UNK Today Spring 2010

UNK Today l Spring 2010

AT UNK:Great things are happening

On May 7 I had the privilege of pre-

siding over my 21st commencement

as Chancellor of the University of

Nebraska at Kearney.

Those 21 graduation ceremonies

translate to approximately 10,000

degrees awarded and nearly eight

years of working with remarkably tal-

ented students and an exceptional

group of faculty and staff.

How quickly time passes. And what

at honor it is to serve an institution so

deeply committed to educating

tomorrow’s leaders.

Among UNK’s exceptional faculty

is Dr. Rick Miller, Professor of

Psychology and Psychology Department Chair. On November 19,

at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Dr. Miller was honored as U.S.

Professor of the Year by the Council for the Advancement and

Support of Education.

He is the first Nebraska educator to receive Professor of the

Year recognition in the nearly 30-year history of this prestigious

national teaching award. It is, of course, a tremendous achievement

for him personally – and the honor is reflected throughout the

entire University. I say it often and I believe it wholeheartedly:

UNK’s faculty is second to none.

And among our remarkable students are the members of UNK’s

Wind Ensemble. In late March I had the pleasure of traveling with

them through Western Nebraska and to Fort Collins, Colorado.

Directed by Dr. Neal Schnoor, associate professor and director of

bands, the Wind Ensemble performed and held workshops in

Ogallala and North Platte, and they also performed at our alumni

gathering in Fort Collins.

These students are enrolled at UNK from across Nebraska with

hometowns that include Ashland and Aurora, Bassett and Beatrice,

Kearney, Omaha, Scottsbluff and St. Libory, to name just a few.

Several come from beyond our state and national borders. Without

exception, they represented our campus in exemplary fashion.

Every day, everywhere great things are happening at your alma

mater. We welcome and encourage you to be a part of all that is

UNK.

FROM THE CHANCELLOR

5Five students a year will be accepted into a cooperative pro-gram between UNK and UNMC that will lead to theiracceptance into medical school. See page 3.

6The six faculty members who will retire this year werehonored for their years of service. See page 2.

9Nine alumni from around the state and the country start-ed three-year terms on the Alumni Association’s board ofdirectors last fall. See page 18.

11UNK’s football team won a school record 11 games and wonan NCAA playoff contest last fall. See page 13.

38Herb Schimek ’62 spent 38 years lobbying for improvementsfor Nebraska teachers. See page 6.

50Tony Blair, already a member of the 50 States Marathon Club,has his sights set on joining the Century Club by running in100 races. See page 7.

ON THE COVER

BY THE NUMBERS

P sychology professor Dr. Rick Miller was one of onlyfour educators to be named a 2009 U. S. Professorof the Year Award winner. He is the first Nebraska

professor to be recognized in the nearly 30 years of this pres-tigious national teaching award. Faculty members in hisdepartment said he is the kind of person who makes a dif-ference. For the story on Dr. Miller see page 4. �

Sincerely,

Douglas A. Kristensen, J.D.

Chancellor

Dr.

Ric

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Nebraska’s newest star the-ater is not only located atUNK, it is also the most

modern between Chicago andPhoenix. And, it’s free.

It is the focal point of the cam-pus’ new $14.5 million BrunerHall of Science addition thatopened last fall. It is used to teachphysics, astronomy, earth scienceand teacher education courses. Itis open to visiting public andschool groups.

It is the UNK Planetarium, a60-seat public science theater setunder a 30-foot dome that canshow the sky as it would be seenfrom any place on earth at anytime, past, present or future,including the sun, the moon, theplanets and more than 7,000 stars.

The new planetarium is theresult of a $551,000 NASA edu-cation grant that was put in placesix years ago.

Dr. Jose Mena-Werth, profes-sor of physics and physical sci-ence, said a suggestion from JohnFalconer, director of sponsoredprograms, got the ball rolling.“He suggested that we write afederal grant for a star projector toreplace our 40-year old instru-ment. I wrote the short, two-pagedocument making our case for a

new planetarium,” he said. “Aswith all grant applications, weknew it would be a drawn outapproval process.”

It was a year later before weheard anything, Dr. Mena-Werthsaid. “Sen. Ben Nelson’s officesaid they were coming to visitUNK. They wanted to see the oldplanetarium, and they wanted usto make our case for how a newplanetarium would supportUNK’s educational mission. Thiswas our first indication that ourgrant was still in the running.”

When Senator Nelson’s staffarrived, Falconer escorted theminto the basement that housed theold planetarium. They had tonegotiate steep, narrow stairs tothe front door of the old planetar-ium that was located 30 feetbelow the main entrance to Mary

Morse Lecture Hall.Once inside, they walked

down another 10 steps beforefinally entering the old planetari-um

“With this adventure inspelunking, I think SenatorNelson’s staff was already halfconvinced that we needed a newplanetarium. After the initialgreetings, they made themselvescomfortable on our greenNaugahyde circular benches. Ipresented a mini planetariumshow,” Dr. Mena-Werth said.“Ella Fitzgerald provided the sun-down music with her rendition of‘Spring Can Really Hang You UpThe Most.’”

During the show, Dr. Mena-Werth said he explained how theplanetarium was used

in astronomy, earth sciences,meteorology, physics and teachereducation courses. “I mentionedthe visits we received from schoolgroups and private organizations.I also emphasized the value of theplanetarium as a tool for reachingout to future students and theirparents. Finally, I pointed out theservice we provide with publicplanetarium shows to the citizensof South Central Nebraska.”

After what Falconer and Dr.Mena-Werth thought was a suc-cessful presentation, the next jobwas to wait.

And wait. “For a year and half, we

played a very simple game – NoNews is Good News,” he said.“No news meant we were stillunder consideration. Then, oneglorious day, we received wordthat we had been awarded thegrant. We got the award letter sixmonths later.

“Serendipitously, we receivedthe grant at the same time thatUNK was allocated funds to ren-ovate Bruner Hall of Science.During the next three years, webuilt the new UNK Planetarium.For me, it is a dream come true.”

Dr. Mena-Werth encouragesvisitors to campus to stop by andadmire the new Theater of theStars. It is located in the additionjust north of Bruner Hall ofScience. It is also next toNebraska’s only Foucault pendu-lum. The Foucault pendulum wasused in the first experiment thatproved the Earth rotated on itsaxis. �

STAR THEATER: Under a 30-foot dome, more than 7,000 stars,the moon, the sun and the planets can be seen in the planetarium.

Jim Rundstrom Alumni Director Emeritus

Editor

� Planetariumkey part of new$14.5 millionBruner Hall of Science

CAMPUS NEWS

Spring 2010 l UNK Today l 1

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Six faculty members haveannounced plans to retireduring the 2010 year.

Dr. Elaine Maret Batenhorst’64, MSE’83 joined the staff in1980 as an instructor in theLearning Skills Center. Prior toher current position in TeacherEducation, she also served asinterim director of the LearningSkills Center for one year and shetaught in the ElementaryEducation Department andProfessional Teacher EducationDepartment. Prior to joiningUNK, she taught at Gothenburg.

Dr. Gary Davis joined thestaff in 1990 as director of bandsand assistant professor of music.He was appointed director of theHonors Program in 2003. Dr.Davis has received many honorsand awards from both theNebraska Music EducatorsAssociation and the NebraskaBandmasters Association.

He was voted professor of theyear by the student body in thecollege of Fine Arts andHumanities and he has beeninducted into the NebraskaMusic Educators Hall of Fame.

Dr. Richard ‘Dick’ Lebsackhas been on the staff since 1976.Among his positions on campus,

he served as chair for theBusiness Administration/Education Department and aprofessional flight instructor.

Lebsack has professionallicenses and certifications inaviation – private, commercial,instrument and sea plane ratings.

John Lillis MAE’94 beganhis career at UNK in 1986 asreference librarian. In 1987, hebecame Reference/ArchivesLibrarian. As an adjunct facultymember, Lillis also taught UNKcourses in history.

Dr. Phyllis Markussen ’68,MSE’88 joined the staff as agraduate assistant in 1986 and in1988 accepted the position of

assistant professor. She has been chair of the

Department of Family Studiesand Interior Design since 2001.Among her awards are theLeland Holdt Security MutualLife Distinguished FacultyAward, College of Business andTechnology and KearneyChamber of CommerceOutstanding Teaching Award.

Dr. Don Morgan has been aprofessor of accounting andfinance since 1988.

During that time he wasdirector of the MBA programand long-time sponsor of thestudent organization, theAccounting Society. �

Retiring faculty, staff honored for years of service

CAMPUS NEWS

2 l UNK Today l Spring 2010

A long-sought piece of proper-ty on the east side of campus thatwas acquired by the universitylast fall has a long and varied his-tory of businesses that served stu-dents and faculty. The parcel iscomprised of the west end of the800 block between 25th and 26thStreets. The building on the prop-erty, which was vacant, wasdemolished in November due toits structural problems.

Built in 1922 by J. D.Saunders, the building was calledthe Club House. An advertisementin the 1923 Blue and Gold year-book, detailed the original busi-nesses. They were Club HouseCafeteria – “largest and best;”Club House Grocery and market –“staple and fancy groceries andmeats;” Club House School andNotion Store – “everything inschool supplies;” Club HouseBeauty Shop – “first class equip-ment and service;” and ClubHouse Barber Shop – “the sani-tary shop of personal service.”Many of those businesses contin-ued through the 1930s.

Beginning in the 1940s, the

Cozy Corner was a popular attrac-tion. Owned and operated byMom and Paul Porter, it was “theonly place in town whereK.S.T.C. students are surroundedby a friendly atmosphere whileenjoying home styled foods.”

The Campus Café was anotherpopular site for home-cookedfoods. It was called the Favorite‘Coffee Pot’ - “where students andinstructors associate.” The caféserved students through the1960s.

In the late 1940s the building

served as the home of CollegeCleaners - “craftsmen in keepingthings new.”

In the 1960s, businessesincluded The Book Mark, provid-ing books, school supplies andvarieties and the College SupplyShop that had college suppliesand pastries. Another businesswas Sports-Craft Supply Store“where they sell the best in every-thing for sports.”

During the 1970s, 1980s and1990s, there were myriad busi-nesses located in the building.

They included Hogan’s SportingGoods and Blade’s Sports, an artsupply store, a dress shop,Reiter’s Variety Store, a jewelryshop that included a watch repairservice, a College Barber Shop, apet grooming center and an armedservices recruiting office.

Most recently, the buildinghoused a book store.

Dr. Barbara Johnson, vicechancellor for business andfinance, said plans for develop-ment in that area are in the pre-liminary stages.�

DEMOLISHED: The long-standing building just east of the campus that served a variety of business-

es since it was built in 1922 was demolished last fall. Plans for the use of the area are being developed.

� Razed buildingeast of campusprovided servicessince 1922


CAMPUS NEWS

T he interest in increasingthe number of physiciansin rural Nebraska hasresulted in an agreement

between UNK and theUniversity of Nebraska MedicalCenter to establish the KearneyHealth Opportunities Program.

“One of the great benefits ofbeing part of the university sys-tem is the opportunity to cooper-ate with resources from each ofthe campuses and work togeth-er,” Chancellor Doug Kristensensaid. “Two campuses have cometogether in an effort to educatemore physicians for service inrural Nebraska.”

The program will target highschool seniors interested in fam-ily medicine. Five students ayear will be accepted into theprogram, receive a full scholar-

ship to study pre-medicine atUNK and be guaranteed admis-sion into medical school if theyfulfill the requirements of theundergraduate degree. While atUNK, students will also beexpected to participate in theHealth Science Club, take cam-pus visits to UNMC and shadowprofessionals.

“This program is a greatopportunity for UNK studentswho are interested in the field ofhealth care. It is also a tremen-dous service to the citizens ofthe state of Nebraska, particular-ly rural Nebraska,” ChancellorKristensen said.

Jeff Hill, associate dean ofadmissions at the UNMCCollege of Medicine, said UNKis a perfect fit for UNMC toexpand the program with itsstrong academics and locationthat allows it to pull studentsfrom a wide area of ruralNebraska.

“The faculty have beenextremely dedicated anddemand excellence from theirstudents, which pays off at ourschool,” Hill said.

The new program at UNK is

an expansion of the RuralHealth Opportunities Programthat was started by UNMC in1990 as a way to encouragemore rural students to return tobecome doctors in small-townNebraska. That program cur-rently is in place at Wayne StateCollege and Chadron StateCollege.

Hill said it’s important thatthe UNK program begin imme-diately because it takes an aver-age of 11 years to produce acompetent and comprehensiveprimary care physician. “One-third of the rural physicians inthe state are older than 55,” hesaid.

The program will field itsfirst class this fall. �

Two faculty recognized for their accomplishments

Two faculty members, Dr.Maha Younes ’82,MSE’85 and Dr. PhyllisMarkussen ’68, MSE’88

r e c e i v e dmajor hon-ors.

D r .Y o u n e s ,chair of theDepartmentof SocialWork, wasnamed 2009S o c i a lWorker ofthe Year byt h eNebraska Chapter of theNational Association of SocialWorkers. Dr. Markussen, chairof the Department of FamilyStudies and Interior Design, wonthe Innovation Development andEngagement Award.

Of Dr. Younes, the presenterof the award said, “No matter thechallenges or barriers that faceher, any project Dr. Younesundertakes is met with dedica-tion, persistence and commit-ment until the goal is reached.”

In addition to teaching andresearch, Dr. Younes’ profession-al work includes more than 20years of clinical experienceworking with survivors of sexual

abuse, domestic violence, eatingdisorders and relationship dys-functions. Her clinical experi-ence began at Hastings RegionalCenter where she worked as apsychiatric social worker. Sheserved as a clinical social workerat South Central BehavioralServices from 1985 to 1991. Shealso maintained a private prac-tice agency from 1986 to 2001.

For several years, Dr. Youneshas led the Nebraska Consortiumof Social Work School andworked closely with policy mak-ers and leaders from theNebraska Department of Health& Human Services to promotethe professionalization of thechild welfare workforce inNebraska. Through her advoca-cy and leadership, she hasstressed that improvements inchild welfare services inNebraska will only emergethrough the professional prepa-ration and hiring of graduateswith social work degrees.

“In their time of need,Nebraska’s most vulnerable chil-dren and families deserve thehelp of those who are most qual-ified and dedicated to their serv-ice,” she said.

In 1999, Dr. Younes devel-oped the International SocialWork Experience Program at

UNK with the goal of promotingcultural competence and globalengagement. In addition toextensive sightseeing, the studyexperiences that Dr. Younes cre-ates focus on social policy andprograms related to children,families, the elderly and minori-ty groups.

She has led students and pro-fessionals to destinations inIsrael, the West Bank, Norway,Denmark, Finland, Sweden,China, Australia and Ireland.The study experiences havefocused on health care, educa-tion, social welfare and criminaljustice. She has described theinternational study experiencesas “life-changing” and has pub-lished research on the impact ofinternational study on collegestudents.

In 2005, Dr. Younes was oneof only 14 scholars from univer-sities across the nation selectedas a Fulbright Scholar toThailand and Myanmar (Burma).

“My ultimate goal is to pro-mote the cultural competenceand global awareness of studentsand increase their efficacy as cit-izens of the global community,”Dr. Younes said.

Dr. Markussen received heruniversity-wide award that rec-ognizes faculty members who

have extended their academicexpertise beyond the boundariesof the university in ways thatenriched the broader community.

Under Dr. Markussen’s lead-ership, UNK’s Interior Designprogram has become one of onlyseven nationwide to be accredit-ed by both the Council forInterior Design Accreditationand the National Kitchen andBath Association.

In 2008, the program receivedthe Outstanding Program trophyfrom that association. Suchnational recognition has made

the programa regionalattraction,and studentswho enrollconsistentlywin nationalc o m p e t i -tions andgain intern-ship experi-ence aroundthe country.

In addi-tion, Dr. Markussen has servedon numerous committees, as aconsultant and as a member ofthe board of directors for theNational Kitchen and BathAssociation, and was inductedinto its hall of Fame in 2004. �

Dr. Maha Younes

Dr. PhyllisMarkussen

UNK and UNMC partner to increase rural doctors

NATIONAL PROFESSOR OF THEYEAR:

P sychology professorDr. Richard Miller wasone of four educatorsto be named a 2009 U.

S. Professor of the Year Awardrecipient by the Council forAdvancement and Support ofEducation (CASE) sponsored bythe Carnegie Foundation for theAdvancement of Teaching.

He is the first Nebraska pro-fessor to be recognized in thenearly 30 years of this presti-gious national teaching award.As a winner, Dr. Miller receiveda $5,000 cash award.

Dr. Miller earned the awardin the Outstanding Master’sUniversities and Colleges cate-gory. The 2009 winners wereselected from more than 300nominees.

Judges select winners basedon four criteria – impact on andinvolvement with undergraduatestudents, scholarly approach to

teaching and learning, contribu-tions to undergraduate educationin the institution, and currentand former undergraduate stu-dents.

The U. S. Professors of theYear awards program, created in1981, is the only national initia-tive specifically designed to rec-ognize excellence in undergrad-uate teaching and mentoring.

John Lippincott, president ofCASE, said the 2009 winnersrepresent the best in undergrad-uate teaching and mentoring.“These professors have a pas-sion for teaching that sparks apassion for learning in their stu-

dents. As great teachers, theycombine a profound knowledgeof their disciplines with creativeteaching methods to engage stu-dents within and outside theclassroom. We celebrate theirachievements and contributionsto teaching and student learn-ing.”

Anthony Bryk, president ofthe Carnegie Foundation for theAdvancement of Teaching, saidthat the four national winnershave shaped both the lives oftheir students and the well-beingof their communities.

“These dedicated teachersare not only leading their stu-dents to develop a deep under-standing of their respectivefields – geology, sociology, psy-chology and chemistry – butthey are also mirroring exam-ples of scholarship, citizenshipand community involvementthat ultimately will lead to con-tributions toward a better socie-ty and indeed a better world,” hesaid.

Dr. Miller has been describedas an “. . . engaging teacher whochallenges his students to thinkcritically about the material theyencounter.”

Dr. Miller is known for help-ing undergraduate students criti-cally examine and contribute tothe knowledge base in psy-chology. For all of hisclasses, he designsoptional lab experi-ences in whichsmall groupsdefine and

investigate a real question thatcould – and often does - lead toa new discovery.

Students plan and conduct allaspects of their studies, fromobtaining the participants to

coding and analyzing the dataand structuring their papers.Many have presented and pub-lished their research results. Dr.Miller’s leadership in teachingand research helped strengthentheir commitment to teachingthroughout the PsychologyDepartment which received theNU system-wide teachingexcellence award.

Dr. Miller saidthat when stu-dents investi-gate somethingthey are inter-ested in, theirinvestment ande n g a g e m e n tc h a n g e sbecause thetopic is some-thing theywant toknow

about.“I want students to be willing

to sort of venture the work forthe sake of the zest,” he said. “Iwant them to be intrinsicallyinterested in discovery.”

One project last semesterexamined whether children’sbirth order affects their ability toshare as adults. Anotherexplored whether people whoare more resistant to change aremore likely to be unsatisfiedwith their marriages.

See MILLER Page 5

� Psychologyprofessor Dr.Rick Miller hasa passion forteaching and for his students

ONLY PROGRAM OF ITS KIND

STUDENTS PUBLISH WORK

FEATURE


MILLERCotinued from page 4

“I think the most importantthing for a teacher to do is tofocus on and to promote wonderin the students about the whybehind the what,” Dr. Millersaid.

A student in one of Dr.Miller’s classes proposedexploring how students’ risktaking during spring breakmight be affected if they wereprompted about the conse-quences, specifically death.

Ryan Mulligan, the student,surveyed 77 other students theday before spring break started,measuring whether they wererisk takers or risk averse. Healso asked some to spend a fewminutes answering the question,“What happens when you die?”

After the break, Mulliganfound that risk-taking partici-pants were likely to engage ineven riskier behavior after con-templating their own ends, whilethe risk-averse participants wereless likely to engage in riskybehavior. Some of Mulligan’sresearch was eventually pub-lished in the journal Personalityand Individual Differences.

Dr. Miller helps about adozen students craft seriousresearch projects each semester.The projects usually begin ascuriosity about a particularissue. He said, “My job is to turnthat into a researchable ques-tion.”

Students who initiateresearch, rather than simplyassist faculty members on theirprojects, gain a better under-standing of its value, Dr. Millersaid. “We’re trying to promotethem understanding the processfrom the get-go.”

Staying on top of students’interest can sometimes provechallenging, Dr. Miller said.One student wanted to researchthe effectiveness of differenttypes of pick-up lines, so Dr.Miller read the literature to see ifthe student’s question could be

turned into useful scholarship.The effort is worth it, he said.

Of the roughly 200 students hehas advised in his 20 years atUNK, he estimates that at least60 percent have presented theirwork at conferences or have hadit published in journals.

Dr. Miller has also receivedthe top UNK teaching and men-toring awards – the Pratt-HeinsFoundation Award forExcellence in Scholarship andResearch. He has also receivedthe university-wide OutstandingTeaching and InstructionalCreativity Award.

Further, under his leadership,the department has not onlyreceived the university-wideOutstanding TeachingDepartment but the UNK

Departmental Teaching Awardfour times.

Dr. Miller has authored, orco-authored more than 70 bookchapters and journal articles,and he has co-edited two books.

Members of the UNKDepartment of Psychologysummed up Dr. Miller’s influ-ence. “Richard Miller is both anexemplary academic citizen andoutstanding scholar-teacher. Heis the kind of person who makesa difference. He certainly madea difference for us.” �

The Carnegie Foundationwas founded by AndrewCarnegie in 1905 and charteredin 1906 by an Act of Congress.The Carnegie Foundation for theAdvancement of Teaching is an

independent policy and researchcenter with a primary mission“to do and perform all thingsnecessary to encourage, upholdand dignify the profession of theteacher.” The improvement ofteaching and learning is centralto all of the work of the founda-tion.

The Council forAdvancement and Support ofEducation (CASE) is one of thelargest international associationsof education institutions, serv-ing more than 3,400 universi-ties, colleges, schools and relat-ed organizations in 63 countries.CASE is the leading resourcefor professional development,information and standards in thefields of education fundraising,communications, marketing andalumni relations. �

‘ENGAGING TEACHERWHO CHALLENGES HIS STUDENTS’

CLASS DISCUSSION: Dr. Miller said his job is to turn a students’ curiosity about a subject into aresearchable question. “Students who initiate research, rather than simply assist faculty members on theirprojects, gain a better understanding of its value.”

OTHER AWARDS

ABOUT THE SPONSORS

FEATURE


TAKING RISKS

Herb Schimek ‘62 is, firstand foremost, a teacher.He owns two college

degrees in education. He taughtfor two years in Colorado, sevenmore in Nebraska.

Schimek’s biggest teachingsuccess, however, has come in

the past 38 years, as he taughtstate policymakers about theneed to fund, protect andimprove public education. Hiswork touched every teacher andstudent in Nebraska in that time,and will shape the state’s educa-tion policy for years to come.

On Dec. 31, he retired asNSEA’s first – and only – direc-tor of Government Relations. Hehas accomplished much.

In the late 1960s, he was partof a tidal surge that turned theadministrator-led NSEA into ateacher-led Association.

As a leader in the HastingsEducation Association (HEA) atabout the same time, Schimek –along with Hastings colleagueand future NSEA ExecutiveDirector Jim Griess ’63, MSE’68

– led the HEA to the then-newCommission of IndustrialRelations to resolve a bargainingimpasse. The HEA, one of thefirst local associations to seeksuch relief from the CIR, wonthat case.

He was a key actor in the pas-sage of the state’s first fair dis-missal law in the 1970s, and hasinfluenced virtually every educa-tion-related bill before theLegislature since 1975.

He has been relentless in pur-suit of a slow, deliberateimprovement of the state’steacher retirement system.Schimek helped to elect scores ofeducation-friendly candidates tooffices from school board to gov-ernor – even president.

“Herb’s advocacy forNebraska teachers and studentscannot be overlooked when con-sidering those who have mademajor contributions to the state’spublic schools,” said NSEAPresident Jess Wolf.

With a smiling demeanor, amischievous twinkle and guidedby a favored idiom – Schimeksays battles on behalf of teachersand public schools are fought “onthe side of the angels” – he wasdestined for a political life.

The oldest of four sons,Schimek’s father was a joblessGerman teacher who went towork for the railroad in NorthPlatte in the 1930s. Before din-ner, the brothers read DrewPearson’s Washington Merry-Go-Round column in The NorthPlatte Telegraph. Dinner conver-sation focused on politics. Afterdinner, the brothers washed dish-es. Father then supervised home-work.

His maternal grandfather wasa Howard County officeholderand Republican Party stalwart.

“I grew up in politics,”Schimek said.

By the late 1960s, teaching atHastings, Schimek had tried, andfailed, to get on the ballot for theNSEA Board of Directors. Allbut three or four of 22 boardmembers were administrators.

“They had nomination boardsfrom each NSEA District, butyou could never find out when or

where those boards were tomeet,” he said.

A year later, Schimek wroteeach history teacher in the dis-trict, seeking campaign help. Hegot on the ballot, and was elect-ed. By the end of his first term,most administrators on the boardhad been replaced by teachers.

In mid-1971, Schimek joinedNSEA’s small staff as one of thefirst UniServ directors, and wassoon involved in campaigns andelections. One of NSEA’s firstefforts was to change the tenor ofthe State Board of Education,which had fired the commission-er of education in the midst of ameeting.

NSEA candidates were victo-rious, bringing more balance tothe board.

In 1974, the NebraskaSupreme Court ruled that aschool district could fire ateacher for any reason – or for noreason at all.

That sparked NSEA to lobbythe Legislature to pass a fair dis-missal law. Schimek was in themiddle of the lobby push thatreceived unexpected help.

“It was a tight vote in theLegislature, but it passed becausesome school boards that wantedto get rid of one or two teachersgave dismissal notices to theirentire faculty,” he said.

Schimek drove one senator toGrand Island to watch a hearingon the dismissal of the senator’snephew.

“He gave us his vote, and thebill passed with 32 (of 49)votes,” he said.

That statute, still in effect,gives Nebraska teachers facingreduction-in-force or dismissalthe right to a hearing to deter-mine whether the dismissal isjustified. Hundreds of teachingjobs have been saved over theyears, thanks to that legislation.

His personal crusade has beento improve retirement benefits.

See SCHIMEK Page 7

Herb Schimek ’62Nebraska teachers most ardent advocate

Herb Schimek

FEATURE


�A 38-yearcareer spentlobbying forimprovementsin education

Al Koontz ’76Nebraska State

Education Association

FEATURE


Tony Blair ’77 started run-ning when he was a fresh-man in high school and he

has never stopped. Inspired by his high school

coach who recruited him as afreshman, he ran cross countryand track for York High School forfour years, and did the same thenext four years at UNK.

But it was marathon runningthat eventually caught his atten-tion and has driven him since.

Shortly after running his first26-plus mile marathon in Lincolnin 1994, Blair decided running onein every state would be prettycool. He became one of about 80original members of the 50 StatesMarathon Club whose goal is torun a marathon in every state. Thatclub now has nearly 2,000 mem-bers.

When he told his wife, Jane,his plan, she said “That’s nicedear.” But as he got closer toachieving that goal, she said,“He’s actually going to do this. Hedid it and we are all happy.”

When he rounded the bendonto the track at Drake Universityduring the Des Moines Marathonin October 2008 at age 53, he hadthe satisfaction of accomplishingthat goal. That venue also remind-ed him of running there in theDrake Relays as a Loper trackathlete. “It was like the good olddays 30 years ago,” he laughed.

Blair said there is a story toevery marathon.

He ran in the mountains inMontana. He ran along BlackHills streams, over abandoned

railroad lines. He ran atop theautumn leaves in New England.He ran through Chinatown acrossthe Golden Gate Bridge. He ran tothe finish line in the stadium ofNotre Dame. He ran along theNew Jersey boardwalk.

He ran a ‘double’ marathon,the first in Bristol, NewHampshire on Saturday and sec-ond in Portland, Maine, onSunday. He ran in a marathonknown as the “Great Potato” inBoise, Idaho.

He ran alongside the biggest

names in the nation like BillRogers. He ran just days after about with pneumonia. He has fin-ished every race he started. And,he has had fun along the way.

“I’ve seen a lot of the countryand my family has been a big partof it. My wife Jane has accompa-nied on several long distance trips.We spent 10 days in Maui when Iran in Hawaii. She also went alongto Alaska.”

But, Blair said, “It is the peo-ple you meet and the people youtrain with that have made itrewarding. Plus, you have toenjoy marathon running which Ido. It’s not about personal recordsanymore. It’s about friendship andthe love of running.”

Year round, Blair runs 40 to 50miles a week. He runs four days aweek in York, often with the highschool track and cross countryteams. He saves his longer 13 to20 mile workouts for the week-ends when he runs with a runninggroup in Lincoln on Saturdays.For that, Blair leaves York at 4:00a.m. to meet in Lincoln at 5:30.Blair said the routine is importantbecause for many, after a longbreak, it is difficult to get backrunning on a regular basis. “Thatis one thing that keeps me doing itevery day, every week.”

Blair has at least one more goal– the Century Club, symbolic of100 marathons. After a Glendale,Arizona, marathon in Februaryand another this spring inOklahoma, he will reach 66.

The rest will come eventually,he said, 26 miles at a time. �

Tony Blair

� After running in all 50 states,Tony Blair ’77 has set his nextgoal at joining theCentury Club


Editor

SCHIMEKcontinued from page 6

“I used to get calls from littleold ladies who had taught for 45years. They’d retire, and get aretirement benefit of $20 amonth,” he said. “They’d be eat-ing dog food, crying on the tele-phone to me. I’d be crying withthem.”

Taking baby steps, and a non-partisan approach, NSEA hasmade a 35-year push to improveretirement benefits for teachers.With Schimek leading the battle,the state’s teacher retirement sys-

tem now provides much-improved retirement benefits toschool employees.

Schimek has worked withhundreds of elected leaders overthe years. Lobbying success, hesaid, is about relationships.

“We pass bills because of rela-tionships we build with sena-tors,” he said. “You provide themwith information, and if youdon’t know the answer to a ques-tion, you tell them so, and youfind the answer. If you lie tothem, you might as well pack upand leave town.”

Not all senators understand

the importance of public educa-tion when they walk through intothe legislative chamber.

“We’ve had to work with newsenators to educate them abouteducation,” he said.

That is, after all, what HerbSchimek does best: teach.

“Herb has also been a power-ful voice for teachers with theNebraska Legislature. One of hislegacies will surely be his suc-cessful advocacy for teacherretirement benefits.”

Former Lt. Gov. MaxineMoul: “The ability to moveimportant education legislation

was very dependent on Herb.Because he was so trusted, hecould deliver criticism of certainparts of a bill and we could worktogether to improve the out-comes. Having Herb help waslike enlisting an entire army!”

Former Governor and U.S.Sen. Mike Johanns: “Over theyears, Herb snagged better livesfor thousands of present andfuture Nebraskans. We were gladto help him do that and will misshis drive to do more.”�

For as long as she canremember, music has beenpart of the life of

Cassandre´ Faimon-Haygood ‘99.“Growing up, we had music in

our home all the time. My momwould hold us as little babies inchurch and sing to us. My momand dad would sing us to sleep atnight with the guitar and fun songswe liked,” she said. My parentshave always supported me inwanting to sing and perform. Itwas never a question for me whatI wanted to do. It's just part of whoI am as a person.”

So, it was no surprise that shestarted leading the singing at herchurch when she was eight yearsold. "I've

always been able to sing. Myvocal gift has always been there. Iam so thankful to God for blessingme with the abilities that he has,and I enjoy sharing them somuch!" At Grand Island SeniorHigh School she sang with groupsand in musicals. At UNK, she sangwith the Nebraskats, theChoraleers and Vocal Collegium.She played the role of Gretel in theopera Hansel and Gretel, Sandy inGrease, and Liesel in The Soundof Music.

Now, she is starring in her ownshow.

After graduating with a degreein vocal music performance,Cassandre´ headed to Branson,Missouri, where she spent nineyears of headlining shows at theSilver Dollar City Opera Housetheatre. She became known for herbeautiful voice and quick wit. Thatexperience was rewarding, shesaid, but she was always interestedin new career opportunities andchallenges.

In 2008, that opportunitybecame a reality. “One day I got atext message from my husband,Tim, saying, “How would you likeyour own show next year?” That’sexactly what she got when theyacquired the 800-seat AmericanaTheatre in Branson.

Several months later, in March2009, the highly-acclaimed show,Cassandre´The Voice of an Angel,opened and immediately receivedrave reviews. The show is now in

its second season.The show features the stun-

ning vocals and warm personal-ity of Cassandre´, a nine-pieceorchestra that plays 18 instru-ments along with the comedyof ‘Aunt Erma.’ The result isa personable, beautiful, funnyand entertaining show that

truly exemplifies the very heartbeat of live music through itsrich orchestrations and pow-erful vocals. Reviews havepraised her work. One said,“Cassandre´ has a talentfor connecting to heraudiences from thestage, stirring emotionsand nostalgic feelings.”

Gary J. Gromanwrote that “after listening

to this amazing vocalist sing Iwould simply have to say that theshow’s website(www.thevoiceofanangel.com)was spot on in describing hervoice, range and talent.Cassandre´ is a top-notch vocalist. . . with a voice so flawless and aperformance so effortless andcompelling it is no wonder thatwatching her sing makes for a sur-real theatrical experience. She istruly an enchanting soprano whoseangelic voice can scale to operaticheights, belt out Broadway hits,touch you with gospel inspirationand rework pop classics in just theright balance.”

From the first notes of theopening Aria, written by her hus-band and producer of the show,through the numbers like DannyBoy, Zippa dee doo dah, HakunaMatata, Amazing Grace,Downtown, Yesterday, Singin Inthe Rain,Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,and many others, she is superblyentertaining. With a voice so flaw-less and a performance so effort-less and compelling, it is no won-der that watching her sing makesfor a surreal theatrical experience.She has a very special talent that isa joy to hear.

An integral part of her show isCassandre’s alter ego, ‘AuntErma,’ who keeps popping uplooking for ‘her peoples.’ It is alight side to the show, she said. “Itlets me express my comedic side.It is a whole other part of my per-sonality.”

Cassandre´ credits her experi-ences in college as a major reasonfor the success she is having pro-fessionally.

“Dr. Anne Foradori was myvoice teacher. We had a great time.It was quite a job getting ready formy junior and senior year recitals,but so worth it. Your voice getsstronger and stronger as time goeson and it’s neat to see what youcan accomplish with all of the newsongs and languages that youlearn.”

She has praise for Dr. AnnabellZikmund who was a great instruc-tor and brought out the energy inthe Nebraskats. With Dr. DavidBauer and the Choraleers,Cassandre´ was able to perform atCarnegie Hall in New York andthe Morman Tabernacle in SaltLake City. “Those were amazingexperiences. Dr. Bauer did such agreat job with all of us. The songshe would select were always sodifferent and beautiful.”

Cassandre´ said that she was soimpressed, and still is, with all ofher music instruction at UNK.“Every single one of my instruc-tors had a doctorate in music. Thatis really amazing to me. I feel veryblessed and fortunate to have hadsuch a rewarding experience incollege.

“College rounded me out as aperson, providing opportunitiesthat I would have never gotten todo had I not been in college,” shesaid. “The really neat things thathappen with a choir or a smallgroup can’t be duplicated.” �

� Cassandre´Faimon-Haygood ’99stars in her ownmusic show inBranson,Missouri


EditorCassandre´ Faimon-Haygood

Cassandre´ Faimon-Haygood as “Aunt Erma.”88 ll UNK TodayUNK Today ll Spring 2010Spring 2010

FEATURE

FEATURE


UNK has embraced theentrepreneurial spiritthrough their supportand sponsorship with

MarketPlace: Opening Door toSuccess Conference.

MarketPlace: Opening Doorsto Success Conference is a proj-ect of the Center for RuralAffairs. It focuses on small busi-ness development in rural com-

munities through a combinationof providing resources, tools andeducational components thatexisting entrepreneurs and futureentrepreneurs need to build andenhance their businesses.

2010 marked the fourth yearof MarketPlace with attendeesrepresenting 77 Nebraska coun-ties and the states of Kansas,South Dakota, Maryland,

Missouri, Minnesota, Colorado,Oregon and Iowa. There were 10different learning tracks includ-ing marketing, agriculture,financing, community develop-ment, technology, businessdevelopment, youth, womenbusiness owners, policy andHispanic.

Dean Tim Burkink of theCollege of Business and

Technology, Shawn Kaskie of theCenter for Rural Research &Development and the UNKStudents in Free Enterprise(SIFE) team led by Dr. SusanJensen provided campus supportfor the year’s MarketPlace con-ference. �

Nate Summerfield is hardto rattle. As the UNKfinance major waited tospeak at a University of

Nebraska Foundation event inScottsdale, Arizona, earlier thisyear, he smiled and shook hishead.

The Wayne native’s flight fromDenver was delayed, causing himto miss his connecting flight toPhoenix. He caught the redeye toPhoenix and was told his luggagewould arrive the next day. It did-n’t.

Speaking to the group of 300,Summerfield was unflappable.

“It’s a pleasure to be here and Ihope to someday help studentslike many of you here today havedone,” he said. “Someday I hopeto be sitting where you are – but Iwould make sure the studentspeaking had a tee time shortlyafter he spoke.”

Summerfield was addressingan audience of alumni and donorswho were learning about theCampaign for Nebraska, afundraising campaign to raise$1.2 billion to fund university pri-orities such as student scholar-ship, faculty recruitment, researchand program support. The cam-paign recently surpassed the $700million mark.

Summerfield was elected stu-dent body president earlier thisSpring, was president of his frater-nity, completed a research projecton student retention rates and hasworked for the UNK AdmissionsDepartment since his freshmanyear. But the accomplished junioralmost didn’t become a Loper.

“Since I was young I’veknown that I wanted to studybusiness. My decision came downto finding the right undergrad pro-gram where I could feel comfort-able,” Summerfield said. InJanuary of his senior year in highschool he received a call from Dr.Gary Davis who is the director ofthe honors program at UNK, andDusty Newton in the AdmissionsDepartment. He had interviewedfor a scholarship and they calledto congratulate him on beingnamed an Omaha World-HeraldScholar.

“What a great relief for myfamily and what an honor for me,”he said. “It meant that I no longerhad to find financing for my col-lege career. It meant that I couldrelax while I was at college. Andit meant that I was going to be aLoper for at least four years, so Iwas excited about that. Life wasgood.

“As soon as I got done withthat phone call I picked up thephone and called my Dad. Youmight think that you’ve heardhappiness before, but a child’slaughter has nothing on a fatherwho knows he doesn’t have to payfor his son’s college. He was veryexcited.”

Two weeks laterSummerfield’s plans were turnedupside down when his fatherpassed away after a sudden heartattack.

“It made things very tough,”he said. “My mom and I had adecision to make. I grew up inWayne, so it was either go toUNK and take that scholarship, orstay home with my family, if thatwas the right decision, and go toWayne State College.

By the time of the funeralSummerfield had decided hewould attend Wayne State.

“As I came into the church, to

my right I think I caught a glim-mer of blue and gold, because Dr.Gary Davis, Dusty Newton andShane Stover were sitting at myfather’s funeral,” he said. “It kindof hit me how genuine and howhumble of a place UNK is. So Ifelt like there was a stamp ofapproval and I felt like they reallycared about me.”

That personal touch, coupledwith the financial assistance fromthe World-Herald scholarship,helped Summerfield make hisdecision, he told the Scottsdaleaudience.

“You may think that you’rejust helping students,” he tolddonors, “but for many students it’syour support that even makes col-lege a possibility.”

Hear Summerfield tell thestory himself, or learn more aboutthe foundation and the Campaignfor Nebraska at campaignforne-braska.org/summerfield. �

Nate Summerfield, student speaker:‘Your support makes college possible for many’

Gary Reber ’86University of Nebraska

Foundation

CAMPAIGN NEBRASKA: Speaking at an Arizona event for alumni and friends of the university

Nate Summerfield emphasized the importance of donating to Campaign for Nebraska, a scholarship-

raising effort that recently surpassed the $700 million mark.

Embracing the entrepreneurial spirit to open doors

A$5,000 gift from JoeDuffy’s employer,Tenneco of Cozad, haspushed a scholarship in

memory of his son to the half-waypoint of being fully endowed.

Justin Duffy ’00 gave up hisday off to go out with his Armyunit to provide a security escortfor military leadership inBaghdad. They had done it a hun-dred times. This time a roadsidebomb exploded near his Humvee,killing Duffy on June 2, 2009.

The Tenneco gift supports theSgt. Justin Duffy MemorialScholarship – a fund that benefitsstudents attending UNK, Duffy’salma mater. When it is fullyendowed, the scholarship willexist in perpetuity at theUniversity of NebraskaFoundation by awarding scholar-ships from the interest the fundearns on its principal.

J o eD u f f yr e m e m -bers theday twomen inu n i f o r mwalked upto theC o z a dplant togive himthe news

of his son’s death. “It wasn’teasy,” he said.

Five months later, Joe and hiswife Janet finally sat down towatch a video of the militarymemorial service. The service inBaghdad took place five daysafter Justin was killed.

“It was heartfelt,” he said.“The chaplain broke down in histalk about Justin. He waited andwaited until he could composehimself. You can appreciate whatkind of a group these people are.

They are in a strange land andthey are there to fight and there toprotect. It was tough to watch, butwe got through it.

“We didn’t realize when Justinwas over there – when those guysare over there, they are a family.”

Corporate officials at Tennecospent little time debating whetheror not to support the fund.

“It’s important for Tennecobecause we really support ouremployees and this was aninstance that was a tragic situationand we wanted to be there to sup-port our employees as well as theDuffys,” said Chief Davidson,plant manager. Joe Duffy, logis-tics manager, has worked at theplant that manufactures shockabsorbers for nearly 40 years.

Justin worked summers at theplant. “Justin was a really goodkid,” said Jay Edwards, humanresources manager at the plant.“He’d work here all day then gowork the second shift at Pizza

Hut. It was funny – you’d workwith him all day then he’d deliverpizza to your house that night.That’s just the way he was. Hewas a driven kid.”

Devotion to a fallen comradeled Sgt. John Palmer to establishthe fund in honor of his Armybuddy and fellow member of the3rd Brigade Combat Team of the82nd Airborne Division. Nearly100 gifts have been made to thefund, mostly from family andpeople who were in Duffy’s com-pany.

“This whole thing has beenSgt. Palmer’s brainchild,” Duffysaid. “He was halfway across theworld and setting this thing up.Anything we can do to support hisbaby.”

Duffy wrote directly toTenneco’s CEO to ask for corpo-rate support.

“They came through,” he said.“Tenneco has been really, reallygood to us over the years.” �10 l UNK Today l Spring 2010

Sgt. Justin Duffy

Tenneco gift enhances Justin Duffy ’00 scholarship

B lanche Berns oftenspoke to her childrenabout the importanceof an education. The

lessons struck a chord, becauseher son Henry D. Berns and hiswife Marilyn recently estab-lished a scholarship in Blanche’smemory to help future teachersattend UNK.

Blanche taught at rural coun-try schools in Webster County,after graduating from what wasthen Kearney State TeachersCollege. After seven years, shestopped teaching when she mar-ried Henry P. F. Berns. Theywere rural farmers in WebsterCounty where they raised fivechildren, but she never stoppedtaking an interest in education.

“She always talked about theimportance of going to collegeand how pleased she was that allfive of her children all had aRegent Scholarship at theUniversity of Nebraska,” saidMarilyn. “That just made herimmensely happy.”

“She was veryinterested in all

her grandchildren and their edu-cation,” Henry said.

That interest will be fosteredin recipients of the BlancheKaufman Berns ScholarshipFund, which will provide $1,000scholarships to UNK studentsenrolled in elementary teachereducation, with preference tohigh school graduates who areresidents of Webster County.Consideration is also given tocandidates who are graduates offrom any Nebraska high school.

“Mother went to Kearney tobecome an elementary country

school teacher, so we thought itwould be neat to start a scholar-ship there,” Henry said. “Weboth feel that a college degreewas very helpful for us and wewant to be of some help forsomeone else.”

Dr. Ed Scantling, dean of theUNK College of Education,said, “I would like to express mysincere gratitude to the Bernsfamily for establishing thisscholarship for future teachers atUNK,” Scantling said. “TheBlanche Kaufman BernsScholarship will make a worldof difference to its recipients andthe ongoing UNK tradition of

preparing outstanding educatorsfor Nebraska.”

Henry and Marilyn, who nowlive in Andover, ILL., receivedscholarships when they attendedcollege.

“We feel that scholarships area blessing for someone whowants to go to school,” Henrysaid. “If we can give people alittle boost, that’s what we wantto do.”

The Berns family grew up ona farm near Bladen in WebsterCounty. Henry hopes to encour-age students from that area toattend college and, ideally, sparkthe same passion for educationas his mother.

Henry earned a bachelor’sdegree in mechanical engineer-ing from the UNL in 1961 and amaster’s degree in 1963. He alsoearned a doctorate in mechani-cal engineering from KansasState University in 1968. Heworked for Deere & Co., inMoline, Ill., before retiring.Marilyn earned a bachelor’sdegree in elementary educationin 1977 at St. AmbroseUniversity in Davenport, Iowa.�

Award will help students to study educationScholarship to encourage future educators

Gary Reber, ’68University of Nebraska

Foundation

EDUCATION: Henry andMarilyn Berns wanted to fosterinterest in education like theirmother, Blanche Berns (lower left).

FOUNDATION

CAMPUS NEWS


Former professor JimGilbert’s influence on hisstudents has resulted in their

efforts to create a scholarship in hismemory.

Dr. Gilbert was a professor ofcriminal justice and departmentchairman who died in 2008 at age60.

Nohad Maloley Curren ’06 ofAlexandria, Virginia, and TomMcCarty ’06 of Lincoln are head-ing a group of former students thathas established the James GilbertCriminal Justice MemorialScholarship Fund with the NUFoundation. They awarded the firstscholarships this spring.

McCarty said that even thoughhe was a political science major, hetook several criminal justice cours-es, including two criminal investi-gation classes. “Dr. Gilbert alwaysencouraged all of his students,

including me, to be the best theycould be in whatever they did. Hegenerously gave his time and ener-gy both inside and outside the

classroom. Simply put, I think ifDr. Gilbert knew his former stu-dents wished to honor him in someway, he would have chosen a

scholarship because he was alwaysconcerned with aiding others.”

Maloley said, “My hope is thatformer students of Dr. Gilbert willdonate to this scholarship in theyears to come and that it will con-tinue to grow in value to benefitstudents.”

She said that Dr. Gilbert wasselfless with his time listeningattentively to all of his studentsconcerns and aspirations. “Heknew when we needed encourage-ment and would always lift us upwith a reassuring word. Our hopeis that this scholarship will allowstudents to achieve their dreamsand to know the importance of giv-ing back which Dr. Gilbert instilledin us. We were all blessed to haveknown him and with this scholar-ship, the hope Dr. Gilbert inspiredwill carry on.”�

The 2010 edition of theJames E. Smith MidwestConference on World

Affairs featured a variety of pro-grams and events for students andthe Kearney community. The con-ference has been a featured eventdesigned to bring internationally-recognized dignitaries to campussince it was started in 1963.

UNK students from 45 coun-tries served their native foods,performed traditional and non-tra-ditional dances and hosted otheractivities to more than 2,000 tokick off the event at the Scott andCheryl Morris International FoodFestival.

Award-winning author andactivist Chris Abani gave thekeynote address. Abani, aNigerian native, published hisfirst novel, “Masters of theBoard,” a political thriller about afoiled Nigerian coup, when hewas 16-years-old. The story wasconvincing enough that theNigerian government imprisonedhim when he was 18 on groundsthat he had incited a real-lifecoup.

After serving six months injail, Abani was released but hewas later arrested and sentencedto death after writing his play,“Song of a Broken Flute.” In

1991, Albani was released fromprison and he lived in exile inLondon. When a friend was mur-dered there in 1999, he fled to theUnited States.

Abani is now a professor at theUniversity of California inRiverside and a publisher at BlackGoat Press. His books have won anumber of prizes.

“Abani is one of the mostadmired novelists in the worldtoday,” said Ann Marie Park,WAC coordinator.

Park said the panel discus-sions, lectures, classroom presen-tations and group activities at theWAC give attendees exposure to a

variety of issues and the opportu-nity to interact with guests fromall over the world.

The conference is coordinatedthrough the Office of InternationalEducation. This year’s theme was“Creating Hope: Positive

Responses to Global Challenges.”Writers, poets, activists, diplo-mats, scholars and entrepreneursfrom Nigeria, Cuba, Oman,Russia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan,China and India participated inthe event. �

INTERNATIONAL FOOD: Students from 45 countries served their native food at the interna-tional food festival, an event that kicked off the 2010 World Affairs Conference.

Dr. John La Duke has beennamed dean of the College ofNatural and Social Sciences. Dr.La Duke comes to UNK fromthe University of North Dakotawhere he was the associate deanof arts and sciences and profes-sor of biology. He has been on

the staff at North Dakota since1980. Dr. La Duke has an under-graduate degree in zoology anda master of science degree inbotany from Texas TechUniversity as well as a Ph.D. inbotany from Ohio StateUniversity. �

Sciences name new dean

World Affairs ConferenceBringing an international focus to campus

Memorial: Scholarship to honor criminal justice professor

F all and winter sportsteams, individuals madean impact in the RMAC

and nationally

The Loper football team had abanner year that included a record11 wins, an NCAA playoff victo-ry and an 8th place national rank-ing.

UNK defeated SaginawValley State of Michigan 35-20 inthe Division II first round beforelosing to defending nationalchampion Minnesota-Duluth 42-7 in a second round game endingthe season at 11-2. The win wasthe Loper’s first post season vic-tory since a 9-6 victory over MarsHill in the NAIA 1980 playoffs.

Center Jack Hiett, Arvada,Colorado, was named an AFACAll-American. The 6-1, 255 lb.Heitt was tabbed the 2008Division II Dave RimingtonAward as the nation’s top center.

He started all 44 games in hisLoper career and was named tofive Division II All-Americanteams. Heitt joins defensive backMitch Johnson (1976), defensivelineman Doug Peterson (1978)and kicker Henrik Juul-Nielsen(2002) as first-team AFAC All-Americans.

Sophomore running backRustin Dring, Kearney, set aschool rushing record (1,648)breaking the mark of 1,600 byMike Miller (2005). Dring wasRMAC Offensive Player of theYear joining Justin Coleman(1999), Mike Miller (2005) andRichie Ross (2003) in winningthat award. Dring was named tothe NCAA all-region team as wasLexington senior safety JakeMandelko.

Senior middle Nikki Scott ledthe volleyball team to a 33-3record, a sixth straight RMAC

title, an 11th straight appearancein the RMAC national tourna-ment and a 12th place D-II rank-ing.

Scott earned All-Americanhonors by Daktronics and theAmerican Volleyball CoachesAssociation. She also was theRMAC Player of the Year. Inaddition, she was the RMACAcademic Player of the Year.Scott joins Jerri Walkowiak(2008), Erin Gudmundson (2004and 2005), Kelli Brummer (1999)and Danielle Shum (1996) asLopers to have earned AVCAfirst-team honors.

UNK kicked off its newestsport, soccer, with a nationalrecord-breaking crowd of 3,227in August. That mark broke theprevious largest attendance of2,004. Coach Mike Munch’ssquad won that first contest, 2-1

over Wayne State. It turned out tobe the team’s only win of the sea-son for the young and inexperi-enced Lopers.

In cross country, the Lopermen were fifth in the RMAC andthe women 10th. The meet wasdominated by the top two teamsin the country, Adams State andWestern State. At the regionals,the men were eighth among 18teams, their highest finish since2000. The women were 18thamong 22 teams. Tanner Fruit,Ogallala junior, qualified for thenational meet. He was the firstLoper to qualify since LukeGarringer in 2004. Both squadswere selected to the U.S. Trackand Field Cross CountryCoaches Association NationalAll-Academic Team. Thewomen’s 3.64 PGA tied for sixthnationally.

SPORTS


FALL & Winter:Seasons of Success

FOOTBALL

SOCCER

ALL-AMERICAN CENTER: Senior Jack Hiett was named tofive All-American teams and was a key component of the Loperfootball team that recorded a school-record 11 wins, including afirst round victory over Saginaw Valley State in the NCAA playoffs.

CROSS COUNTRY

VOLLEYBALL

DIGS: Senior defensive specialist Kelli Wemhoff played a key role in the

success of the volleyball team. She finished her career second in digs with

2,042, just 16 behind Angie Usher’s record of 2,058 set in 1995.

Women’s basketball coachCarol Russell resigned followingan eight year career at UNKwhere her teams compiled a 163-79 record. During her tenure theLopers won two RMAC titles andhad five NCAA Tournamentappearances. This year, her youngsquad posted a 9-18 record withonly one senior, Kim Thissen,Davenport, Iowa. Thissen aver-aged 9.3 points and 7.3 reboundsand was one of three Lopers toearn All-RMAC honors.

Although the men’s basketballteam finished 13-14, the seasonwas not without highlights. Theonly senior, 6-10 Josiah Parker,

Lincoln, was chosen the RMACMen’s Academic Player of theYear. He also became the 37thplayer in history to reach 1,000career points. The Lopers defeat-ed RMAC Tournament championNew Mexico Highlands, and thetop two teams in the RMAC East,Metro State and Colorado Mines.All three teams also qualified forthe NCAA Tournament.

The men’s wrestling team tiedfor third at the NCAAChampionships and 174 lb.Marty Usman, Arlington, Texas,senior, captured a national title.

Usman finished the season with a44-1 record. He was a three-timeAll-American and UNK’s 12thall-time national champion. At184 lbs, Derek Ross, St. Francis,Kansas, senior, finished thirdearning his second All-Americanhonors.

Three others earned All-American honors. T. J. Hepburn,East Hampton, Connecticut,sophomore, was third at 149,Taylor May, Imperial senior, wassixth at 165, and sophomoreJustin McKain, Sutherland, wasthird at 197.

Shotputter Dane Tobey, Wacosenior, finished as national indoorrunner-up with a throw of 61-0 toearn his fifth All-American hon-ors. During his career, Tobey hadfive top four finishes, two indoorand three outdoors.

He is now tied with runnerIvan Ivanov and thrower Lance

Pfeiffer for the most Division IIAll-American honors by a man.

At the RMAC indoor meet,the Loper women finished secondand the men finished third.Traditional power Adams Statewon both titles.

Conference champions for themen were Rich Mourer, ColoradoSprings senior, in the weightthrow, Alex Paul, Gothenburgsophomore, in the 400, andBryson Mahlberg, Elwood soph-omore, in the heptathlon. Womenchampions were Tracie Chanady,Sargent senior, in the weightthrow, and Sam Murphy, Franklinsenior, in the shot put.

The Lopers other winter sport,women’s swimming and diving,finished eighth in the RMACwith a young squad. IncarnateWord of Texas, an affiliate mem-ber of the conference, claimed thetitle. �

TRACK


SPORTS

HEAVYWEIGHT: Senior Dane Tobey was national runner-up inthe NCAA Indoor Championships with a shot put throw of 61-0.Tobey now has five All-American medals.

BASKETBALL

SWIMMING

WRESTLING

NATIONAL CHAMPION: Senior Marty Usman captured anational title at 174 lbs. leading the Lopers to a third place finish atthe NCAA meet. Usman finished the season with a 44-1 record.

Senior volleyball playerNikki Scott and seniorbaseball player Blake

Cover were named OutstandingFemale and Outstanding MaleAthletes of the Year.

Scott was the 2009 RMACVolleyball Player of the Year andthe 2009 RMAC AcademicVolleyball Player of the Year.

She was a two-time All-American and this year was afirst team selection, just the sixthtime UNK has had a first teamAll-American.

Maintaining a 3.88 GPA as acommunications disorders major,the Broken Bow native wasinstrumental in helping theLopers post 126 wins the pastfour years and make four NCAATournament appearances.

Scott’s father, Jerry, wasLoper football player who is now

in the UNK Athletic Hall ofFame.

Cover is a four-year lettermanfrom Kearney who has shown hisversatility and athletic ability bybeing a starter at three differentpositions – left field, shortstopand third base.

Earlier this spring, he becameUNK’s all-time leader in runsscored and should become theLopers all-time leader in hitsbefore the spring season con-cludes.

A two-time All-RMAC selec-tion going into this year, he waschosen first team all-region as ajunior after tying the schoolrecord for hits with 92.

Cover has been a part of twoRMAC Tournament champi-onship teams and played in fourNCAA tournament games.

The Kearney Catholic gradu-ate was named the 2010 RMACAcademic Baseball Player of theYear. He is a business administra-tion major with a 3.83 GPA. �

SPORTS


The annual Blue-Gold Golf Scramblewill be held Monday, June 14, at the

Kearney Country Club and MeadowlarkHills Golf Course. The popular six-person

scramble, that begins at both courses at 10am, draws nearly 270 golfers and has tradi-tionally been the biggest fund raiser for ath-letic scholarships.

Advance cost is $195 per golfer or $1,170per team. Signature corporate spon-

sorships are also avail-able. Contact Shawn

Fairbanks at 308-865-8184 for registration information. Athletic director Jon McBride saidthe event will continue as a one-day activity with a 19th hole recep-tion at the Kearney Holiday Inn fol-lowing golf. McBride said the scram-ble combined with a separate rafflefundraiser held in the springagain generated more than$40,000 for scholarships thisyear. He said the athleticdepartment plans to continuethese two major events.

Blue /Gold

� Golf �

Kevin Chaney, an assis-tant coach at SouthernIllinois Edwardsville,

has been named the women’sbasketball coach.

He replaces Carol Russellwho resigned following the sea-son.

Chaney recently completedhis 16th season as an assistantcoach.

He has worked at two NCAADivision I schools (Nevada andSIUE), two Division II schools(Minnesota-Duluth and Lincoln

Missou r i )and one jun-ior college( S o l a n oCommunityC o l l e g eCalifornia).

Cheneyis the sixthhead coachsince 1969.

D u r i n gthat time the Lopers have won670 games and made 14 nationaltournament appearances. �

Women’s basketball coach named

Kevin Chaney

Nikki Scott

Scott, Cover namedathletes of the year

Blake Cover


ALUMNI NEWS

The UNK AlumniAssociation will beawarding the first ever

“Distinguished Young AlumniAward” during UNKHomecoming Awards Banqueton October 1.

The annual award will bepresented to an individual whohas graduated from UNK with-in 15 years of the award year.Nominees shall have demon-strated outstanding service tothe University, their communityand/or his or her profession.The young alumni award joinsthe Distinguished AlumniAward, the Jim RundstromDistinguished Alumni ServiceAward and Loper Athletic Hallof Fame inductions at the annu-

al awards banquet. Nominations will be accept-

ed through June 1, 2010 forreview by the AlumniAssociation’s AwardsCommittee. The nominationform can be found on the web atw w w . u n k a l u m n i . o r g .The completed form should be

sent to: UNK AlumniAssociation, Attn: Lucas Dart,P.O. Box 21, Kearney, NE68849 or emailed [email protected] email or call 308-865-8474 with any questions regard-ing the award. �

The Alumni Association isstill collecting names andemail addresses of

Nebraskans interested in adorn-ing their vehicles with a UNKlicense plate. The Unicameralpassed legislation in 2009 whichallows non-profit organizationswith 500 pre-paid applicants theopportunity to create a plate thatrecognizes their organization.

The cost of the specialty plateis $70 per year. A design has yetto be finalized, but the plate willset itself apart from the standardNebraska plate. It is a uniqueway for alumni to show theirpride in being affiliated withUNK.

Interested alumni and friendsare asked to send an email [email protected] includes your name andemail address.

There is no obligation to be onthe list. Individuals on the listwill receive periodic updates onthe progress of the numbers anddesign of the plate. �

NOT ACTUAL DESIGN

UNK seeks specialty‘Loper’ license plates

Young alumni award to debutat Homecoming in October

Www.unkalumni.org isthe new online homefor the UNK Alumni

Association. Alumni, or anyone interested

in UNK and the AlumniAssociation, now have aredesigned online venue toengage with campus and eachother.

“The importance of having astrong online presence, as well asthe growth of electronic commu-nication and social media, led usto the conclusion that we neededto improve our website,” saidLucas Dart, Executive Director ofthe UNK Alumni Association.

Through the new site, alumniwill have a one-stop shop foralumni event schedules and regis-tration forms, campus and alumniassociation news, links to UNKand Kearney-related activities,organizations and alumni chap-ters.

Alumni will also be able toregister a username on the site andupdate their profile, whichincludes address, email and pro-fessional affiliation.

In addition, the alumni associ-ation has plans to begin sendingnewsletters via email, which willoffer news items that can’t alwaysbe included in the semi-annual

UNK Today, Alumni Magazine.“UNK Today is widely popular

and welcomed by our alumniwhen it is published in the springand fall, but in between issuesthere are so many things thatalumni will be interested in. Thee-news will be a nice medium tokeep alumni more informed allyear round,” Dart said.

Connecting alumni via thesocial media mechanisms ofFacebook and LinkedIn will con-tinue to be developed. Thegrowth of both has been dramaticin the past two years, and manyalumni have reconnected with oldfriends and acquaintances thisway. According to Dart, the newwebsite plan aims to take growthof the “Loper Network” to aneven higher level.

“The key is to communicatewith all alumni in some way thatis convenient and meaningful tothem. For some that is print only,for some it is print and electronic,and for others it’s strictly on acomputer screen.

The new website, e-news andsocial media venues we’ve devel-oped certainly diversify our abili-ty to communicate, and we hopethat more and more alumni willengage with their alma mater,”Dart said. �

Home, Home on the Web…UNKAlumni.org

Homepage of www.unkalumni.org.


HOMECOMING 2009

STUDENT ALUMNIFOUNDATION: MembersJulie Wawers, Whitney Effenbackand Meagan Smejdir assistedwith the Homecoming banquet.SAF is an organization that hasbeen providing student opportu-nities to network with alumnisince 1981.

DISTINGUISHED ALUM:Distinguished Alumni Awardrecipient Ron Larsen ’66 andhis wife Nancy, were recog-nized at the 29th annualHomecoming Awards Banquet.

CONGRATULATIONS:Alumni director LucasDart congratulatesDistinguished AlumniAward recipientTeresa Kowalski Porter’80 at the Homecomingbanquet.

HALL OF FAME: Class of 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame inducteeswere Martin Segovia ’95, Jill McCaslin Timmons ’98, Danielle ShumStowell ’97, Al Sheffield ’75 and Keith Staehr ’68.

LOPER BLUE: Ty and Hall of Fame inductee Jill McCaslin Timmons,son Ethan and nephew, Caden Holm, whose parents are also alumni,prepare to ride in the Homecoming parade as honored guests of theweekend.

HOMECOMING 2009


PRIDE OF THE PLAINS: Leading the Homecoming parade is thetalented UNK marching band. The 120-member band is the largest inhistory.

ROYALTY: Junior Sarah Nordhues of Kearney and junior NateSummerfield of Wayne reigned as Homecoming King and Queen.

SMILES: 2008 Homecoming Queen Claire Bryan ’09, her motherAnnie Bryan, Alumni Association past president Brenda Christensen’83 and Claire’s father Paul await the beginning the Homecomingparade.

BLUE AND GOLD: FelicaGoett ’97, MAE’00 of Loveland,Colorado, and her godson, TylerSanders of Loveland are set forthe day’s activities. Tyler, son ofChi Omega alumnus JackieSanders ’01 is wearing Goett’s let-ter jacket from when she was onthe track team from 1993 to1997.

Forty Japanese graduatesof UNK traveled fromall over Japan last fall to

gather at the historic Okura

Hotel in Tokyo to celebratetheir first alumni gathering.

It was a time for emotionalreunions, joyous greetings andthe sharing of fond memories.

Guests were ELI instructor

and Japanese Student adviserJayne Heimer, InternationalEducation Director Dr. DallasKenny and the NebraskaDepartment of EconomicDevelopment representative in

Tokyo Koji Nagasaka. After the gathering that

included testimonials, sharedstories and tearful farewells,the former classmates vowed tomeet again next year. �

Chad Rutar ’97 is thenewly-elected presidentof the UNK AlumniAssociation.

Rutar of Omaha, a financialadvisor with RenaissanceFinancial, was elected at the fallmeeting ofthe board ofd i r e c t o r s .He replacesB r e n d aSnodgrassChristensen’83 ofMinden.

O t h e rofficers for2009-2010are BryanKuntz ’95of Kearney,president-elect, and Andrea

Walton Miller ’02 ofScottsbluff, secretary.

Nine board members wereelected to three-year terms thatbegan with the annual fallmeeting during Homecomingweekend.

Dr. Pat Hoehner ’57,MSE’67, EDS’82 of Kearney isan assistant professor of educa-tional administration at UNK.

Nancy McCarthy Polk ’74of Kearney is a Media AssociatePara at Emerson Public Schoolwith Kearney Public Schools.

Mark Felker ’86 is presidentat JAM4 Creative in Alliance.

Dr. Brett Kuhn ’86 ofOmaha is associate professor ofpediatrics at UNMC.

Kip Magner ’92 of Lincolnis a reimbursement analyst atLincoln Surgical Center.

Katrina Jacobsen RotherMSE’00 of Grand Island is inte-gration specialist with the GrandIsland Public Schools.

Carol Green Ballain ’65 ofFort Collins, Colorado, is aretired teacher.

Bethany Spilde ’06 ofCouncil Bluffs, Iowa, is presi-dent of a company she owns,Social Buzz Media.

Bret Walker ’00 ofBrighton, CO, is business devel-opment manager for WestwoodCollege.

Seven board members com-pleted three-year terms on theboard of directors. They willnow serve as trustees of theassociation.

They are Fred Arnold ’83 ofFairbury, Sue Batie ’73 ofCypress, California, CandyFernau ’96 of Dallas, AndrewRomatzke ’01 of Omaha, BobWarren ’64 of McMinnville,Oregon, Deb Schwenka ’76 ofMinden, and Dr. StephanieHueftle Vogel ’89, MAE’96 ofStillwater, Oklahoma. �

Nancy Polk Mark Felker Kip MagnerBrett Kuhn

Chad Rutar

Katrina JacobsenRother

Carol GreenBallain

Bret WalkerBethany Spilde

Nine beginthree-year terms

Pat Hoehner

Rutar elected presidentALUMNI NEWS


Meeting alumni from the other side of the world

ALUMNI NEWS

LINCOLN: Brewsky’s inLincoln provided the venue foralumni to gather prior to theLopers vs. Huskers women’sbasketball game in November.Pictured from the left areElizabeth Cain ’06, Jesse Cain’05, Chip Shield ’03 and RyanCaldwell ’02.


TRACK: Loper trackstersfrom the 2000s joined in on thetrack and cross countryreunion fun at the AlumniHouse, and then stayed for the“after party.” More than 100alumni from 1949 to 2009attended.

BROKEN BOW: The AlumniAssociation hosted a Fridayevening reception in BrokenBow in March. About 25 alumniattended, including guest NikkiScott, ’10 grad-to-be, her dad,Jerry Scott ’83 and friends Katie’97 and Brent Custer ’97.

THETA XI: A group of previ-ous friends from Theta Xi fra-ternity made Chadron Statefootball weekend their ownreunion, and attended the pre-game tailgate near campus inSeptember.

NORTHWEST: John Wolf ’73says “Lopers Are Here” with hissign at Safeco Field during theNorthwest alumni gathering.

ARIZONA: The AlumniAssociation’s Arizona swing inFebruary included a Fridayevening happy hour in Chandler.Nearly 45 alumni and friends ofall ages attended, including JaneMeyer ’89, alumni directoremeritus Jim Rundstrom ‘64 andSheri Jones ’89.


AA LUMNILUMNI NN EWSEWS

TRACK: For the fifth consecu-tive year, alumni and friends ofthe Loper track and cross coun-try programs returned for theCharlie Foster Invitational inJanuary. Among those attendingthe social at the Alumni housewere Merle Horst ’70, headtrack coach Andy Meyer, Brad’97 and Nicole Mailahn ’97,Jaime and Tyson Bertrand ’00and Kyle Larsen ’97.

NORTHWEST: NorthwestAlumni gathered at a SeattleMariners game in April, includ-ing Howard Watkins ’38, PhilKozera, NU Foundation direc-tor of development, WadeHeyer ’87, Bob Miller ’60, Jesse’03 and Holly Gilbert, DavidOliphant ’03, Pat ’97 and KarenGilbert, Shelli Nemec ’91,Theren Hayes ’98 and Brenda’89 and Brodie Hodges.


BASKETBALL: The AlumniAssociation hosted a pre-gamereception on a snowy Februarynight prior to the UNK-MetroState game. Pictured are Jerryand Jane Sheldon ’75, (left andright), and John ’68 and DeannaLakey ’70 (center).

SOUTHERN CALIFOR-NIA: (Below) Sue Batie’73,Jenna Johannsen Carlson ’09and Cathy Jeulfs Knutsen ’76share greetings at the 35thannual Southern Californialuncheon in February.

TEXAS: (Above) South TexasAlumni gathered in Katy inOctober. Special guests to the‘Loper Blue Jean Luncheon’ werestudent teachers from the area.Pictured are 2009 grads KelseyKoch, Eric Holmes, UNK directorof field experiences Ann Knipping,Bethany Chandler and LukeLuxford.

COLORADO: The Front Rangeof Colorado is home to nearly1,200 Loper alumni.Among thosewho gathered for a happy hour inDenver in February were AmyDix ’03, Megan Kirby Moran ’01,NU Foundation director of devel-opment Kristin Wittman Howard’00, Erika Redfern ’04, TeresaKowalski Porter ’80 and SueHaeberle ’81.

ALUMNI NEWS

Born on January 6, 1910 inCentral City, WrightMorris’ mother, Grace, died

within days of his birth. During hischildhood, he and his father lived inseveral Nebraska towns before set-tling in Omaha.

While in Omaha, Morris spenttwo summers on his Uncle Harryand Aunt Clara‘s farm nearNorfolk. Two decades later, hewould return to this farm to takesome of his most memorable pho-tographic images.

In 1924 father and son moved toChicago. While living there, theywent on a road trip to California,which would later become the basisfor his first novel, My UncleDudley. Morris moved toCalifornia, attending Pacific UnionCollege.

After college, Morris spent ayear abroad. In 1934, Morrisreturned to the United States, mar-ried Mary Finfrock and began todevelop his interest in photography.Several years later, Mary accepteda teaching position in Connecticut.Shortly after their move, Morrisdecided to go on a "photo-safari,"traveling through the South,Midwest and West spending thewinter writing in California.

During a 1938 cross-country cartrip, he became enthralled with thevisual beauty of the rural life and

landscape that he rememberedfrom his youth, “I ran a high feverof enthusiasm and believed myselfchosen to record this history beforeit was gone.”

In 1942 and 1947, Morris wasawarded two GuggenheimFellowships for photography. The

money from the awards helped tofund his trips back to Nebraskawhich were the inspiration for hisfirst two photo-texts, TheInhabitants and The Home Place.The Home Place is filled with pho-tographs he took at his UncleHarry‘s farm near Norfolk; the

photo-text combination evokes lifeon a plains “dirt farm.”

A description of the feelingsevoked through Morris‘ photo-graphs is best conveyed in his ownwords: “A pattern for living, theblueprint of it, can be seen in thewhite stitches of the denim, thetimepiece stamped like a medallionin the bib of the overalls. Betweenwearing something in and wearingit out the line is as vague as thereceding horizon, and as hard toaccount for as the missing hairs of abrush.”

From 1944 to 1954, Morrislived in Pennsylvania. He traveledto escape his failing marriage. In1959 he went to Venice withJosephine Kantor, whom he mar-ried the following year. Two yearslater in 1963, Morris began to teachcreative writing at San FranciscoState College where he remaineduntil 1975. He died in 1998. TheMuseum of Nebraska Art holds130 photographs by Wright Morris– believed to be the largest numberin a public institution.

MONA is the official art collec-tion of the State of Nebraska. Themuseum is located at 2401 CentralAvenue and open to the publicTuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.to 5 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.and closed major holidays.Admission is free.�

BASKET OF COBS, THE HOME PLACENEAR NORFOLK, NEBRASKA, 1947

Wright Morrissilver print, 1975

Museum of Nebraska Art CollectionGift of Cliff Art Endowment,

Carl & Jane Rohman, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce R. Lauritzen

CAMPUS NEWS

Monday, May 24 ~ Omaha

“Scrambling for Scholarships”Golf EventChampion’s Run ~ Noon ShotgunStart - $100 per player, sponsorships $150Entry deadline is May 17Contact: Lucas Dart [email protected] or308.865.8474

Thursday, June 3 ~ Dawson

County Alumni Reception5-7:30 p.m. at Mac’s CreekVineyard, LexingtonEnjoy hors d’oeuvres andNebraska wine with alumni andfriends

Monday, June 14 ~ Kearney

Blue Gold Golf Classic, AnnualLoper Athletics Fundraiser

10:00 Shotgun Start at Kearney

Country Club and Meadowlark Hills Golf Course$195 per player Contact: Loper athletics office at308.865.8514

Tuesday, June 15 ~ Omaha

“Business After Hours” Alumni Reception

5:00-7:30 p.m. at SecurityNational Bank,1120 South 101st St.All alumni are invited to join fellow Loper Family members,including Chancellor DougKristensen, for food, drinks, networking and a rundown onwhat’s happening at UNK

Saturday, July 17 ~

Kansas City

“Loper Alumni Day at KauffmanStadium”

Pre-game alumni gathering,

followed by KC Royals vs.Oakland A’s – 6:10 p.m.Contact: Bethany Spilde ’06 [email protected]

Friday, July 23 ~

Lincoln Loper Golf Scramble

Crooked Creek Golf Course1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start,Cost is $60, includes golf, prizesand post-tournament mealSponsorships available for $100,benefiting the Lincoln LoperScholarship FundContact: Lucas Dart at308.865.8474 [email protected]

Saturday, August 14 ~

Denver/Front Range

“Loper Alumni Day at Coors Field”Pre-game alumni gathering, fol-lowed by Colorado Rockies vs.Milwaukee Brewers – 6:10 p.m.

Saturday, September 4 ~ Omaha

Football Pre-game – Lopers vs. UN-Omaha – the series finale!!

Alumni tailgate party, 3:00followed by the 6:00 kickoff at Caniglia Field

Saturday, October 16 ~

Dallas/Fort Worth

“Loper Blue Jean Luncheon”11:30 a.m. Followed by the luncheon, watch the Loper football squad take on ColoradoState-Pueblo via the web!

Details will be sent for events inyour area. RSVP is appreciatedfor all events, please contact Toni Meyers at the Alumni House by calling308.865.8474 or emailing her [email protected] l UNK Today l Spring 2010

1982Barbara Hurt-Simmons has beenelected to the Dowington, Pennsylvania,school board.

1983Col. Bradley K. Nelson has retiredfrom the U.S. Army after 26 years of activeservice. Participating in five military cam-paigns, he is a veteran of the Persian GulfWar, Kosovo Campaign, Operation IraqiFreedom and Operation EnduringFreedom in Afghanistan. Brad and his wifewill retire in Lansing, Kansas. They havetwo children, Stephanie who is a senior atthe University of Kansas and Phillip who isa high school senior.Russ Rerucha has been appointed tothe Grand Island Education FoundationBoard of Directors. He is owner andmanager of Green Line Equipment Inc.

1984Odee Ingersoll, director of theNebraska Business Development Centerat UNK, was honored at the Associationof Small Business Development (ASBDC)annual meeting last fall. He was recog-nized as Nebraska’s STAR Performer for2009 for his work in business exit andsuccession planning, and business evalua-tion services. This is the second time hereceived the award. Lori Teaford is securities and brokerageservices coordinator for the Lincolnbranch of Central Financial Services. Priorto joining CFS, Teaford spent 15 yearswith Ameritas Life Insurance Corp andnine years at Ameritas Investment Corp.

1985David C. Nelson has joined the Omahalaw firm of Gross & Welch as a director.Jana Holmes Peterson MSE’90became the director of the YouthRehabilitation and Treatment Center(YRTC) in Kearney in December. She hadbeen YRTC director of programming andassistant director at the facility.

1988Kelly S. Christensen MSE ’98, associ-ate dean for the trades and industrydepartment for Central CommunityCollege in Hastings, received the 26thannual Central Community College –Hastings outstanding service award forexemplary service and role in obtainingtwo Department of Labor CommunityBased Job Training grants. He is also amember of the Leadership NebraskaClass of 2010.Paul Stevens earned his Ph.D. fromKansas State University in May. He is aprofessor at Southeast CommunityCollege in Lincoln. He and his wife,Rebecca Czaja-Stevens ’02, have a son,Jonah Michael 1. Rebecca also works atSoutheast as director of TRIO programs.

1989Doris Ritzdorf Robertson has beenpromoted to controller and vice presi-dent – financial reporting with UnionBank & Trust Company in Lincoln. Dr. Stephanie Hueftle Vogel ’89,MAE’96 is senior director of develop-ment with the Oklahoma State UniversityFoundation. Her husband, Dr. Jason Vogel,is an assistant professor in the OSUBiosystems and Agricultural EngineeringDepartment. They have five-year-old twindaughters, Paetyn and Piper.Mark Reid has been promoted to oper-ations manager NRG Media Kearneywhich has radio stations KGFW-AM,KRNY-FM and KQKY-FM. He has beenwith the station since 1985.

1991Loran Paprocki has received a patentfor his work on the sealing of vascularpunctures. The Angio-Seal is used at theend of a cardiology procedure. The patentwas part of his work with St. Jude Medicalas a senior product development engi-neer. He is now director of manufactur-ing and regulatory affairs at AnnexMedical in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He isalso a city councilman for the City of St.Louis Park, Minnesota. Loran said his wife,April Goerlich ’91, manages their homeand home-schools three of their five chil-dren.Dan Schiefelbein MA, EDS’00 is the7-12 principal at Doniphan-TrumbullPublic School.Renae Riddle Zimmer is an accountrepresentative with Charter Business ofKearney. Her husband, Dave ’92, teachesat Sunrise Middle School and is junior var-sity boy’s basketball coach at KearneyHigh School. They have two children,Nolan 15, and Kamryn 11.

1992Brent Johnson is hospitality divisionmanager with Bosselman Family ofCompanies in Grand Island.Kip Magner is a reimbursement analystat Lincoln Surgical Hospital in Lincoln.

1993Bryan Lindgreen is an account repre-sentative with Charter Business ofKearney.Dr. Jason Miller MA’00 is an assistantprofessor of English at North CarolinaState University where he directs theEnglish Teacher Education Program andteaches American poetry.

1994Jennifer Mandin Ford is director ofcorporate benefits for InfoGroup inOmaha.

1995Jan Skourup Rodehorst is executivedirector of the Kearney Area Chamber ofCommerce. Jana Satterly Seier MSE’97 is aspeech pathologist at Family Physical

Therapy. Her husband, Keith ’98, isprocess improvement engineer at WestPharmaceuticals. The couple lives inKearney with sons Jaden 6 and Blake 3.Tim Sizer is owner of Sizer Well Drillingin Arthur. He and his wife, Kimberly, havefive children, Andrew Judson 6, Asa Patryk7, adopted from Poland in 2006, AidenPrzemek 7, adopted from Poland in 2003,Amos Benton 2, and Alycia Josephine,born September 4, 2009.Robert ‘Bud’ Synhorst is executivedirector of Mary Lanning HospitalFoundation in Hastings.

1996Matt Dykstra, an elementary physicaleducation teacher with the Millard Schools,received the Nebraska State EducationAssociation’s 2010 Teaching ExcellenceAward in April. Dykstra was praised forintegrating technology, music, math andother disciplines into his classes. In 2009, hereceived the Millard Education Association’sTeacher of the Year Award.Valerie Vierk has published a new booktitled, Winter of Death – Victims of the1918-1919 Influenza Epicemic in theRavenna, Nebraska Area. It contains thebiographies of all of the victims, plus photos.Ravenna suffered a much higher death ratethan any other community in BuffaloCounty. It was published by Lulu. Vierk is theoffice assistant for the departments ofgeography and sociology at UNK.

1997Carol Money is pursuing on a doctor ofarts degree in vocal performance with a sec-ondary emphasis in opera directing at theUniversity of Northern Colorado. Sherecently played the role of Romilda inHandel’s Serse and Lauretta in GianniSchicchi.

1997Dr. Candace Thompson Walton wasthe winner of the 2010 Belbas-LarsonAward for Excellence in Teaching at theUniversity of South Dakota in the tenuretrack category. She is an assistant profes-sor in the Department of ContemporaryMedia and Journalism in the College ofArts and Sciences.

1998Mark Michaelis is a teacher withOmaha Public Schools. He and his wife,Maria, have two daughters, Lexi 5 andLaini 2.Kari Lidgett is a public relations coun-selor for Swanson Russell in Omaha.

2000Jaylene Dutton Eilenstine is directorof marketing at All Makes OfficeEquipment in Omaha. She and her hus-band, Matt ’00 have a daughter, Reece 1.Kurt Kisker is an agricultural loan officerwith State Bank of Riverdale.Jessica Mueller Eidem is a scienceteacher at Sunrise Middle School.Nathan ’03, recently earned a Ph.D. inGeography from Oregon State University.They live in Kearney and have a daughter,Julia Anne, 3 months.Kerry Fleming is director of residencelife at Ohio Dominican University inColumbus, Ohio.

2001Tara Heil is a copy editor at the KearneyHub newspaper. She has been an editor atthe Hub for eight years.Lanny Lautenschlager is a managerwith ECG Management Consultants, aconsultancy for healthcare providers intheir St. Louis office. ECG has four otheroffices in Seattle, San Diego, WashingtonD.C. and Boston.

Alumni are among UNK’s best recruiters andthe university could use your assistance.There are many ways you can assist in attract-

ing prospective Lopers.� Make a point to visit with students andfriends about your experience at UNKand encourage them to give us a look� Encourage them to check us out on theweb at www.unk.edu� Send their names, addresses and highschool information to the admissionsoffice

[email protected]

Help Them –EXPERIENCE KEARNEY


YOUR LINK TO

ALUMNI!www.unkalumni.orgFacebook Group:UNK/KSC Alumni Association

CLASS NOTES

1927Zetha Hendrickson Warren celebrat-ed her 100th birthday on July 31, 2009.She lives in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

1956Don Straney of Lakewood, Colorado,who excelled as a track athlete when incollege, is back competing. After 54 yearsof not competing in track, he is trainingfor the Rocky Mountain Senior Gamesthat will be held in Greeley, Colorado, inJune.

1964Bill McGahan MSE’68, EDS’91,superintendent of North Platte CatholicSchools, has announced that he will retirefollowing the 2010-2011 school year.McGahan has been on staff since 1966. Hehas taught music and English, served asprincipal at McDaid Elementary and prin-cipal at St. Pats High School. In 1974, hewas named superintendent.

1968Lee Jacobsen is executive vice presidentof Pathway Bank at its Cairo location. Joe McFarland was inducted into theIowa High School Baseball Coaches Hallof Fame in January. He was head baseballcoach for 20 years at Norwalk. His careercoaching record was 313-196 with 11conference championships , four districtchampionships and a state title in 1982when his team posted a 23-3 record. Hespent 40 years as a coach retiring in 1998.At UNK, McFarland lettered four years intrack and football where he was a firstteam all NCC back in 1956 and a two-time conference pole vault champion.

1971Wilma Quelle of Mesa, Arizona, hasauthored a book of Navajo biographies.During the course of these biographies,the reader travels 250 years throughNavajo Tribal history. This easy-to-readbook becomes a good tour guide of theReservation with colored photos andinformative reading for both students andadults. The book is published byPublishamerica.com. “Steps to NavajoHistory” has been chosen as a submissionof Publishamerica Publishing Companiesmanuscripts for the ‘Oprah’s Book Club’selection.

1972Tim O’Dea retired as administratorfrom the Youth Rehabilitation andTreatment Center (YRTC) in Kearney inDecember. O’Dea began his career therein 1970 as a recreation aide, teacher,counselor, caseworker and recreationdirector. He was a counselor and principalat Pleasanton Public School from 1978 to1988. He returned to YRTC in 1998 andlater was named facility director.Chuck Schwartz is an account repre-sentative with Hometown Family Radio –North Platte. He has been designated bythe Radio Advertising Bureau as a certi-fied radio marketing consultant. Schwartz

is also sports director of the two NorthPlatte stations – KRNP-FM and KZTL-FM. He is chairman of the NebraskaBroadcasters Association and in 2007 hewas honored by the Nebraska HighSchool Activities Directors Associationwith their Outstanding Service Award, thesixth radio broadcaster to be honored inthe 40-year history of the association.

1973LaNelle Wegner Oney retired in May2009 after 32 years of educating specialneeds adults and secondary students inOhio, California and Nebraska includingthe last 27 years at Wabaunsee HighSchool in Alma, Kansas. She and her hus-band, Keith, have two children, Brian andhis wife Stacey and Kayla. They have onegranddaughter, Sophia Aislinn.

1974Denny Hill owns Strategic ResourcesWest, Inc. (SRW) in Castle Rock,

Colorado. SRW is a consulting firm spe-cializing in strategic planning, educationalspecifications, facility master planning anddemographics, working primarily with K-12 school districts. Prior to establishingSRW 13 years ago, he was the planningdirector for Douglas County SchoolDistrict in Colorado when it was thefastest growing district in the nation. Hehas been a consultant to both privateindustry and public sector entities as wellas an education instructor at Kansas StateUniversity. Denny is also active in Kiwaniswhere he has served in a number ofoffices and in his church. His email is [email protected]. SRW’s websiteis www.strategicwest.com.Dr. Paul Paulman, professor of familymedicine and dean of clinical skills atUNMC, received the OutstandingTeaching and Creativity Award from theUniversity of Nebraska. Dr. Paulmanreceived the Alumni Association’sDistinguished Alumni Award in 1996.

1975Paul Younes was named the Friend ofKearney at the 91st annual KearneyChamber of Commerce annual meetingin March. The award goes to a personwho goes out of his or her way toimprove Kearney. Younes is president ofHeartland Hospitality of Kearney. Heowns four hotels in Kearney and has beena leader in the community for the past 35years.

1976Diane Eastman Krajicek received theAmerican Advertising Federation Lincoln2010 Silver Medal at the annual NebraskaADDY Awards Show and Banquet. She isdirector of strategic planning at BaileyLauerman. Krajicek has more than 30

years of experience in the advertisingindustry in research, branding, media andstrategic planning. She joined BaileyLauerman in 2000.

1979Karen Kilgarin has been named direc-tor of government relations and publicaffairs with the Nebraska State EducationAssociation of which she has been direc-tor of communications for 15 years. Inaddition, she will also continue her com-munications duties. Formerly she servedas state senator, deputy chief of staff forGov. Ben Nelson and director of thestate’s Department of AdministrativeServices. Kevin O’Connor MAE’90 recorded his500th basketball win at North PlatteCommunity College during the 2009-2010 year. He has a 25-year career recordof 505-283. This year’s team captured theRegion IX junior college tournament andqualified for the national tournamentwhile compiling a 29-6 record.

1980Steve Wickham MAE, EDS’86 hasannounced his retirement from KearneyPublic Schools where he has been highschool principal since 2005. Prior to thathe was assistant principal. Wickham hasworked in education for 34 years, 31 withKearney Public Schools.

1981Kyle Hoehner MAE’95 will be theprincipal at Lexington High School begin-ning in the fall. He has been activitiesdirector since 2007. Prior to that, he wasa teacher and basketball coach at KearneyHigh School.

JOIN THE LOPER

E-network!Please send your emails to [email protected]. Be sure to provide your name, address and year of graduation!

Alpha Tau Omega

REUNION TIME: The ATO “Bucket List” Reunion was a huge success. Nearly 100 brothersattended the reunion, which was held September 18 - 20 in Kearney. Friday night a mixer was heldat Bico’s, bringing back many fond memories. Saturday morning they had a golf scramble at BuffaloRidge Golf Course. Saturday afternoon and evening a BBQ, catered by Skeeter Barnes, was held atthe home of Tom and Jan Paxson in rural Gibbon. Several slide/powerpoint presentations weremade, including one honoring those brothers who have died. Those invited were members of the1966 Charter Class when the local Phi Tau Gamma fraternity was initiated into Alpha Tau Omega.Also invited were brothers initiated into ATO up to 1972.

The fraternity also raised around $4,000 which will be distributed into the three scholarships thefraternity supports – the Don Briggs ATO Scholarship, theLandmesser/Murphy Scholarship, and the Phi Tau Gamma Scholarship.

CLASS NOTES


�

2003Dr. Molly Brost is assistant professor ofEnglish at the University of SouthernIndiana. She joined the staff in August 2009following a one-year teaching appointmentin the English department at NorthwestMissouri State University. She teachescomposition and Introduction to Literatureat USI. Dr. Brost received her Ph.D. inAmerican Culture Studies from BowlingGreen State University in August 2008.Her dissertation examines issues of genderand authenticity in the country musicbiopic. She also holds a master of artsdegree in English from Colorado StateUniversity.Lindsey Hackel of Omaha, NE recentlygraduated from the Nebraska LEADProgram as a member of Group XXVIII.The Nebraska LEAD Program is a two yearleadership development program designedto develop the future decision makers,problem solvers, and spokespersons forNebraska agriculture. Brandi Cruise Riley is kindergartenteacher at Pleasanton Elementary. Her hus-band, Kenny, is manager of the Runza northstore. The couple lives in Kearney withdaughter, Brittany, and son, Grady Michael,born March 13.Grant Mollring has joined the staff ofDoane College as offensive coordinator. Hehad been wide receiver’s coach at UNK.Marc Zavala is a sports reporter withthe Grand Island Independent.

2004Allison Kruger has been named headwomen’s basketball coach at SouthwestMinnesota State University in Marshall. Shehad been an assistant at the University ofSouth Dakota the past two years.

2005Jenny Lea Connery is a teacher atPlattsmouth Community School District.Ashley Scantling graduated in May 2009from Oklahoma College of Optometry. Sheis in practice in Emporia, Kansas, at FlintHills Eye Care.Dr. Cole Spresser graduated from theUniversity of Kansas Medical Center in May2009. He is in residency at the University ofKansas medical Center in the InternalMedicine program.Matthew Stark works for Great PlainsCommunications in Sutherland. He workedfor Intellicom in Kearney from 2005 until2007. He and Cassi Allen were married inMay 2009. They live in North Platte.

2006Heather Bolin is a retail account repre-sentative with the Kearney Hub advertisingdepartment.Josh Borowski is a senior accountant withthe certified public accounting firm ofMaltzahn, Galloway & Luth in Grand Island.Samantha Harvey has been named vol-leyball coach at College of Saint Mary inOmaha. She had been coaching and teach-ing at Lexington High School.Noah Howard is warehouse manager atJohnstone Supply in Kearney. Noah’s wife,Skye, is pursuing a nursing degree and stayshome with their daughters Avery 4 andEllie 1.Heather Pennell lives in Sheboygan,Wisconsin, where she works with autisticchildren as a line therapist with theWisconsin Early Autism Project.Tom Schlund is a residence hall coordi-nator with the Department of ResidentialLife at the University of Missouri.

2007Heidi Neighbors Fessler earned hermaster’s degree in school counseling fromChadron State College in May 2009. She isa guidance counselor at Adams MiddleSchool in North Platte. She had been a lan-guage arts teacher at North Platte HighSchool.Josie McCune is a physical therapist at

Grand Island Physical Therapy’s Balance andMobility Center. She received her doctor-ate in physical therapy from UNMC in2009.Josh Rowan is sports editor of theLexington Clipper.

2008Jen Bochart is advocate and MDT coor-dinator at the Child Advocacy Center inGrand Island. She lives in Loup City.Lisa Elson is executive administrativeassistant to the managing director of theU.S. Olympic Committee’s InternationalGames Department at the OlympicTraining Center in Colorado Springs.Colleen McMickell is a respiratory ther-apist at Good Samaritan Hospital inKearney. Matt Rieckman is a retail account repre-sentative with the Kearney Hub advertisingdepartment.

2009Michelle Foley is a speech pathologygraduate student at the University ofKansas. She will receive her master’s degreein May 2011.Cammeron Premer works at BehavenDay Center, a day care for children withbehavioral problems in Lincoln.Jeremy Starzec is a graduate student inthe community counseling program atUNK.

MarriagesSara Bechenhauer ’05, MSE’07 andDavid Hageman ’03 October 17 inAmelia Island, Florida.Rachel Dankert ’05 and PatrickSchiley ’98 June 13, 2009 in Grand Island.Christy Hagler ’02 and Kevin RoseOctober 3 in Cherry Hills, New Jersey.Christy is director of marketing communi-cations, for Yoh, a division of Day &Zimmermann. Kevin is a business analystfor Equity Settlement Services, Inc. They livein Philadelphia.Allison Hoffman ’09 and AdamBeckstrom June 6 in Grand Island.Nadine Keizer ’04, MSE’06 and JacksonHagen September 6 in Custer State Park,South Dakota. They live in Turtle Lake,North Dakota.James Kelley ’06 and Elizabeth KocolFebruary 27 in Antigua.Elizabeth Magill ’08 and Mark Davis’08 December 12 in Kearney.Gwen Maliszewski ’05 and AdamRathman ’08 August 29 in Kearney.Lindsey Meier ’09 and Trenton LilienthalAugust 1 in Grand Island. Lindsey is a serv-ice manager for Wells Fargo Bank.Samantha Oerter ’03 and GeorgeSmith June 5 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.Emily Pfeifer MSE’04 and James AnsonSeptember 26 in Grand Island. Matthew Rau ’02 and Amy McCulloughAugust 22 in Lincoln. Matt is an account repfor Modern Banking Systems and Amy is amedical assistant for Dermatology SurgeryCenter. They live in Omaha.MacKenzie Rauert ’06 and NicholasPacifico ’06 January 16. They live inDenver.Meggan Roeder ’98 and Curt CoghillMay 9, 2009 in Kearney.Michelle Roggasch ’81, MAE’03 andBruce Carlson October 10 in Kearney.Ashley Rubesh ’09 and Daniel HakeJanuary 23 in St. Paul.Max Simonson ’04 and MaggiMcDermott August 29 in Grand Island.Kristin Steinbeck ’03, MSE’06 andBrian Chamness September 19 inKearney.

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News

SOUTH AMERICANS: Faculty members Stephen andBarbara Amundson hosted the first South American alumnigathering at the Pavilion Hotel in Bogota, Colombia, in October.The alumni who attended shared their stories of UNK andserved as ambassadors for two new UNK students. In thephoto with the Amundsons are Ana Maria Ordonez, JamieCabra, Monica Arana, Claudia Marcela, Ospino, Carlos Vivas,Angela Forero, Maritza Ronoconco, Liarco Navarro, AndresTraslavina, Catherine Felizzola, Lina Traslavina and Miguel Royas.All alumni are reminded to share their contact information withthe Alumni Association and the alumni coordinator in the Officeof International Education. The email is [email protected].

Alumni Update

Send your update for UNK Today to:UNK Alumni Association, Campus Box 21,Kearney NE 68849-6120 or email us yourupdates to [email protected]

What’s happening? CLASS NOTES


Lacey Strasburg ’06 and Jonathan BoucOctober 24 in Kearney.Erin Tracy ’05 and Joseph Hassler ’05January 16 in Omaha.Ashley Zinnel ’08 and Jesse HiltonOctober 3 in Kearney.

BirthsNick ‘06, MBA’10 and Sarah Abegglen’06, MSE’09 of Kearney are parents of ason, Jayden Nicholas, born September 27.Brian and Annette Turek Axmann ’02of Kearney are parents of a daughter,Olivia Anne, born January 4. They alsohave a son, Owen 3.Dr. Chris ’97 and Dayna Banning ofLeawood, KS are the parents of a boy,Grady Porter, born March 3.James and Jenna Sterner Berlie ’01 ofKearney are parents of a son, Will Michael,born January 12.Steven and Lindsey Stevens Berry ’03of Evansville, Indiana, are parents of a son,Tyler Dale, born January 9.Marshall ’93 and Angie Biddlecome ofKearney are the parents of a son, BeckettKeith, born on March 12. They also havedaughters, Brynn, Barlen and Megan.Kerri and Jason M. Boruch ’06 of Killeen,Texas, are parents of a daughter, Kinsey Rae,born October 28. Jason is an army specialist.

Jonathan ’03 and Mimi KlingelhoeferBrandt ’02 of Kearney are parents of ason, Jonathan Jonas Burton, born January19. Jonathan is an attorney with Anderson,Klein, Swan and Brewster. Mimi is market-ing director with Nebraska Life magazine.Leslie and Matt Burkey ’99 of Houstonare parents of a daughter, Emily Louise,born January 15.Dean ’97 and Jennifer Vogel Buse ’99 ofKearney are parents of a daughter, MadelynMarie, born December 30. They also haveAlison, Jarad and Katelyn.Natalie and Jason Christoffersen ’06 ofKearney are parents of a son, Julian Daniel,born October 29.Ryan ’03 and Rachel Conner of Friend areparents of a son, Ryder Jeremiah, bornMarch 19. They also have a son, Riley.Greg ’05 and Denise Kring Davis ’05 ofShelton are parents of a daughter, AubreyDeAnn, born December 29. Denise is asocial worker for St. John’s Nursing Homein Kearney.Tony ’97 and Lindsey Gregg Deitering’97 of Sidney are parents of twin daughters,Lillian Jane and Lucille Anne, born June 4,2009. Tony is an attorney for Cabela’s.Dr. Brian ’04 and Erin Riedel Dunagan’07 of Grand Island are parents of a daugh-ter, Avery Grace, born February 5.Travis and Nikki Beachler Edeal ’98,MAE’04 of Lexington are parents of ason, Drexton Cole, born September 20.

Nikki teaches at the Lexington PublicSchools.Tanner ’03 and Cassandra Engel ’03 ofLincoln are parents of a son, Landry Jaxon,born November 16. Tanner is a trooperwith the Nebraska State Patrol. Cassandrais a pharmacist with Walgreens.Kyle and Wanda Pfeiffer Fedorchik’01 of Kearney are parents of a son,Carter Lloyd, born March 31.Dan ’05 and Lauren Cole Ferguson’03 of Lincoln are parents of a daughter,Kamryn Lyn, born July 2, 2009. They alsohave a son, Owen. Scott ’06 and Bridget Martin Fitzke’09 of Kearney are parents of a son, LoganDean, born January 17. Leonard and Karen Bostic Frederick’02 of Minden are parents of a son, KellisLawrence, born January 24.Jeremy and Jessica Lacey Frink ’99 ofLincoln are parents of a daughter EllietLynette, born June 18, 2009. Robert and Glenda Mertens Gant ’00of Hastings are parents of a daughter,Reagan Kay, born November 6.Kyle ’05 and Jessica Vasa George ’05of Fort Collins, Colorado, are parents of ason, Landon David, born September 30.Mike ’01 and Wendy Sheffield Hadley’00 of Holdrege are parents of a daughter,Emerson Elle, born February 1.Deedra and Justin Holl ’00 ofHampstead, North Carolina, are parents ofa daughter, Kenadie Milan, born January 4.Ryan ’03 and Patricia MarshallHellriegel ’05 of Elm Creek are parentsof a daughter, Ashlyn Rose, born March 20.Jim ’94 and Tina McCaslin Holm ’00of Mason City are parents of a daughter,Alison Emma, born October 12.Jay ’09 and Krista Peterson Howland’00 of Kearney are parents of a daughter,Reese Emma, born December 26.Mike and Kelli Hasselbalch Jaixen ’93of Omaha are parents of a son, ZacheryMichael, born April 29, 2009. They alsohave a daughter, Rachael Claire.Ross D. ’09, MSA ’09 and Brooke A.Malcom ’06 Huxoll of Kearney are par-ents of a daughter, Brenleigh Brooke, bornNovember 27. Ross is an adjunct profes-sor of history at UNK and Brooke is aphysicians assistant for Dr. Sean Denneyat Platte Valley Medical Group.Jason and Rubia Duarte Hyatt ’03 ofSugar Land, Texas, are parents of a boy,Jonathan, born May 10, 2009. Rubia hasbeen nominated for the Texas Associationof Secondary School Principal of the Year.They also have a daughter Adrianna 3.Adam and Valerie Aspen Jameson ’06of Kearney are parents of a son, NoahAdien, born February 15. Valerie is aMedical Technologist and ClinicalLaboratory Scientist with Family PracticeAssociates.Jonathan ’03 and Janelle LarsonJaworski ’05 of Elkhorn are parents of adaughter, Lillian Elizabeth, born June 12,2009. They also have a son, Emmett 3.Blake and Renee Rohren Johnson ’96of Holdrege are parents of twins, Lucasand Gracie, born November 1. They havetwo other children, Garret and Lauren.Joseph ’01 and Tara CoughlinJohnson ’02 of South Sioux City are par-ents of a son, Alexander Michael, bornMarch 30, 2009. They also have a son, Will.Seth and Lynn Nordby Killion ’06 ofKearney are parents of a son, KarterAllen, born January 26.Mark ’01 and Melissa EvansKlabunde ’08 of Minden are parents ofa son, Zachary Joseph, born Janaury 21.Jake ’97 and Janae Slingsby Knoell ’95of Omaha are parents of a daughter,Peyton Jae, born February 8.Jeffrey ’05 and Sandra ZnamenacekKoll ’06 ofWilber are parents of a daugh-ter, Matilda Jane, born December 2.

Scott ’92 and Sue Reineke Kutschkau’01 of Omaha are parents of a daughter,Alayna Grace, born February 11. Sue is adirector of development in the NUFoundation’s Omaha office.S. John III and Gerri Johnson Lawson’98 of Shawnee, Kansas, are parents oftwins, Max Robert and Madeline Ray, bornSeptember 4. They also have a daughter,Natalie.Darby ’91 and Annette Line of Millerare parents of a son, Braxton Douglasborn March 13. They also have boysTravis, Dillon, Jason and Creyton. Chris ’96 and Julie Leahy Lingbloom’00 of Gretna are parents of a son, ColinEdward, born February 3.Amy and Scott Lowery ’03 of Kearneyare parents of a son, Colton Robert, bornFebruary 23.

CLASS NOTES

UNK Today, official alumni publication of theUniversity of Nebraska at Kearney is pub-lished two times a year by the AlumniAssociation, Kearney, Nebraska 68849. Thirdclass postage paid, Kearney, NE 68847.

Phone: (308) 865-8474 FAX: (308) 865-8999 E-mail: [email protected]: www.unkalumni.org

BOARD OFDIRECTORS OFFICERSChad Rutar ’97, President - OmahaBryan Kuntz ’95, President-elect - KearneyAndrea Walton Miller ’02, Secretary - ScottsbluffBrenda Christensen ’83, Past-President - MindenLarry Feather ’66, Trustee - Grand Junction, CO

DIRECTORSEXPIRING 2010Cynthia Schug Bahler ’94 - LamarDoug Burritt ’95 - OsceolaDenise Strother Christensen ’80 - KearneySteve James ’77 - Danville, CALanny Jorgensen ’63 - Tucson, AZBryan Kuntz ’95 - KearneyHolly Nikels ’93 - Bettendorf, IANancy Yurges Osterbuhr ’95 - Minden

EXPIRING 2011Barb Lehmkuhl Estes ’74 - KearneyDean Jindra ’85 - PapillionDeeDee Schutte Kitzelman ’90 - KearneyAndrea Walton Miller ’02 - ScottsbluffBen Rowe ’03 - KearneyRyan Samuelson ’02 - Phoenix, AZTroy Schleiger ’95 - LincolnCandy Thompson Walton, Ph.D. ’97 - Vermillion, SDRyan Tworek ’98 - Newport Beach, CA

EXPIRING 2012Carol Green Ballain ’65 - Fort Collins, COMark Felker ’86 - AlliancePat Kelly Hoehner ’57 BAE, ’67 MSE, ’82 - KearneyBrett R. Kuhn, PhD ’86 - GretnaKip Magner ’92 - LincolnNancy McCarthy Polk ’73 - KearneyTrina Rother MAE ’00 - Grand IslandBethany A. Spilde ’06 - Kansas City, MOBret Walker ’00 - Brighton, CO

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFFLucas Dart ’97 - Executive DirectorMichelle Widger ’90 - Assistant Director and Layout Editor Toni Meyers ’93 - Office AssociateJim Rundstrom ’64 - Editor & Director Emeritus

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UNK Today ~ Spring 2010 ~ Vol. 37, No. 1

Anthony ’03 and Kelly KenyonMaeser ’03 of Omaha are parents of adaughter, Grace Ann, born December 28.They also have a son, Jackson 3.Jimmy ’93 and Sarah Mahlin Feckner’94 of Citrus Heights, California, are par-ents of a daughter, Kailey Lorraine, bornSeptember 11. They also have a son,Christopher 2.Ben ’03 and Mindy Warner Matheny’03 of Elkhorn are parents of a daughter,Aubrey Valli, born January 11.Thomas and Kelley Sparks Maxwell’96 of Castle Rock, Colorado, are parentsof a son, Luke Thomas, born April 2, 2009.They also have a daughter, Sidney.John and Jodi Boughtin Meyer ’95 ofOmaha are parents of a daughter, KaylinGrace, born June 14, 2009. They also havea daughter, Alaina 3.Hannah and Rick Mollard ’08 ofKearney are parents of a daughter, KinleyEmma, born March 26.Richard and Kari Sorensen Mulroney’97, MBA’00 of Kearney are parents of ason, Maxwell Evan, born August 18.Bradley ’03 and Paula SieczkowskiMusil ’03 of Shawnee, Kansas, are parentsof a son, Jack Bradley, born December 19.Tony ’04 and Suzanne Young Neels ’04of Sidney are parents of a son, BrysonDonald, born July 2, 2009. They also have ason, Caden 3.Thomas and Traci Knudsen Neuberger’01 of Snoqualmie, Washington, are parentsof a daughter, Morgan Claire, born February12, 2009. They also have a son, Jackson.Diana and Clay Nolte ’94 of Omaha areparents of a son, Cole Jennings, bornAugust 8.David ’03 and Adrienne Oliphant ofSammamish, Washington are parents of adaughter, Makena Lorene, born March 25,2010. They also have a son, Estes.Scott and Jennipher Olson ’02 ofKearney are parents of a son, RyleyStephen, born October 20. Amy and Brad Parker ’96 of Kenesaware parents of a son, Kylan Joseph, bornFebruary 6.Tim and Angela Wiens Petersen ’02of Omaha are parents of a son, DrakeWesley, born January 19.

Andrea and Jared Pierce ’03 of Millerare parents of a son, Everett Dana, bornDecember 9.Trevor ’02 and Heather Fries Pierce’03 of Berthoud, Colorado, are parents ofa son, Hazen Layne, born October 19.Trevor is a designer for Wall Street onDemand in Boulder.Nathan ’99 and Jana FarnsworthPiper MSE’00 of Kearney are parents ofa son, Brendan Michael, born January 18.They also have a son, Ian, 3.Brad and Sonya Wagoner Rasmussen’05 of Hazard are parents of a son, BryceWendell, born September 12. Sonya is aspecial education/early childhood teacherwith Ravenna Public Schools.Chris and Sara Koperski Rector ’02 ofGibbon are parents of a son, Sterling Paul,born March 27.Laura and Bryce Rose ’96 of Ravennaare parents of a son, Bryce Thomas, bornJanuary 30.David ’07 and Dawn Petty Salyer ’07of St. Louis, Missouri, are parents of a son,Haven Ezekiel, born July 15, 2009.Grady ’07 and Marian Carr Schake’05 of Omaha are parents of a son, ChaseRoger, born December 25.Sonja and Jonathan Schilling ’06 ofHoldrege are parents of a daughter, MinaCiriaca, born October 14.Erin and Austin Schindler ’04 ofCentral City are parents of a daughter,Journi Ashley, born November 12.Tim and Shanna Bardsley Schulte ’00of Pleasanton are parents of a son, RomanJoseph, born February 10. Shanna is anAdmissions Representative for Joseph’sCollege of Beauty.Stacy and Ben Seim ’97 of Kearney areparents of a daughter, Danielle Judith, bornDecember 30, 2008. Ben is an adjuster forShelter Insurance.Rob and Beth Proskocil Sheets ’00 ofNorth Platte are parents of a daughter,Becca Marie, born October 23. They also

have a son, Brody 4.Megan and Jacob Smith ’05 of Omahaare parents of a son, Caleb David, bornOctober 8.Timothy and Casey Lewis Smith ’01 ofKearney are parents of a son, SawyerRock. They also have a son, Haydan.Michael and Jennie Smith Schuster’06 of Kearney are parents of a daughter,Faith Bella Skye, born September 1. Theyalso have a daughter, Grace, and a son,Henry.Adam and Kelly Ondrak Sortino ’98 ofOmaha are parents of a daughter, StellaRae, born April 2. Jerod ’02 and Michelle Troyer Spahr’02 of DeWitt are parents of a son, CadeMichael, born April 14. They also have ason, Cole, 3.Cassie and Nate ’97 Stephens ofKearney are the parents of a son, HunterJohn Wayne born February 27. They alsohave a son, Maximus.Bill ’99 and Jena LautenschlagerStroud ’06 of Kearney are parents of ason, Landon Kyle, born November 7.Stacy MSE’02 and Brian Sybrandts’99 of Grand Island are parents of adaughter, Katelyn Elizabeth, born March 2.Tobian ’08 and Heather PetersenTool ’00, MAE’08 of Elm Creek are par-ents of a daughter, Emerson Bea, bornJanuary 15.Joshua and Johanna Vance ’07 of PortRoyal, South Carolina, are parents of ason, Atticus Jonathon, born June 4. Johannais a first grade teacher in Beaufort CountySchool District. Joshua is a petty officer inthe U.S. Navy.Doug ’04 and Donnette Ohlman VanPelt MSE’09 of Central City are parentsof a daughter, Karsyn Renee, born May 30,2009. Doug is a social studies teacher andhead girls basketball coach. Donnette is areading specialist and response interven-tion coordinator. They have six othersons, Josh Van Pelt 30, Jake Van Pelt 24,

Logan Carlson 15, Micah Carlson 13,Noah Carlson 10 and Kaden Van Pelt 2.Simon and Mandi Puttergill Wagoner’99 of Shelton are parents of a daughter,Kenna Jo, born October 24. They alsohave Gracie 5 and Taylon 3.Dana and Shelley Schroeder Waldron’93 of Lincoln are parents of a son, BlakeDavid, born January 29.Bryan and Kila Haller Strasburger ’99of Lombard, Illinois, are parents of a daugh-ter, Alexis Grace, born November 5.Matthew ’01 and Heather JuelWalters ’02 of Whitmore Lake,Michigan, are parents of a daughter,Audrey Grace, born January 28. Heatheris Project Manager for the University ofMichigan Medical Center.Mandy and Russ Wemhoff ’00 ofKearney are parents of a daughter, KinleyJo, born October 28.Jeff and Erica Hough Westbrook ’96of Benton Harbor, Michigan, are parentsof a son, Luke Asher, born August 26. Ericais assistant director of education at theKrasl Art Center in St. Joseph, Michigan.Eric ’06 and Danell Pickett Will ’08 ofKearney are parents of a daughter, RubyLee, born February 28. Danell works atthe Good Samaritan Society in Gibbon asthe activity and social services director.Eric works at Good Samaritan Hospital inKearney as the supervisor of environ-mental services.Jake ’06 and Nicolle Williams, ’04,MAE’09 of Kearney are parents of adaughter, Makena Rae, born September 9.Laron K. ’03 and Amanda KamlerWilliams ’03 of Lubbock, Texas are par-ents of a son, Andrew Ryan, born July 2.Laron is an assistant professor of TexasTech University.Justin ’08 and Heather Korte Wolf’08 of Kearney are parents of a son, AlexJ, born January 23.Ken and Tamara Paben Wolinski ’95of Aurora are parents of a son, BraydenGregory, born October 20. They also havea daughter, Alexandra 6 and a son Tyson 5.Tamara is the kindergarten teacher andthe Continuous Improvement Director atHampton Public School. Travys ’06 and Briana HernandezWoodside ’04 of Kearney are parents ofa son, Brigham Anthony, born March 1.Eric and Rebecca Davis Zimbelman’02 of Kearney are parents of a son,Kaden John, born January 18. Rebecca isa Certified Kitchen Designer withShowcase 1 Dutton Lainson Company.Steve ’03 and Anne BoernerZimmerman ’06 of Kearney are par-ents of a daughter, Isabella Rose, bornApril 1.Mark and Angie Link Zmarzly ’99 ofLincoln are parents of a son, Jude Willem,born October 5. They also have a daugh-ter, Margot 2.

DeathsM. Joan Bailey of Kearney died January15. She was a faculty member and coachat UNK from 1963 until her retirement in1997. She was the first women’s swim-ming coach when that was the only sportfor women. For her work in swimmingand diving she was NAIA Swim Coach ofthe Year in 1989. She was also the firstsoftball coach. Bailey was inducted intothe UNK Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.She was 81.Lynda Otto Biehl MSE’02 ofLexington died February 4. She was 60.

Kristine TynanGerber ’88 andUNK journalismprofessor Keith

Terry won Nebraska BookAwards awarded to the bestworks by Nebraska authors,publishers and/or booksabout Nebraska for 2009.The Nebraska Book Festivalis sponsored by theNebraska Center for theBook, Nebraska HumanitiesCouncil, Nebraska LibraryCommission and theNebraska State HistoricalSociety. Gerber’s award wasa design award for BVHArchitects: Forty Years;Terry’s award was a nonfic-tion award for Nebraska’sCowboy Trail. �

Two winbook awards

CLASS NOTES

The wedding of Sylvia Mihalik ’06 and Brett Chloupek ‘05 inRoznava, Slovakia, in January provided college friends Fred Spiess,Janka Hudakova Speiss, Jeff Kenney, Katie Kugler, Aaron Veleba,Rhonda Mogee Veleba, Brette Covington and Jeff Ensz a wonder-ful opportunity to share in the special ceremony. The group trav-eled half way around the world to attend the traditional Slovakwedding. It started at 3:00 pm on Saturday, January 2 and did notend until Sunday, January 3. As part of the ceremony, Brett andthe unmarried men had to chop down a tree. Sylvia and theunmarried women had to decorate. Sylvia and Brett had threedifferent outfits during the wedding. Brett is a past student bodypresident, student regent and Chancellor’s Ambassador. Sylviawas a resident assistant, Chancellor’s Ambassador and workedat the Welcome Desk.

World-wide wedding


Ora Brawner ’53 of Riverside,California, died April 16. He was 78.Ron Brooks ’77 of Lincoln diedNovember 8. He was 71.Jerry Byrnes ’67 of York died April 11.He was 65.Patty Cacak ’76 of Bainbridge Island,Washington, died January 5. She was 55.Dr. Kathy Carpenter ’75, MSE’77 ofKearney died November 7. In 1975, shejoined the UNK faculty as director of theLearning Center and tutor program coor-dinator. She retired in 2001. She was 67.Dr. Donn Carlson of Kearney diedFebruary 25. He was a science professorat UNK from 1967 until his retirement in2006. He was the recipient of UNK Pratt-Heins Award for outstanding teacher ofthe year during his career. He was 68.Dr. Donald Dahlin of Lincoln died April11. He was a UNK professor of educationadministration and supervisor to studentteachers from 1997 until retiring in 1992. Hecontinued to supervise student teachers forseveral years after retiring. He was 88.Paula Deisley MAE’05 of Arapahoe diedDecember 31. She was 37.Roger ‘Butch’ Dillon of Omaha diedOctober 20. He was 65.Wayne Evers ’63 of Hildreth died January6. He taught high school and at the UNKSafety Center before retiring in 2006. Hewas 68.Heather Harman Gideon ’97 of WoodRiver after battling cancer died February27. She was 35.Aaron Grow ’92, MSE’00 of Hill City,South Dakota, died January 23. He was 42.Gerald Hensley ’58, MSE’62 of WoodRiver died October 9. He spend 33 years asan educator at Wood River Public Schools.He was 79.Josephine Hill MSE’74 of Blue Hill diedJanaury 24. She was 96.Doris B. Hoyle of Martinez, California,died November 29. She was 83.James R. Hunt ’58 of Merna diedDecember 26. He was 77.Keith Jorgensen ’50, MAE’58 of MissionViejo, California, died April 22. He was aretired mathematics professor at OrangeCoast College in Costa Mesa. He also wason the staff at UNK as a chemistry profes-

sor, director of allied health programs anddirector of records and statistics. He was aformer Alumni Association board memberand president of the Southern CaliforniaAlumni Association. He was 82.Jay Kenney ’88 of Manhattan, Kansas, diedNovember 23 as a result of injuries in anautomobile accident. He was 46.Karen Gronewold Kinnaman ’73 ofBloomington, Illinois, died April 13. She was66.Karen Seevers Kirkpatrick ’89 ofBroken Bow died November 18. She was 44.Ronald F. Kokes ’68 of Bend, Oregondied May 31, 2008. He was 73.Francis Kolar ’47 of Wolbach diedJanuary 9. He was 85.Betty Krubeck ’41 of Kearney, widowof professor emeritus Dr. Floyd Krubeck,died March 14. She is a former AlumniAssociation board member. She was 87.Lawrence ‘Lou’ Lacher ’65 of St.George, Utah, died October 22. He was 66.Patrick LaGreca ’84 of New York Citydied January 24. He was 47.Audrey Lockenour ’51 of Lincoln diedFebruary 20. She was 83.John G. ‘Shot’ Lowe III of Kearney diedMarch 17, 2009. He attended UNK from1949 to 1951 and was a long-time Kearneybusinessman. He was instrumental in start-ing Loper Supporters and in helping his fra-ternity, Caledonia, become Sigma PhiEpsilon. He also served on the StateCollege Board of Trustees. He was 77.Edwin Marsh ’48 of Ravenna diedDecember 18. He was 97.William Kent Mattson ‘66 and JaneLandmesser Mattson ’68 of Kearneyand Kenai, Alaska, died as a result ofinjuries in an automobile accidentNovember 8. They were professional edu-cators who had retired from teachingafter 20 years in Kenai. Kent was 66. Janewas 63. Memorials are suggested to theLandmesser-Murphy Memorial EndowedScholarship Fund or the Mattson FamilyScholarship Fund at the NU Foundation.John Markussen ’65 of Wood River diedJanuary 13. He retired from MarkussenBookkeeping in 2005. He was 66.Harry Mills ’50 of Wakefield diedNovember 19. He was 86.Neva Nielsen ’70 of Manhattan, Kansas,died February 28. She began her teachingcareer in 1936 after attending Nebraska

State Teachers College in Kearney and fin-ished her career from 1970 to 1982 as anelementary teacher in Superior.Memorials are suggested to the NevaNielsen Elementary Education Fund at theNU Foundation. She was 93.Lester Piper MAE’74 of Burwell diedMarch 20. He was 74.Rodney Plum ’69 of Omaha diedOctober 23. He was a long-time account-ant and served as coordinator of a num-ber of UNK alumni events in easternNebraska. He was 68.Joy Weinman Potter ’63 of Kearneydied October 9. She was 88.Elvera ‘Jim’ Rohrs of Kearney, wife ofprofessor emeritus John Rohrs, diedFebruary 27. She was 82.Vera Collison Smith ’55 of Athens,Ohio, died May 29, 2009. She had retired

from Athens City Schools after more than30 years as choral director. She was 74.Milton Steinkruger of ColoradoSprings died December 10. He worked inthe funeral business from 1963 until retir-ing in 2003. He was 70.Dr. Gary Thomas ’55 of Sun City West,Arizona, died March 13, 2009. He wasUNK faculty member for 37 years andchairman of the Music Department for 34years before retiring in 1993. In 1997, theMusic Department established the Dr.Gary Thomas Distinguished AlumniAward in Music which is awarded atHomecoming. Dr. Thomas was the firstrecipient. He was 77.Robert VanAmburg EDS’02 ofLitchfield died Febuary 15. He was 59.Margaret Woodruff ’75 of GrandIsland died October 28. She was 87.


CLASS NOTES

Two alumni received theNebraska OptometricAssociation’s (NOA) top

awards.Dr. Jerry Vaughan ’73 OD of

Kearney was named theOptometrist of the Year. Dr.Corey Langford ’97 OD ofOmaha was honored with YoungOptometrist of the Year Award for2009.

Dr. Vaughan’s award is givenannually to a NOA member who,during the past year, has con-tributed time and talent in themost outstanding manner for thebetterment of the visual health andwelfare of the public, and to theprofession.

He was honored for hisextraordinary service on theState’s Technical Review

Committeefor NOA’sscope ofp r a c t i c ee n h a n c e -ment.

He hasgiven exten-sively to theassociationduring thelast 30 years,and previ-

ously won the award in 1991. Hewas also awarded the NOADistinguished Service Award in1999.

Dr. Vaughan received hisOptometric training from IllinoisCollege of Optometry in 1977. Hewas president of the NOA in1989.

The Young Optometrist of the

Year award is presented to aNebraska optometrist who hasbeen licensed for ten years or lessand has contributed his time andtalent in the most outstandingmanner for the betterment of thevisual health and welfare of thepublic and to the profession ofoptometry.

D u r i n gthe threeyears Dr.L a n g f o r dhas servedon the NOAboard ofdirectors, hehas beeninstrumentalin member-ship recruit-ing, reten-

tion and development. He servesas the NOA ‘Master Mentor’ inthe new member mentor program,not only acting as a mentor to sev-eral newer licenses, but also fill-ing in as needed to host a newmember or student at an event,and helping to coordinate theentire mentoring program. Hestarted the NOA Facebook groupas one of his many board duties.

Dr. Langford graduated fromthe Pennsylvania College ofOptometry in 2001. He has servedas secretary/treasurer for the NOAboard for the past two years. He isa participant in InfantSEE, See ToLearn and a Hope MedicalOutreach provider. He also regu-larly donates to Optometry GivingSight and volunteers for theSpecial Olympics Opening Eyesscreenings. �

Dr. Jerry Vaughan

Dr. Corey Langford

Optometrists receive state awards

ON TOUR: The UNK Choraleers, under the direction of Dr.David Bauer, toured and performed in the South American coun-tries of Argentina and Uruguay in 2009.

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Monday, September 274:00 p.m. Window Display Judging, Across Campus 7:30 p.m. Concert on the Platte, Fine Arts Recital Hall

Tuesday, September 284:00 p.m. Battle of the Brains and Spirit Competition,

Health & Sports Center

Wednesday, September 297:00 p.m. NCAA Volleyball – Lopers vs. Hastings College,


Thursday, September 307:00 p.m. Lip Sync Competition and Royalty Crowning,


Friday, October 1All Day National Association of Teachers Singing – State

Competition, Fine Arts Building & NebraskanStudent Union

All Day NCAA Tennis ~ Intercollegiate TennisAssociation (ITA) Tournament, Harmon ParkCourts

12:00 p.m. Gary Thomas Distinguished Music TeacherAward Luncheon, Nebraskan Student UnionLimited space available by calling 308.865.8618

3:00 p.m. College of Education Reception for 2010 AwardHonorees, Atrium, College of Education Building

4:00 p.m. Trike Race, Bell Tower Plaza6:00 p.m. Alumni Awards Social Hour & Banquet

Recognition of Distinguished Alumni andAthletic Hall of Fame Inductees, PonderosaRoom, Nebraskan Student Union$25 ~ Tickets can be purchased from the UNKAlumni Association by calling 308.865.8474. Ticketincludes wine & cheese social and served dinner

7:00 p.m. Planetarium Show, Bruner Hall of Science

Saturday, October 2All Day NCAA Tennis ITA Tournament, Harmon Park

Courts10:00 a.m. Homecoming Parade, Central Avenue, 28th

Street west to campus11:30 a.m. Loper Luncheon – Beer & Brats ($5 per per-

son), Alumni House, 2222 9th Avenue1:00 p.m. Loper Football vs. Adams State, Cope Stadium

at Foster FieldTickets available for pre-purchase atwww.pickmytickets.com or 308.865.1563

4 - 8:00 p.m. Alumni Party in the Parking Lot, DowntownKearney, Parking lot north at 25th Street &Central Avenue north of MONA

Sunday, October 3All Day NCAA Tennis ITA Tournament, Harmon Park

Courts1:00 p.m. NCAA Women’s Soccer ~ Lopers vs. Metro

State College, Cope Stadium at Foster Field3:00 p.m. UNK Choirs Concert (Choraleers, Collegium

and Men's & Women's Choruses), Fine ArtsRecital Hall

Other activities and programs through the week include….Special academic presentations across the campus, which are open to the publicMuseum of Nebraska Art Displays“The Saturday Evening Post: Holiday Images” and“McKenney and Hall’s Historyof the Indian Tribes of North America”…and other events in the works!!

Make it a LOPER WEEKEND!Visit your alma mater for manyactivities for your mind, yourentertainment, for the memoriesand for the chance to see old friends!

More details can be found at

www.unkalumni.org/homecoming

Documents

UNK Today Spring 2010