumni@mpcc.edu www.mpcc.edu/alumni

MCC ALUM PUSHES THE LIMITS

OF CAKE DECORATING

FIND STORY HERE

To learn more or to donate online: mpcc.edu/about/invest-in-mpcc.php Mid-Plains Community College does not discriminate based upon any protected status.

Please see http://www.mpcc.edu/about/non-discrimination-policy.php