Summer 2005 - Wayne State College

Inauguration
of the President
Richard J. Collings
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE
Published twice annually for alumni and friends of Wayne State College - Summer 2005 - No. 2
Wayne State Foundation - 1111 Main Street - Wayne, NE 68787

Table of Contents
Message from President Collings ______________3
Inauguration of
President Collings ________________________ 4-5
School of Education and Counseling ___________6
Koyzis Named Education and Counseling
Dean/Outstanding Teacher Awards ____________7
Patrick Janssen: Full-time WSC student,
KTCH News & Sports Director _______________9
Spring Commencement/Senator Hagel
Gives Commencement Address ______________10
Hunter Receives Alumni Achievement Award/
Metz Honored at Commencement ____________11
Ettel Selected as NSCS Teaching
Excellence Award Recipient _________________12
Ghimire: Writing “Makes Me Come Alive” ____13
Around Campus _______________________ 14-15
Affairs/Business Degree Programs Receive
International Accreditation __________________16
Service-Learning Project Preserves
One-Room School Memories ________________17
Kneifl Named Head Volleyball Coach/
WSC Recognizes Student-Athletes at Banquet __18
Successful Spring for Wayne State Athletics ____19
2005 Homecoming - Decades of Memories/
Friends with Foresight: A Little Nudge _______20
Alumni Notes _________________________ 21-27
Don `58 & Carol `52 Bremer _____________22
Clara Ann (Peterson) Tennis `39 __________23
Bob `50 & Beth (Hart) `49 Lutt ___________25
Phonathon Recap ______________________26
Northern California, Southern California
and Florida Reunions ___________________27
McCue Named Vice President for Academic
ON THE COVER:
Dr. Richard J. Collings was inaugurated as Wayne State College president Friday, April 15, at a 3 p.m.
ceremony. Collings became the college’s 11th president.
Wayne State Magazine is published semiannually for alumni and friends of Wayne State College. The magazine is funded by the Wayne State Foundation.
Comments and letters should be mailed to: Wayne State Foundation, Wayne State College, 1111 Main Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787.
Administration
Dr. Richard Collings
President
Dr. Robert McCue
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Carolyn Murphy
Vice President for Administration and Finance
Curt Frye
Vice President and Dean of Student Life
Phyllis Conner
Vice President for Development and Executive
Director of the Wayne State Foundation
Wayne State Foundation Staff
Deb Lundahl
Director of Development
and Alumni Relations
Kevin Armstrong
Director of Planned Giving
Brian Lentz
Accountant and Assistant Director
Carol Marsh
Foundation Office Assistant
Cathleen Hansen
Alumni Office Assistant
Editorial Staff
Judy Johnson
Director of College Relations
Trudy Muir
Graphic Design Artist
Angie Nordhues
Writer, Photographer
2

A Look Back, Ahead with
President Richard J. Collings
Inauguration week was a celebration at Wayne State
College—“A Celebration of Teaching and Learning.”
That was the theme of the April 15 inauguration of Dr.
Richard J. Collings as the school’s 11th president. Dr.
Collings recently reflected on his first year at Wayne State
College.
Why ‘A Celebration of
Teaching and Learning’
I’ve been thinking a lot about the mission of Wayne State
College. One of the things we find in higher education is
that we often look to others about where and how we should
proceed. The mission we have at Wayne State College is clear:
to provide an excellent education to our students in a way that
reaches all of them, that encourages them to succeed in whatever
field they choose.
We have a faculty devoted to teaching, and small classes
that allow faculty members and students to get to know each
other. This interaction—teaching and learning—is the essence of
what we emphasize and build upon. I would rather be a first-rate
teaching college than a third-rate research university.
Research is important, but it doesn’t make sense to always
look to a research university as a model. My address celebrates
and emphasizes the importance of teaching and learning.
On his first year at Wayne State,
and in Nebraska:
When I interviewed for this position, I said I would spend
much of the first year listening to students, faculty, staff, alumni
and community residents. Most of what I have learned has
confirmed what I sensed when I accepted the job—that Wayne
State is an important part of many lives and of the region. It gives
me an underpinning of what we will see in the future, and a good
base on which to build.
We have had some pleasant surprises in the months we’ve
been in Wayne. The weather has been one of those nice surprises.
Both times we came to Nebraska last year, when I interviewed for
the position in late January and again when we came to look for
housing, it was snowing and there was about a foot of snow on
the ground. This past winter has been much nicer!
Another pleasant surprise has been the Nebraska landscape.
There is a beauty to Nebraska that people don’t know about if
they haven’t been here. We have enjoyed seeing the different
areas of the state, and look forward to seeing more of it in the
coming months and years.
My wife, Marilyn, and I have been warmly received by the
campus community, the town of Wayne, and the region. I like
Nebraska. It has been a very welcoming state. I’ve found that,
continued on page 4
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 3

Dr. Collings...continued from page 3
by and large, Nebraskans aren’t overly
guarded in their initial interactions with
newcomers. They have an openness that
is refreshing. We feel like we’ve been
well received.
On the future of Wayne State
College:
I want us to enhance our focus on
teaching and learning. There are ways
we can make significant differences
in the lives of our students and the
communities in which they will live and
work after they graduate.
In conjunction with that is an
emphasis on enrollment growth. We
need to increase our enrollment to an
optimal level. We will continue to
work to bring students from northeast
Nebraska, the Omaha and Lincoln areas,
western Iowa and elsewhere. I also
hope that we can increase the number
of international students at Wayne State
College. They bring diversity and a
world view to the campus that is so
important.
With respect to short and long-term
goals for the college, we need to look
at opportunities for faculty scholarship
so faculty members can keep current
with the latest in each of their fields of
expertise. Faculty and staff professional
development opportunities are also
important.
With regard to regional service,
we need to consider and pursue those
regional service activities that fit with
our mission and which don’t duplicate
what others are already doing. I
want the college to continue to work
on relationships with the immediate
community of Wayne and the larger
region and state. Hand-in-hand with
that, I would like to see more people
come to campus and take advantage of
events and activities that we are able to
offer.
Another ongoing priority is the
budget. I plan to involve the campus in
setting priorities. While the state budget
appears to be in much better shape than
it was several years ago, there are still
financial constraints with which we must
deal. We will have to determine which
items are priorities, and where we will
put our limited resources.
Dr. David McFarland, president emeritus of Kutztown University, participated in the
inaugural ceremony.
Michael Collings, son of President and
Marilyn Collings, performed at the
inaugural concert.
Inauguration
of the
President
April 15, 2005
“Let us fulfill our
college’s mission and
celebrate our role as a
first-rate teaching and
learning college”
Stan Carpenter, Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, provided the
welcome and presented the platform party.
4

Steve Lewis, chair of the NSCS Board of
Trustees, installs Dr. Collings as Wayne
State’s 11th president.
Gov. Dave Heineman (right) offers congratulations to President and Marilyn
Collings.
Collings Inaugurated as
WSC’s 11th President
Dr. Richard J. Collings was inaugurated as Wayne State College president on
Friday, April 15, at a 3 p.m. ceremony in Ramsey Theatre in the Val Peterson Fine
Arts building on campus.
Collings, who came to Wayne State last June from Western Carolina University
in Cullowhee, N.C., became the school’s eleventh president since its opening in
1910. At Western Carolina University where he served from 1996-2004, Collings
was vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of political science and
public affairs. He is a native of Louisville, Ky.
In his inaugural address entitled “A Celebration of Teaching and Learning,”
Collings stressed the importance of Wayne State College’s mission. “Let us fulfill
our College’s mission and celebrate our role as a first-rate teaching and learning
college,” he said. “Let us support today’s and tomorrow’s faculty members who
engage in a scholarship of teaching. And let us celebrate the students who have
responded to their professors’ guidance, have become active and life-long learners,
and have gone forth from Wayne State College to become productive members of
our society.”
During the inaugural ceremony, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman spoke, as did
Dr. David McFarland, president emeritus of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania,
where Collings served from 1989-1996. Steve Lewis of Lexington, chair of
the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees, conducted the investiture
ceremony, and Stan Carpenter, executive director of the Nebraska State College
System, introduced the platform party. Norman B. Small, II, NSCS student trustee
representing Wayne State College, gave the invocation and benediction.
Immediately following the inauguration, a public reception was held in the
Wayne State Student Center. Inaugural festivities began on Thursday, April 14,
with a concert, “Campus and Community Present: A Musical Celebration,” in
Ramsey Theatre. The concert included vocal and instrumental performances by individuals
and ensembles from Wayne State College and the community of Wayne.
A featured performer was Michael Collings, a professional jazz guitarist who is the
son of President and Marilyn Collings.
A reception in the WSC Student Center
atrium followed the inauguration.
Dr. Collings is congratulated by his daughters,
Kelly and Kirsten.
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 5

Wayne State
School of
Education
and
Counseling:
Meeting the
Needs of the
Region
Over one-third of all students at WSC pursue programs offered by the School of Education and Counseling.
Wayne State College was founded as
an institution dedicated to producing teachers
for the nation’s youth. Recognizing the
pivotal role schools play in a well-functioning
democracy, the state of Nebraska
purchased the Nebraska Normal School at
Wayne in 1910. This purchase was part of a
statewide commitment to establish first-rate
teacher preparation for Nebraska’s schools.
Later, the state authorized the conferral of
graduate degrees at Wayne State in order to
prepare master teachers, school counselors
and school administrators.
Over the years, Wayne State undergraduate
and graduate students have distinguished
themselves in nearly every state
across the country; in the process, Wayne
State College has developed a reputation
for exemplary professional education programs.
Today, teacher education remains a
vital part of Wayne State’s mission. Over
one-third of all students enrolled at Wayne
State pursue programs offered by the
School of Education and Counseling.
The School of Education and Counseling
is composed of two departments:
educational foundations and leadership, and
counseling and special education. Innovative
programs, including the Northeast
Nebraska Teacher Academy and the newest
degree program, the learning community-
6
format master of science in education in
curriculum and instruction, are examples
of excellence and responsiveness to our
students, alumni and the region.
Department of Educational
Foundations and Leadership
The department of educational
foundations and leadership offers both
graduate and undergraduate programs.
Programs for undergraduate students
include elementary education, elementary
education with early childhood
and secondary education. Programs for
graduate students include a master’s
degree in curriculum and instruction, and
both master’s and education specialist
degrees in school administration/educational
leadership.
The educational administration program,
which prepares K-12 principals,
and the education specialist program,
which prepares superintendents, are both
referred to as “hybrid,” where half of the
classes are on-line and half are face-toface,
traditional classes. These programs
are taught and supervised by both college
faculty and on-site practitioners.
Department of Counseling and
Special Education
The department of counseling and
special education offers both graduate and
undergraduate programs. In counseling,
undergraduate students may enroll in a
program in human service counseling while
graduate students may choose counseling
programs in school, community and higher
education. In special education, undergraduate
students may enroll in the mildly/
moderately handicapped K-12 program.
Graduate students may choose the special
educator option or the instructional manager
option.
Northeast Nebraska
Teacher Academy
The Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy
was founded in 2000. Over 550 Wayne
State College junior and senior students
have participated in the teacher academy,
averaging approximately 55 each semester.
During its five-year existence, those students
in the program have completed 2055
substitute teaching days. This partnership
among Wayne State College, 16 area school
districts and Educational Service Unit #1,
gives upper-level
continued on page 8

Koyzis Named Education & Counseling Dean
Anthony A. Koyzis, Ph.D., has been named dean of the
School of Education and Counseling. Dr. Koyzis replaces Dr.
Paul Theobald, who resigned last year to accept an endowed chair
at Buffalo State University in New York. For the past year, Dr.
Barbara Black has served as interim dean.
Koyzis, a native of Cyprus, comes to Wayne State from the
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he has been chair of the
Department of Educational Foundations in the College of Education
and Human Services since 1999. While at the University of
Wisconsin Oshkosh, he also served as president and vice-president/secretary
of the faculty senate, and was director of international
education and programs from 1994-1997.
From 1996 to 1999, he was chair of the Educational Accreditation
Council for Post-Secondary Educational Institutions, Division
of Post-Secondary Education, Republic of Cyprus. He has
been a visiting professor of education for the School of Humanities
and Education at the University of Thessaly in Volos, Greece
since 2001.
Koyzis received a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies, a
Master of Arts in International and Comparative Studies, and a
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Political Science and History, all
from the University of Iowa. He has also studied at the University
of London, University of Cyprus and Panteion University of
Social and Political Sciences in Athens, Greece.
Koyzis first heard about Wayne State from a WSC alum, Dr.
Charles Wilson, the department chair at the University of Wisconsin
Oshkosh who hired him. “Wayne State has a strong reputation
as an excellent regional institution with a stable faculty,” he said.
“The size of the school is very good—the number of students and
faculty is a perfect fit for me. I also like the fact that the college
serves both rural and suburban students.”
As he begins his
position at Wayne State
in July, Koyzis said he is
looking forward to “continuing
the good work
that’s being done. I plan
to serve as a good dean
for the faculty and our
constituency, including
area partner schools and
agencies with whom we
collaborate. I also look
forward to working with
the diverse populations
in the region, particularly
Latino and Native
American.
Anthony A. Koyzis, Ph.D.
“For the past five
years, I’ve been involved with a full, collaborative program for faculty
and students between the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and
the University of Thessaly in Volos, Greece,” Koyzis said. “It has
provided wonderful opportunities for faculty and students from both
universities for semester exchanges. I am interested in bringing that
with me to Wayne State.”
Koyzis and his wife, Cheryl, a nurse, are parents of a son, Angelo,
who will be a freshman at Wayne State this fall, and daughter,
Carolyn, who will be a junior in high school.
Koyzis is looking forward to his new position. “I believe in an
open-door policy,” he said. “I encourage alums to visit the School of
Education and Counseling, and to remind us of where they are and
what they are doing.”
Newton-Hanson,
Wassom Receive
Outstanding
Teacher Awards
Two Wayne State alumni were recently honored with awards for their teaching.
Receiving the 2005 Great Plains Communications Outstanding Teacher award was
Neligh-Oakdale School teacher Lisa (Kai) Newton-Hanson, a 1988 Wayne State graduate.
Newton-Hanson teaches business education at Neligh-Oakdale High School.
Great Plains Communications chooses the outstanding teacher based on professional
involvement, contributions and accomplishments in the teaching field, community
service activities and the ability to inspire students. Newton-Hanson received a
plaque and a $4,000 check as part of the award.
Ruth (Huffman) Wassom, a 1974 Wayne State graduate and a kindergarten teacher
in the Omaha Public Schools, received one of 15 Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher
Awards this spring. The awards, which include a $10,000 stipend and $500 in Mc-
Donald’s gift certificates, are presented to outstanding teachers in the Omaha Public
Schools each year. The award, presented by the Buffett Foundation, is named for the
late Alice Buffett, who taught for 35 years in the Omaha Public Schools. She was the
aunt of Warren Buffett.
Wassom has taught in the Omaha Public Schools for 19 years at Beals, Castelar,
and currently at Field Club Elementary School. An elementary education major with
a music minor while at Wayne State, Wassom was nominated for the award by fellow
staff members and parents of current and former students. “It is quite an honor, one
that I appreciate very much,” she said.
Congratulations to both Lisa and Ruth!
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 7

Education...continued from page 6
education majors the opportunity to substitute
teach while earning their degree from
Wayne State.
Participating WSC students have the
opportunity to supplement their regular
field experience hours with actual substitute
teaching assignments for which they
receive payment and travel reimbursement.
All exceed state requirements for substitute
teacher certification, and participate in
weekly Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy
seminars at Wayne State.
The goals of the Northeast Nebraska
Teacher Academy program are to increase
the number of substitute teachers, to improve
availability and equitable use of
substitute teachers, to enhance the quality
of instruction delivered by a substitute
teacher in the participating school districts
and to positively affect new teacher retention
during the first five years of teaching.
“This program dramatically increases
the number of hours our teacher candidates
spend in real teaching situations,” said Dr.
Tim Sharer, professor of education and
director of the program. “It also increases
our opportunity to assess teaching performances
and to keep students focused
on areas requiring additional skill and
practice. NENTA was designed to supplement
the regular substitute teachers in our
region because there has been a significant
shortage of substitute teachers available. It
serves to assist our students in developing
their teaching skills and attitude by gaining
valuable teaching opportunities, and
through extensive training, support and
experience in real classroom settings.
“The programhas provided our students
with an additional, authentic opportunity
to practice what they are learning in
their classes. Assessment of this program
indicates that experiences have most positively
affected both the teaching job opportunities
and the retention of entry-level
teachers.”
Seventy-five more Wayne State students
are poised to begin their experience
in the Fall 2005 semester. Partnership
school districts include Allen, Coleridge,
Laurel-Concord, Hartington, Madison,
Norfolk, Pender, Pierce, Ponca, Randolph,
South Sioux City, Stanton, Walthill, Wakefield,
Wayne and Winside.
Wayne State Learning
Community Master’s Program
Just completing its second year, the
master of science in education curriculum
and instruction learning community program
at Wayne State College is growing
beyond expectations. A unique, 36-hour
program offered during the academic year
over two calendar years, the learning community
MSE program is now being offered
in Fremont, Blair, Neligh, and South Sioux
City. A total of 260 students were enrolled
for the 2004-05 school year, with 128
graduates of the program from the Fremont
and South Sioux City learning communities
participating in spring commencement ceremonies
on May 7. The program is fully
accredited, just as the other graduate degree
programs offered at Wayne State College.
The learning community differs from a
traditional master’s degree program in several
ways, according to Dr. Carolyn Linster,
coordinator of graduate studies in
the School of Education and Counseling.
“One of the attractive things about
the learning community format is that it is
located near the participants’ home,” she
said. “Learning community participants
typically meet for two full days (Saturdays
and Sundays) one weekend each month
throughout the academic year.” They do
not meet during the summer months.
A learning community is usually composed
of 30 to 50 candidates. Early childhood,
elementary, middle level, high school
and special education teachers can make up
a diverse learning community. Each semester,
participants register for a prescribed
set of courses, varying from seven to eight
credit hours each term. Six additional
hours of traditional, distance education, or
on-line coursework are required to complete
the program. Dr. Linster, Dr. Terry
Hamilton and Dr. James Curtiss are the
Members of the WSC learning community master in education program meet monthly
throughout the school year.
faculty facilitators of the learning communities.
“I believe one of the most exciting
aspects of the learning community design
is that the teachers involved will have a significant
impact on rural schools and communities
throughout our service region,”
said Linster. “This is a wonderful example
of addressing our college mission of outreach!”
Each learning community blends and integrates
curriculum and supporting processes
throughout the two-year program while
developing collegial groups that collaborate
and support learning, projects and applications.
At the end of the program, each
participant completes a capstone project
focusing on an area of professional inquiry
or interest.
The learning community format is just
one of several options in curriculum and instruction.
Half of the traditional curriculum
and instruction program is now online,
which allows students to complete
coursework from their home at a time that
fits into their schedules. The Wayne State
ESL (English as a second language) program
meets a growing need throughout the
service region, and especially addresses the
needs of minority populations. This condensed
and accelerated program is offered
off-site and coordinated with PreK-12 summer
school programs in South Sioux City,
Norfolk, Fremont/Schuyler and Hastings,
where Wayne State partners with Hastings
College faculty to deliver the program.
Through innovation and quality programs
designed to meet the ongoing needs
of students and the region, teacher education
and preparation at Wayne State College
continues to build on its legacy of excellence.
8

Patrick Janssen:
Full-time WSC
student, KTCH
News & Sports
Director
Patrick Janssen began his full-time duties at KTCH in May.
The recently-named news and sports director at KTCH AM/
FM in Wayne, Patrick Janssen is also a full-time Wayne State
College student who does play-by-play for Wildcat athletic radio
broadcasts, is an award-winning sports editor for the Wayne Stater
newspaper and sports director of KWSC-FM, the campus radio
station. He has also found time to participate in 12 WSC dramatic
productions and was invited to travel to Denver to apply for the
prestigious national Irene Ryan Scholarship as a result of his performance
in “The Diary of Anne Frank” last year. And he plans to
graduate from Wayne State in four years.
“I’m glad I ended up here. You get so many opportunities
to get hands-on, practical experience.
You have professors who want to teach you and
teach you well. Had I gone to USC,
I wouldn’t have had the opportunities to do many
of the things I’ve been able to do here.”
“I promised my mom that I’d get through in four years,” he
said with a grin. “I think she’s depending on that.” To make it
happen, the senior-to-be from Auburn said he takes approximately
18 hours each semester. “I decided late to be a journalism major,”
he said, switching his major from theater. “I took Max McElwain’s
sportswriting class and loved it, so I now have a double
major in broadcasting and journalism.”
At this spring’s conference of the Nebraska Collegiate Media
Association, Janssen won seven Golden Leaf awards—five firstplace
and two second-place—for his print and broadcast entries.
Janssen is pleased he chose to attend Wayne State. “When
I was looking at colleges, I narrowed it down to Doane College,
the University of Southern California and Wayne State,” he said.
“I’m glad I ended up here. You get so many opportunities to get
hands-on, practical experience. You have professors who want to
teach you and teach you well. Had I gone to USC, I wouldn’t have
had the opportunities to do many of the things I’ve been able to do
here.”
While at Wayne State, Janssen started a local music show on
KWSC (K-92). Entitled, “Get Local,” it airs on Sunday nights
from 10 p.m. until midnight during the school year. “We play stuff
from Nebraska, Sioux City, Yankton—all around the region,” he
said. “There’s a lot of good music played locally, and it’s fun to
support it by playing it on K-92.”
Given his hectic schedule in the fall, Janssen said he won’t be
able to fit in K-92 on-air stints. “It’s fun to hang out there, and I
know I’ll miss it,” he said. “But sometimes you have to make hard
decisions.” As KTCH’s news and sports director, he is in charge of
news and sports programming for the radio station, and will be the
play-by-play announcer for not only Wayne State sports but also
for a number of area high school broadcasts. He will also be in
charge of the station’s Web site.
Janssen said he will likely not have time to act in WSC productions
next year. “That has definitely been fun,” he said. As the
Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Janssen said he was probably the
skinniest Beast in history. “I felt like the Sta-Puf marshmallow
man. They had to put a lot of padding on me to make me look like
the Beast!”
Pat looks forward to the busy year ahead. “It’s going to be
tough working full-time and taking a full courseload so I can
graduate, but I’ll try my best,” he said. “You learn by practical
experience, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work at
a professional radio station.” He will take just 13 hours the first
semester, and finish with 18 the second semester.
He is also looking forward to having his younger brother,
Tony, on campus. Tony, who recently graduated from high school,
has received both a president’s scholarship and an athletic scholarship
to attend Wayne State, where he will be an offensive lineman
on the football team and plans to major in math education. “I’m
glad I can be in Wayne a few more years to be here with Tony,” Pat
said.
Eventually, he hopes to be a play-by-play announcer for major
colleges or professional sports. “I love sports,” he said. “That’s
why I got into broadcasting. I didn’t get into it to make a lot of
money. I think if I’m able to support my family someday and
enjoy what I’m doing, I will be successful. I’ll just let things work
out.”
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 9

Historic Commencement for Wayne State
U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) gave the address at Wayne
State College’s undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday,
May 7, in the Willow Bowl on the Wayne State campus.
Hagel, who is serving his second term as the senior senator from
Nebraska, encouraged graduates to pursue their dreams. Citing
Tom Friedman’s new book, The World is Flat: A Brief History of
the 21st Century, Hagel spoke of the new challenges facing America’s
ability to compete in a global marketplace, and of the important
role that the graduates will play in shaping the world in which
the children of today will grow up.
It was an historic day for Wayne State College, with two commencement
ceremonies being held for the first time in the college’s
history: the afternoon baccalaureate commencement at which
Hagel spoke, where 374 graduates received bachelor’s degrees
from Dr. Richard J. Collings, WSC president; and a morning graduate
ceremony, where 170 graduate students received master’s and
education specialist degrees. The morning ceremony marked the
first graduating classes of the WSC Learning Community master’s
degree program, a two-year program offering a master of science
in education degree in curriculum and instruction. A total of 126
students from the Fremont and South Sioux City learning communities
received degrees at the ceremony.
Honored at the afternoon commencement ceremony was Ron
Hunter, an Omaha attorney and a 1953 Wayne State graduate, who
received the Alumni Achievement Award.
Also honored at the afternoon ceremony was Sandra L. Metz,
Ph.D., associate professor, who has taught home economics and
family and consumer sciences at Wayne State College full-time
since 1986. Metz retired at the end of the school year.
About Senator Hagel...
Chuck Hagel, Nebraska’s senior U.S.
senator, delivered the address at Wayne
State College’s undergraduate commencement
Saturday, May 7.
Hagel, a Republican who is serving
his second term in the United States
Senate, is a member of four Senate committees:
Foreign Relations; Banking,
Housing and Urban Affairs; Intelligence
and Rules. He is chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations International Economic
Policy, Export and Trade Promotion Subcommittee
and the Senate Banking Securities
and Investment Subcommittee. He
is chair of the Congressional-Executive
Commission on China.
Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate,
Hagel worked in the private sector
as the president of McCarthy & Co., an
investment banking firm based in Omaha,
and served as chairman of the board of
American Information Systems (AIS).
Before joining McCarthy & Co., Hagel
10
was president and chief executive officer of
the Private Sector Council (PSC) in Washington,
D.C., deputy director and chief operating
officer of the 1990 Economic Summit
of Industrialized Nations (G-7 Summit) and
president and chief executive officer of the
World USO.
In the mid-1980’s, Hagel co-founded
VANGUARD Cellular Systems, Inc., a publicly-traded
corporation. In 1981, President
Ronald Reagan nominated him to serve as
deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration.
He also served as deputy commissioner
general of the United States for
the 1982 World’s Fair. From 1977 through
1980, Hagel was manager of government
affairs for The Firestone Tire & Rubber
Company, in Washington, D.C. From 1971
to 1977, he was administrative assistant to
Congressman John Y. McCollister, R-Neb.
Hagel served in Vietnam with his brother
Tom in 1968. They served side by side as
infantry squad leaders with the U.S. Army’s
Mary Ettel, Ph.D., was honored as the recipient of this year’s
George Rebensdorf Teaching Excellence Award, awarded each
year by the Nebraska State College System from nominations by
the three state colleges—Chadron, Peru and Wayne State College.
Ettel, Wayne State’s nominee, is a professor of chemistry at Wayne
State College, where she has taught since 1990.
At the morning ceremony, Judy Stukenholtz of Wahoo and
Cathy Kwapnioski of Columbus, both members of the Fremont
learning community master’s degree program, spoke. Stukenholtz
gave the invocation, and Kwapnioski gave the commencement address.
In the afternoon, Jenny Kriens, a summa cum laude graduate
from Omaha, gave the invocation.
9th Infantry Division. Hagel earned many
military decorations and honors, including
two Purple Hearts.
Hagel has received the 2005 Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars
Public Service Award; 2005 American Association
of School Administrators Champion
of Children Award; 2004 Edmund
S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service
Award; the Atlantic Council’s 2004 Award
for Distinguished International Leadership,
as well as other awards.
A fourth-generation Nebraskan, Hagel
was born in North Platte. He graduated
from St. Bonaventure High School, Columbus;
the Brown Institute for Radio and
Television, Minneapolis, Minn.; and the
University of Nebraska at Omaha. He attended
Wayne State College during the fall
semester of 1964-65.
Hagel and his wife, Lilibet, have two
children, daughter Allyn, and son Ziller.

Hunter Receives
WSC Alumni
Achievement Award
Ronald W. Hunter, an Omaha attorney who is a
1953 graduate of Wayne State College, received the
Alumni Achievement Award presented by the Wayne
State Foundation at Wayne State’s spring commencement.
Hunter, who attended the University of Nebraska
College of Law following graduation from
Wayne State, graduated first in his law school class
in 1955, serving as editor-in-chief of the Nebraska
Law Review. Among the highlights of his law school
years was when the Nebraska law school team, of
which Hunter was a member, defeated heavily-favored
Georgetown University in the finals of the
National Moot Court Championship in New York
City in 1953, denying Georgetown a third consecutive
national championship. That team was the only
Nebraska team to win the national championship in
the last 50 years.
Hunter served as a special agent in the Counter
Intelligence Corps, serving in the San Francisco Bay
area. He worked counterespionage cases and became
chief of control of top-secret clearance investigations
by about 100 agents in northern California. He wrote
a book about the American Communist Party that
was used to train agents and for which he was given
the Army commendation award. He has published
two other books and is writing three more.
In 1964, Hunter started a law firm in Omaha.
One of his early clients was John Coleman of Chicago,
son-in-law of columnist Ann Landers. Hunter
represented Coleman in a property rezoning matter.
Hunter was elected president of the Western
Heritage Society in Omaha in 1975. The society was
attempting to convert the abandoned Union Station
into a museum. Hunter led the efforts to open the
museum, saving the depot from destruction. He was
re-elected president of the museum for nine terms.
After several years of financial struggle and against
overwhelming odds, the museum survived and is
becoming a world-class museum. In the founding of
the museum and assuring its survival, Hunter gave
about 1,200 speeches.
Hunter lives in Omaha. He has four sons and
two daughters.
“We are pleased to present Ron Hunter with
the Alumni Achievement Award,” said President
Collings. “Ron’s many achievements are remarkable,
and we are proud to recognize him as an outstanding
alumnus of Wayne State College.”
Ronald W. Hunter, shown here with President Collings, Vice President and Director
of the Wayne State Foundation Phyllis Conner, and Director of Development
and Alumni Relations Deb Lundahl, received the achievement award.
Metz Honored at Commencement
Sandra L. Metz, Ph.D, associate professor of Family and Consumer Sciences
at Wayne State College, was honored at the WSC spring commencement.
She retired at the end of the 2004-05 school year.
Metz was a WSC faculty member since she first taught home economics
classes on a part-time basis from 1977 to 1984. From 1986 to 2005, she taught
home economics and family and consumer sciences.
During her tenure at Wayne State, Metz served as a member of the Northeast
Nebraska Early Childhood Education Stakeholders group, and was an
advisor for majors in interior design and family & consumer sciences education.
She was a faculty advisor for the American Society of Interior Designers
(ASID) Student Chapter, and co-advisor for the Association of Family &
Consumer Sciences Professionals and the Nebraska Association of Family &
Consumer Sciences/Pre-Professional and Graduate Student Section (1999-
2004). She also supervised student teachers in family & consumer sciences.
A native of Ewing, Metz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree
from Wayne State College, and master of science and Ph.D. degrees from the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Metz has been active in community service activities, working with the
ASID Student Chapter to help host and participate in the Fantasy Forest in
Wayne, and has coordinated a number of service-learning projects for her
classes. She is a member of professional organizations including: National
Education Association, State Colleges Education
Association, and the Wayne State College
Education Association. She has been a member
of the National Council on Family Relations,
Kappa Omicron Nu, Association for Career and
Technical Education, Family and Consumer Sciences
Teachers of Nebraska, American Association
of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the
Nebraska Association of Family and Consumer
Sciences.
Metz and her husband, Dean, a retired WSC
faculty member, are parents of three adult children:
Monica Metz, Matthew Metz and Andrew
Metz. They have one granddaughter.
Sandra L. Metz, Ph.D.
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 11

Dr. Mary Ettel receives the Teaching Excellence
Award from President Collings.
Ettel Selected as NSCS Teaching
Excellence Award Recipient
The Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees selected Dr. Mary Ettel as
the 2005 George Rebensdorf Teaching Excellence Award recipient. A professor of chemistry,
physical science and mathematics, Ettel has been a faculty member at Wayne State
College since 1990.
The Rebensdorf Teaching Excellence Award is presented annually to a faculty member
who demonstrates innovation and leadership in teaching and service in the Nebraska
State College System. Administrators, fellow faculty, students, and alumni nominate
candidates.
The award includes a $3,000 stipend funded through an endowment at US Bank.
The endowment is managed by the Lincoln Community Foundation and is given in
memory of George Rebensdorf, a former member of the Board of Trustees.
Ettel also received the State National Bank Teaching Excellence Award, with a
stipend of $1,000, presented to the Wayne State Teaching Excellence Award nominee
by State National Bank of Wayne. The Teaching Excellance Award announcement was
made during Wayne State’s commencement on May 7.
Ettel received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Central University of Iowa,
and her doctorate in inorganic chemistry at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
“Mary is clearly committed to the education of the students who study at Wayne State College. Without her guiding hand, these
students would be confused and unsuccessful, and they have told me as much,” Dr. Todd Young, WSC associate professor of physics
and astronomy, wrote in support of Ettel for the award.
Ettel has been active on both the campus and in the community. Currently, she is a member of the Academic Quality Improvement
Program Council and the Academic Policies Committee at Wayne State. A member of the Wayne Lions Club, Ettel has held various
leadership roles, including secretary, sergeant-at-arms, and board member.
Kwapnioski, Stukenholtz and Kriens Speak at Commencement
Judy Stukenholtz
Cathy Kwapnioski
12
Catherine ‘Cathy’ Kwapnioski, an English and Spanish teacher at Columbus High School, gave the commencement
address at Wayne State’s graduate commencement May 7 at 10 a.m. in Rice Auditorium. Judith ‘Judy’
Stukenholtz of Wahoo gave the invocation.
Kwapnioski and Stukenholtz were among 126 students from the Fremont and South Sioux City learning
communities, the first class to receive master of science degrees in education (curriculum and instruction) through
the Wayne State learning community master’s degree program which began in 2003. Kwapnioski and Stukenholtz
were both members of the Fremont learning community. A total of 170 students received graduate degrees during
the ceremony.
Kwapnioski, who has been at Columbus High School for 14 years, also teaches yearbook, is a junior class
sponsor and a Latino student group advisor. Her husband, Leonard, a Wayne State graduate (BAE ‘93, MSE ‘97),
is the director of technology for the Columbus Public Schools. They have two daughters.
Stukenholtz teaches at Wahoo Elementary School, where she been a kindergarten teacher for the past seven
years. Prior to that, she owned First Step Preschool in Wahoo, and has been the high school youth director at Bethlehem
Lutheran Church in Wahoo for 15 years.
She is married to Kevin Stukenholtz, a retired captain in the Nebraska State Patrol who is presently an investigator
for the Saunders County Sheriff’s Department. They have three children and two grandchildren.
At the afternoon commencement, Jenny Kriens of Omaha delivered the invocation.
Kriens, the daughter of Jack and Rose Kriens of Omaha, graduated summa cum laude
with a bachelor of science degree. She majored in speech communication with emphasis
in corporate, community, and public relations and a minor in advertising. While at Wayne
State, she was a peer tutor for the Learning Center, vice president of Lambda Pi Eta, vice
president of WSC Navigators, orientation coordinator/Ambassador, president and
committee chair for Zeta Tau Omega. She is a member of Cardinal Key national honor
society, GAMMA, Greek Council, Alpha Lambda Delta, was on the Dean’s List and participated
in two WSC children’s plays.
Kriens has accepted a graduate teaching assistantship at the University of Neb.-Lincoln
this fall, where she will attend graduate school.
Jenny Kriens

Anuja Ghimire:
Writing “Makes
Me Come Alive”
Anuja Ghimire’s father, Bharat
Prasad Ghimire, traveled from
Nepal for Anuja’s graduation.
When she arrived at Wayne State College in the fall of 2001, Anuja Ghimire had just
left her home in Kathmandu, Nepal for the first time, and had just experienced the first
airplane ride of her life. Following her graduation from a very competitive high school
in Nepal, Anuja joined approximately half of her fellow graduates in attending college in
other countries. She chose Wayne State, she says, because of its size. She knew nothing
about life in America, and spoke very little English.
Anuja planned to major in computer science at Wayne State, but those plans quickly
changed. “When I took an English class from Katja Hawlitschka the first semester, I knew
that’s what I wanted to major in,” Anuja said. She changed majors to psychology and English
writing and her college career—and her life, she says—took off.
Four years later, on May 7, 2005, Anuja graduated magna cum laude
with a bachelor of science degree from Wayne State. She is particularly
proud of the four honor cords she wore on graduation—Cardinal Key,
Psi Chi, Pi Gamma Mu, and Sigma Tau Delta—all honorary organizations.
Throughout her time at Wayne State, Anuja served on the student judicial
board, was a certified peer educator and a peer mentor, was president
and vice president of the International Club, and was a member of the Explorers
Club and Alpha Lambda Delta. She also worked at the front desk
of Anderson Hall and at the information desk in the student center. “They
called me ‘desk queen’ because I worked there so much,” she said, smiling.
A published author, Anuja has been writing since she was five years
old, and was only 15 when one of her poems was published in a poetry
anthology in Nepal. A poem and a play that she wrote are included in a
textbook in her native land, as well. “Writing makes me come alive,” she
said.
Anuja plans to attend graduate school, possibly at the University of
Texas at Austin, Syracuse University or Columbia. “I’m going to take some
time off this summer to decide where I want to go to graduate school, and
to also do some traveling,” she said.
Her father, Bharat Prasad Ghimire, traveled from Kathmandu to attend
Anuja’s graduation. “In Nepal, we would attend all of her activities,” he
said. “Now I’m here to celebrate in America.” Her mother and younger
brother were unable to make the trip.
Anuja said she is leaving Wayne State with mixed feelings. “I feel
like I’m leaving a part of myself,” she said. “I loved the professors and the
other students, and I want to thank everyone at Wayne State who helped me
and made me feel so welcome.”
Alumni Achievement Award
The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes Wayne
State alumni who have outstanding achievements
in their career and/or civic involvement, and have
provided support to WSC. Please use the form to
nominate someone you think deserves this award.
Alumni Service Award
The Alumni Service Award recognizes Wayne State
alumni who have enhanced the College through
dedicated service, promotion and financial support.
Please use the form to nominate someone you think
deserves this award.
Send nomination and supporting information to:
Alumni Office, Wayne State College,
1111 Main St., Wayne, NE 68787, or e-mail delunda1@wsc.edu.
Thank you.
Nomination Form - Circle one: Achievement Award Service Award
Please print
Nominee’s Name__________________________Grad Year _____________________
Nominee’s Occupation ___________________________________________________
Nominee’s Mailing Address _______________________________________________
City/State/Zip __________________________________________________________
Nominee’s Phone Business____________________ Home ____________________
On a separate sheet of paper please state the nominee’s career accomplishments (cite specific
achievements) and civic contributions (community, charitable organizations, schools,
etc.).
Nominated by
Name__________________________________ Grad Year ______________________
Mailing Address ________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip __________________________________________________________
Phone Business_______________________ Home __________________________
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 13

Around Campus
Wayne State College student Heather Kushner of Omaha
(right) played Alice in the Tim Kelly adaptation of Lewis
Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” on campus. Kushner recited
her troubles to the watch carrying white rabbit (WSC
student Adam Hansen of Wakefi eld). The public attended
performances of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” in
April. The play was produced by arrangement with Pioneer
Drama Services, Inc. Large groups of area school children
visited the WSC campus to watch as Alice plunged into a
world of talking animals, comic royalty and a frantic tea
party.
Nebraska State Poet William Kloefkorn reads from “Alvin
Turner as Farmer’’ during the Plains Writers Festival at
Wayne State College, April 21.
Dr. Delphine Red Shirt presented “Censorship in
Journalism’’ on April 21 at a Wayne State College
Multicultural Center Brown Bag Series presentation.
A noted author, Red Shirt joined the Wayne State College
Department of Language and Literature faculty
for the spring 2005 semester, teaching creative writing
courses, while Lisa Sandlin,
associate professor, completed a visiting
professorship at the University of Texas.
14
President Richard Collings introduces panelists for the 13th
annual legislative forum, co-sponsored by the Wayne Area
Chamber of Commerce and Wayne State College, April 18
on campus. From left are senators Matt Connealy, Pat Engel
and Mike Flood. This annual program promotes access to
regional Nebraska state senators. Area high school students,
the public and WSC college students attended.

Wayne State Army ROTC Cadets
Commissioning Ceremony Held
On May 7, cadets Brandy Oppliger and Gary
Hansen were commissioned into the Nebraska Army
National Guard as second lieutenants through the
Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
at Wayne State. Wayne State’s Army ROTC is a
cross enrolled program through the University of
South Dakota’s Army ROTC Program. Wayne
State College ROTC cadets are full-time students
at WSC but participate in military science ROTC
classes with students at USD. The Army ROTC
commissioning ceremony was held on the campus
of USD where a total of nine cadets from the fall
2004 and spring 2005 graduation ceremonies were
commissioned. Three of the nine cadets—Brandy
Oppliger, Lincoln; Gary Hansen, Butte; and Dustin
Baker, Wayne—graduated from Wayne State College.
Baker graduated in December. Shown above
are, from left: Gary Hansen; NSCS Student Trustee
Normal B. Small, II; WSC Professor Randy Bertolas,
and Brandy Oppliger.
Dorothy Weber, director of the WSC Learning Center, with a display on
how tutoring affects the college, students, faculty and even the tutors.
Weber said all 22 tutors helped with the information for the display at
the Symposium on Democracy, April 21.
President Collings talks with students at the Symposium on Democracy,
April 21. From left are Amanda Hoff and Alyssa Walters, both
of Norfolk; Jeremy Fajman of Columbus and Kelsey Koch of South
Sioux City.
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 15

McCue Named Vice President for
Academic Affairs at Wayne State
Dr. Robert McCue was recently named vice president for academic affairs by President
Collings. McCue was selected for the position after a nationwide search.
McCue is a faculty member with 20 years of experience at Wayne State College. He holds
the rank of professor in biology and was a faculty member in the math-sciences division for 10
years before becoming graduate dean and associate vice president for academic affairs. He was
dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences in 2003-04.
Under McCue’s leadership, Wayne State has participated since 2002 in the Academic Quality
Improvement Project, a new process for accreditation developed by the Higher Learning
Commission as an alternative to the self-study/comprehensive visit cycle of accreditation. He
also supervises the Information Management office and Admissions office at WSC.
McCue was involved in the early planning for distance education in northeast Nebraska and
is involved in the implementation of distance learning on the Wayne State College campus. He
has served on the Tri-State Graduate Center board of directors for 10 years and was involved in
the planning of the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk.
McCue received a Ph.D. from Tulane University in 1977, where he had earned a master of
science degree in 1973. He received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Northern Arizona
University in 1970. He served as an assistant professor of biological science at the University
of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1977-78, after that he came to Wayne State College.
Dr. Robert McCue
WSC Business Degree Programs
Receive International Accreditation
At the recent annual conference of the International Assembly for
Collegiate Business Education in San Antonio, Texas, the Board of Commissioners
announced the granting of specialized accreditation of business
degree programs to the School of Business and Technology/Business and
Economics Department at Wayne State College.
The accreditation recognizes the achievement of quality in the academic
business programs. Quality assurance is measured by the accomplishment
of the school’s mission and broad-based goals, the effectiveness of student
learning that takes place and the operational effectiveness of the business
unit.
“Accreditation is recognition that an educational institution’s academic
performance is excellent,” said Dr. John L. Green Jr., president of the
International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. “The assembly
is especially interested in the outcomes assessment of education that takes
place annually within the academic business unit. The accreditation process
is one means of making certain graduates are well-equipped to join the business
world.”
“The accreditation is a major milestone for the School of Business and
Technology/Business and Economics Department,” said Dr. Vaughn Benson,
dean of the School of Business and Technology. “This accreditation demonstrates
to all of our stakeholders that the Business Administration major is of
high quality and that we are capable of demonstrating this quality through
our outcomes assessment program. Business students can truly expect an
outstanding value from a Wayne State education.”
Based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, International Assembly for
Collegiate Business Education is an internationally recognized, prominent
accrediting body for business and business-related degree programs in fouryear
and graduate level institutions.
Wayne State joins a growing list of nearly 200 IACBE member institutions
in the United States and internationally that support quality assurance
in business education.
16

The one-room schoolhouse remains
more than a vivid memory with the Mamie
McCorkindale Schoolhouse Museum
located northeast of the student center on
campus. One-room school teachers will
have their biographies preserved within the
school through a writing project by Wayne
State College students.
The most signifi cant part of
the project was presenting the
biographies to the individuals
and seeing the pride in
their eyes.
Approximately 35 students participated
in a WSC service-learning project with
support from a Learn and Serve America
Higher Education Grant from the Corporation
for National and Community Service
with assistance from Dr. Jean Karlen, WSC
service-learning coordinator. Karen Sweeney
wrote the original grant for the project.
Sweeney and fellow WSC faculty
member Ruth Schumacher instructed their
students to interview schoolhouse instructors
and create 15 to 20 biographies for
possible inclusion within the schoolhouse
on campus. The teachers with biographies
Service-Learning
Project Preserves
One-Room School
Memories
Wayne State student
writer Bonnie Cech,
Clarkson, fi lls out her
name tag as WSC instructor
Ruth Schumacher;
Esther Mohnsen, former
one-room schoolhouse
teacher; WSC instructor
Karen Sweeney and WSC
student writer Kris Bahns,
Norfolk, talk during a tea
at the campus library.
selected and the WSC student authors
attended a tea in their honor on campus in
April.
“I came up with the idea after my
brother-in-law was interviewed at a nursing
home by high school students and
presented with his biography. He was so
thrilled that his history was recorded,’’
Sweeney said. “The idea came to me that
this would be a great way for my students
to enhance their verbal skills by interviewing
and writing papers. This was also a
great way to provide a service to elders and
make them feel good about their lives and
accomplishments. The most significant
part of the project was presenting the biographies
to the individuals and seeing the
pride in their eyes. The selected writings
housed at the schoolhouse on campus will
become a part of the artifacts that groups
experience when they tour the schoolhouse.’’
Dr. Barb Black, interim dean of the
School of Education and Counseling, said
she and other Wayne State instructors Dr.
Dennis Lichty and Dr. Jim Curtiss also
plan to continue involvement with the
project. Both Black and Lichty taught in
one-room schools in Antelope County.
While the biographies of these educators
are on display, their lives continue to
recite details about early education within
the many schoolrooms that resemble the
restored schoolhouse on campus, once
called the Dilts School. The one-room
schoolhouse became part of the campus
and was renamed the Mamie McCorkindale
Rural School and dedicated on July 2,
1966. McCorkindale was a rural teacher
and a Wayne State teacher from 1920 to
1949. She, John G. Neihardt and former
Nebraska governor, Val Peterson attended
the 1966 dedication.
Built in 1880, the school served as
District 13 in Wayne County for almost 80
years. It was once located one and onehalf
miles south of Wakefield. The Wayne
State Foundation purchased and restored
the school with donations of furnishings
and equipment, including a vintage stove
and a merry-go-round outside, from alumni
and friends of the college.
Many school-age children have toured
the school with imaginative questions
about what life was like for children attending
the school. For more information
about touring the school, please contact
Carol Stephens at the Wayne State Foundation
office.
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 17

Scott Kneifl
Kneifl Named Head Volleyball Coach
Wayne State College athletic director Eric Schoh has announced that Scott Kneifl has
been named head volleyball coach of the Wildcats, effective July 1. Kneifl, an assistant volleyball
coach with Wayne State for the past two seasons, was named interim head volleyball
coach in April when Sharon Vanis resigned to take a coaching position at Hamilton High
School in Chandler, Ariz.
Kneifl, a native of Newcastle, has 10 years of coaching experience at the high school
and college level. He served as the head volleyball coach at Allen High School for three
seasons (1995-97) before making the jump to the collegiate level as an assistant coach at
Doane College in 1997-98. Kneifl then served as the head volleyball coach at Dorchester
(1998-99), Millard South (1999-2001) and Pender High School (2001-2003) before coming
to Wayne State, where he served as an assistant coach under Coach Vanis for the past two
seasons before being named head coach following a formal search.
Kneifl takes over a team that was 20-14 in 2004 and lost just two players to
graduation.
Vanis was 214-212 in her 12 seasons as head volleyball coach at WSC.
Wayne State
Recognizes
Student-athletes
at Banquet
Brett Watson
Chelse Schultz
The Wayne State College athletic department recognized its top student-athletes for the 2004-
05 school year May 1, during its annual athletic honors banquet held at the WSC Student Center.
Longtime Millard South football coach Marty Going, a 1973 graduate of WSC, was the featured
speaker for the event.
Basketball player Brett Watson was named the Male Athlete of the Year while volleyball
player Chelse Schultz received the Female Athlete of the Year Award. The Male Freshman Athlete
of the Year was awarded to cross country and track standout Matt Schneider with volleyball player
Laura Dolezal claiming the Female Freshman Athlete of the Year honors. The first-ever Wildcat
Inspiration Award was given to women’s soccer player Kelly O’Connor. She was a starter for the
2004 WSC women’s soccer team while her husband, Shane, was serving in Iraq. The couple also
have a two-year-old son, Ty.
Watson, a senior from Elk Horn, Iowa, received First Team All-NSIC honors this past season,
averaging 16.4 points per game. He was also named to the Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska
NCAA Division II First Team. He started all 27 games as a senior and finished his WSC career
ranked 13th on the all-time scoring list with 1,208 points.
Schultz, a senior from Elkhorn, was named First Team All-NSIC and First Team All-Nebraska
Omaha World Herald during her senior season. She was a three-year starter who finished her
career ranked seventh in career attacks (2,994) and kills (1,092). Schultz was also a Presidential
Scholar Athlete and selected to the NSIC All-Academic Team.
Dolezal, a freshman from Columbus, had a stellar first season with the Wildcat volleyball program,
recording 540 digs from her libero position. She had the third-most digs in school history
for a single season. She was named First Team All-Nebraska by the Omaha World-Herald and was
named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week three times. Dolezal averaged 4.43 digs per game
to rank fourth in the NSIC.
Schneider, a freshman from Nebraska City, started his freshman season at WSC with a third
place finish at the NSIC Cross Country Championships last fall to earn First Team All-NSIC
honors. At the NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships, Schneider was the winner in the
one mile run and 5,000 meter run and ran a leg on the winning distance medley relay team, taking
first in three events to earn three All-NSIC awards. At the NSIC Outdoor Track Championships
in May, Schneider was the only men’s conference champion for WSC, winning the 3,000 meter
steeplechase in a new school record time of 9:36.9.
The Bob Cunningham Scholar Athlete Awards were given to Watson and track and field standout
Jodi Rhodig. The Cunningham Scholar-Athlete Awards are named after the late Bob Cunningham
‘39 and are presented to the top male and female scholar senior athletes.
Two days later, Watson was recognized by the Northern Sun Conference as the 2005 Dr. William
Britton Scholar-Athlete Award winner as the top male student-athlete in the NSIC. It was
the first time that an athlete from Wayne State has received the honor since joining the league in
1998-99. Watson will be recognized at the 2005 NSIC Hall of Fame Banquet in St. Cloud, Minn.
July 29 and will receive a $1,000 post-graduate scholarship.
18

Successful Spring for Wayne State Athletics
Wayne State College athletics had a
very successful spring season on and off the
field.
The Wayne State baseball team wrapped
up a third consecutive Northern Sun Conference
championship with a 20-2 win over
Southwest Minnesota State in the championship
game. The Wildcats advanced to the
NCAA Central Region Tournament for the
second straight year and third time in five
seasons, finishing 2005 with a 45-14 record,
setting a new school record for wins in a
season.
Eight players were named to the NSIC
All-Conference Baseball Team. They included
senior pitcher Dustin Nilius, Omaha;
sophomore pitcher Nick Schumacher, Neb.
City; junior pitcher B.J. Wierzbicki, Ralston;
junior catcher Chris Pedroza, Omaha; senior
outfielder Mike Sorensen, Omaha; senior
outfielder Brian Van Driel, Wayne; senior
pitcher/designated hitter Russ Emerick,
Topeka, Kan. and sophomore utility player
Scott Bidroski, Omaha. Sophomore outfielder
Dustin Jones, Dakota Dunes, S.D. and
junior first baseman Ben Albury, Granville,
Ill. each received honorable mention honors.
Schumacher was named the 2005 NSIC
Pitcher of the Year while Van Driel was selected
the 2005 NSIC Newcomer of the Year.
Van Driel was named First Team All-
Central Region and was selected Second
Team All-American by the National Collegiate
Baseball Writers Association. Schumacher,
Nilius and Sorensen all were named to
the Second Team All-Central Region.
The Wayne State College softball team
finished the 2005 season on a strong note,
placing third at the season-ending NSIC
Tournament. The Wildcats finished the
season with a 19-34 overall record and 7-7 in
NSIC play. WSC had two players named to
the NSIC All-Conference team, senior third
baseman Jackie Harrison, Sloan, Iowa and
sophomore first baseman Courtney Shanno,
Omaha. Two other players, senior pitcher
Whitney Wilczynski, Riverside, Calif. and
sophomore second baseman Bre Parks, Kansas
City, Mo. were named honorable mention
in the NSIC. Wilczynski finished her
WSC career as the school’s all-time strikeout
leader and Parks was named to the NSIC All-
Tournament team after going 6 for 10 in the
league tournament.
In track and field, the Wayne State
College women placed second at the NSIC
Championships while the men’s team took
fourth place. The WSC women scored 142
points at the conference meet and had 10
All-Conference performers, led by conference
champions Lindsey Stockwell, Geneva,
in the discus and Katie Wilson, Glenwood,
Iowa, in the shot put. All-Conference per-
formers included Stockwell (javelin),
Wilson (discus), Tanna Walford, York
(high jump), Rachel Roebke, Seward (100
hurdles), Erin Oswald, Aurora (800 meter
run), Nicole McCoy, Lincoln (10,000 meter
run) and Erin Norenberg, Fremont (3,000
steeplechase and 5,000 meter run).
The men’s team scored 82 points and
had four All-Conference performers, led
by conference champion Matt Schneider
(Brock) in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
Other All-Conference athletes included
Heath Grone (Davenport) in the high jump,
Jeremiah Herron (McCook) in the 3,000
meter steeplechase and Ben Crabtree (Lennox,
S.D.) in the 10,000 meter run.
Two athletes represented Wayne State
College at the NCAA Outdoor National
Track and Field Championships in Abilene,
Texas May 26-28. Junior Lindsey Stockwell
qualified in the discus for the second
straight year at the national meet and placed
12th with a top throw of 142 ft. 4 in. Freshman
Katie Wilson qualified for the national
meet in the shot put and finished 17th with
a mark of 42 ft. 8 ¾ in.
Wildcat athletes also excelled in the
classroom as Wayne State College led the
Northern Sun Conference Spring All-Academic
Team with 34 selections. The WSC
baseball team had 12 nominations, followed
by women’s track and field (10), softball (8)
and men’s track and field (4).
Wayne State College finished the 2004-
05 school year with 51 athletes receiving
NSIC First Team All-Conference honors,
an increase of 23 from the 2003-04 school
year.
The Wayne State baseball team won a third consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship, and advanced to the
NCAA Central Region Tournament for the second straight year.
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 19

2005 Homecoming - Decades of Memories
Most of us can use a little nudge now and then to do something
we know we should do—like writing or updating a will. We find it
easier to procrastinate than to accomplish the task and a good nudge
can get us moving in the right direction. The reason we want to
nudge you to obtain or update your will is because we have seen the
difficulties that arise when a person dies interstate (without a will).
We also know that many people who intend to include Wayne State
Foundation in their will fail to get their wish unless the bequest has
been clearly stated in a valid will.
We all have big plans for the disbursement of our estate, from
taking care of our family to making a special gift to our favorite
charities; but sometimes we have questions. Is there a way to reduce
estate tax How should I give Can a bequest be specified for
a particular use
Legislators know that organizations like the Wayne State Foundation
rely on private donations to support our mission. That’s why
the law permits a 100% charitable estate tax deduction when you
make a bequest to us in your will. You can give a specific amount
or a percentage of your estate. The size of your estate may increase
between the time you make your will and the time of your death; so
giving a percentage may be more beneficial than giving a specific
amount. Your gift can consist of cash, securities, real or personal
property; anything from land to an art collection. Unrestricted
bequests give the foundation the flexibility to use your gift for the
general fund while a restricted bequest funds a specific purpose that
is outlined in your will.
The Wayne State Foundation recently received two major estate
gifts. The Dewayne Gramley ’37 estate gift will fund the Albert G.
20
Make Plans to Come Home for this year’s
Homecoming on September 30 and October 1!
Everyone is welcome to join us as we recognize these alumni and friends for their time
and talents. Please refer to the homecoming brochure for more details.
WSC Outstanding Alumni
School of Arts and Humanities – Lana Danielson ’72
School of Business and Technology – Brian Wansink ’82
School of Education and Counseling – Cora Lynn Fosler Malmberg ’87
School of Natural and Social Sciences – Joe Painter ’81
Honored Classes and Representatives
1945 - Maxine Bartels Bobier
1950 - Gene Willmott
1950s Decade Reunion (1950-1959) - Dwain ‘55 and
Carole ‘54 Tuttle Petersen
1965 - Niels McDermott and Mona Carlberg Casady
1975 - Regg Swanson
1980 - Heidi Koening
1985 - Beth Mason Ernst and Gina Gokie Jerauld
1995 - Jim Murphy
Swimmers Reunion: Ralph Barclay, coach;
Doug Krecklow ‘74, David Noyes ‘70, Rich Draper ‘71
and Tom Carney ‘76
WSC
Alumni
Service
Award-
WSC Hall of Fame Inductees
Friends With Foresight: A Little Nudge
For more information contact:
Deb Lundahl, director of development and alumni relations
402-375-7209 • delunda1@wsc.edu
View the schedule of events and who will be
attending at www.wsc.edu/alumni
Athletes: Ed Jochum ‘87 – Football
Jeff Lutt ‘95 MSE ‘96 – Football and baseball
Team: ’73 Baseball team
Coach: Dennis Wagner 89-95
Supporters: Gene and Janet Casey
Carlson Memorial music scholarship and
the Donald Linn ’34 estate gift will significantly
increase the general endowed
scholarship fund. Please consider making
a bequest to the Wayne State Foundation
and leave a meaningful legacy
behind just like these two gentlemen.
To learn more about how you and Kevin Armstrong
your family can benefit from a planned estate gift, contact our
director of planned giving, Kevin Armstrong. You can reach him
at (402)375-7534 or by e-mail at kearmst1@wsc.edu.
_____ Please send me information about the Wayne State Foundation
Heritage Society.
_____ Please contact me personally to discuss my planned giving options.
_____ I have already included Wayne State Foundation in my estate plan.
Name ___________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip ___________________________________________________
Phone (_____) ____________________________________________________
Year graduted from WSC (if applicable) _______________________________
Please return form to: Wayne State Foundation • 1111 Main Street Wayne,
Nebraska 68787 • 402-375-7510

WSC Alumni Notes
Visit Wayne State anytime at www.wsc.edu
(Towns and cities listed on these
pages are in Nebraska unless
noted or generally understood.
All events occurred in 2005
unless indicated otherwise. Efforts
are made to keep our news
current.)
1949
Adolph D. “Al” Leibert, Battle
Creek, Mich., was inducted
into the Hall of Fame by the
Michigan High School Football
Coaches Association. He has
taught and coached in the Battle
Creek area school systems for
over 50 years. He was so popular,
and particularly effective at
helping smooth race relations,
that the city designated Sept. 18,
1993 as “Al Leibert Day.”
1971
Janet K. (Troxel) Ditzel and
her husband Robert, reside in
Loveland Colo. They celebrated
their golden anniversary Sept.
29, 2004. A reception and dance
were held for family and friends.
They are
the
parents
of three
children
and have
one
granddaughter.
Vance and Peggy (Howe ’73)
Wolverton have relocated to
Union, Ky. Vance has accepted
the position of Chairman of the
department of music at Northern
Kentucky University, Highland
Heights. Vance has spent the
past 16 years at California State
University, Fullerton.
1974
Greg Kamp, Lyons, retired at
the end of the school year from
coaching basketball for 30 years.
He was a coach at Lyons-Decatur
Northeast for 24 of those 30
years. His successful coaching
career included five East Husker
tournament wins and two state
tournament trophies.
1975
Juliet (Schellpeper) Stern resides
in Topeka, Kan., with her husband,
Jerry. She is the regional
controller at Morris Communications
Company, dba WIBW
Radio, Salina Media Group,
Kansas Radio Networks. She
handles the financial transactions
for the eight Morris Communications
Radio properties in Topeka,
Salina, Abilene and Manhattan,
along with the Kansas Agricultural
and Information Networks.
1978
Leonard M. Adams, Fremont,
is employed at Valmont Industries
and was promoted to group
president of its North American
irrigation business and its tubing
business.
1983
Diane P. Harris, Parker, Colo., is
the associate editor in the Denver
area for Quiltmaker magazine.
She states that her WSC communications
degree is serving her
well.
1986
Kathy Kay is an instructor of
public speaking, group communication
and interpersonal
communications at State Fair
College, Whiteman, Miss.
1987
Major Susan (Blatchford-
Thompson) Larsen returned from
combat duty in Iraq in February.
She served as the
J-1 for the Iraq Survey Group-
Baghdad, and was the senior
personnel officer for the group.
Susan’s assignment responsibilities
included reporting to
Mr. Charles Dulfer, director
of Central Intelligence Special
Advisor for Strategy regarding
Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction
Programs. She was awarded
the Joint Services Commendation
Medal for her service. This
completes Susan’s third tour of
duty in a combat zone. Her past
service includes Desert Shield/
Desert Storm (1990-91) with the
101st Airborne Division and Operation
Restore Hope in Somalia
(1992-93) as a US Army liaison
officer to the US Marine Corps.
Susan is the WSC and USD
ROTC Recruiting and Retention
Officer. Susan and her husband,
Jim (’84) reside in Vermillion,
SD with their two children, Clayton
and Reilly.
1988
Lisa (Kai) Newton-Hanson is
the recipient of The 2005 Great
Plains Communications Outstanding
Teacher Award.
Presenting Lisa with a plaque
and a $4,000 check is Nick
Strom, Great Plains plant/CATV
technician. Lisa is a business
teacher at Neligh-Oakdale High
School and
resides in
Neligh
with her
husband,
Bob.
(See
story on
page 7)
1991
Melissa D. (Miller) Nelson and
her husband John, announce the
birth of daughter Kendall Cora,
Feb. 3. She is welcomed into
their home in Farmington, Minn.
by sisters, Chloe (6), Paige (4)
and brother, Pierce (2). Melissa
enjoys being a stay-at-home
mom.
Lori Albrecht-MacPherson and
her husband, Rod, announce the
birth of their daughter, Rorie,
Feb.21. Lori is employed by the
State of Nebraska as a services
coordinator.
1992
Denise (Gettner) Carle and her
husband, Todd, reside in Council
Bluffs, Iowa. They are the parents
of two children, Joseph De-
Hoyos (1) and Jeena Maya born
Jan. 19. Denise is the director
of social services at Bethany
Lutheran, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
1993
George Schere and his wife, Melissa,
announce the birth of their
first child, Grant William, Aug.
26, 2004. They reside in Omaha.
George is a
K-6 grade PE
teacher at
Papillion
LaVista
Public
Schools.
1994
Lea (Calhoun) and Dave ’95
Clausen announce the birth of
their second son, Reece Brian,
Feb. 17. They reside in Sioux
City, Iowa. Lea is Foundation
Executive Director at Mercy
Medical, Sioux City,
Iowa and
Dave is
employed
by the
South
Sioux
City school
district.
Ronita (Carlson-Kroeger) Jacobsen
(MSE’98)
and her
husband,
Shane,
announce
the arrival
of son
Logan
Shane, Oct. 5. They reside in
Plainview and he is welcomed
home by Chance (4). Ronita is
a Family/Consumer Sciences
teacher and an adviser at Plainview
Public Schools.
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 21

Make plans to attend WSC Homecoming - Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, 2005!
1995
Keri (Kamrath) Lazure resides
in Omaha with her husband, Joe,
and their children, Caleb (4) and
Aleah (18 months). Keri is in
her 15 th
year in
the Army
National
Guard
where she
has the
rank of
firstlieutenant.
1996
Kendra (West) Larson and her
husband, David, announce the
birth of son, Isaac David, Sept.
29, 2004, and welcomed home
by Emma (5) and Alexander (2).
They reside in Denver, Iowa,
where Kendra is a home daycare
provider.
1997
Jamie Vaughn has accepted the
position of Assistant Compliance
Director for the Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics at The
Ohio State University, Columbus,
Ohio. He and his wife,
Karin (Bullis ’98) have relocated
to Dublin, Ohio with their
children Kayla (8) and Tyler
(2). Karin enjoys staying home
with the kids and also operates a
small home-based business.
Chris Amundson and his wife,
Angela (Arkfeld ’98) have taken
over ownership of Nebraska
Life magazine. The magazine’s
mission is to celebrate the life
and culture of Nebraska. They
have moved the magazine’s
headquarters from Hartington to
downtown Norfolk. Chris had
previously been employed by the
magazine for 2 ½ years. Their
company will also publish several
regional tourism magazines.
1998
Matt and Kelly (Stroh) Milbrodt,
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, announce
the birth April 12 of daughter,
Marissa Marlyn. Matt is manager
of organizational effectiveness/operations
at Wells’ Dairy,
Inc., LeMars, Iowa. Kelly is a
HR Generalist for GELITA
North
America
supporting
the Sergeant
Bluff and
Chicago
facilities.
1999
Tina (Iske) Wigington and her
husband Chad are happy to announce
the birth of son, Jackson
Ryan, Dec. 22. They reside in
Council Bluffs. Tina is the case
management
coordinator
for Southwest
8
Senior
Services,
Council
Bluffs.
Greg M. Strohbehn and Jennifer
Jarose were united in marriage
Oct. 30. The couple resides in
Omaha where he is a marketing
consultant at Millennium Marketing
Group.
Jason M. Allen and his wife P.J.
are happy to
announce
the birth
of son,
Carter Jay,
Jan. 5.
They reside
in Sioux City, Iowa. Jason is a
detective with the Sioux City
Police Dept.
Alumni
Mini-
Feature:
Don & Carol Bremer
WSC Alumni Notes
On May 14, Don and Carol Bremer celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary with 175 friends and relatives at the Los
Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills, Calif. In July, Don and
Carol will take their three sons and their wives and all seven
grandchildren on a 12-day cruise-tour of Alaska.
Carol Rankin-Bremer was a 1952 graduate of Neligh High
School. Don attended school in Leeds (Sioux City, Iowa) before
moving to Nebraska, where he was a 1952 graduate of Laurel
High School. Carol and Don met at Wayne State Teachers College,
as it was then called.
After serving two years in the Army during the Korean
Conflict, Don completed his degree and the couple moved to
Chino, Calif. Don worked for the Chino Unified School District
for 35 years, first as a drafting and mathematics teacher,
followed by 27 years as a Chino school administrator. He was
principal of Chino’s Boys Republic High School for 15 of those
years.
Carol taught in both Laurel and Norfolk (Neb.) schools
prior to their move to California. In California, she taught in
both Chino and Montclair, and also served as counselor in the
Ontario-Montclair Schools for many years. Both Don and Carol
retired from education some 15 years ago to concentrate on their
rental property business.
Don and Carol enjoy charitable gifting, and have set up a
charitable foundation to further advance some of their favorite
charities. They are appreciative of the schooling received at
Wayne State. Because they strongly believe in the advantages
of a college education, and because they have enjoyed careers in
the field of education, Don and Carol have established a $20,000
Wayne State Scholarship Endowment Fund that will provide for
an annual $1,000 scholarship to a student from either Laurel or
Neligh who enrolls at Wayne State to major in education. Its
first recipient will be an enrollee for the 2006 school year.
22

WSC Alumni Notes
Wendi Leth and Justin Sanny
were united in marriage Sept. 18
and reside in Keller, Texas. He
is employed by CSCD of Tarrant
County as a probation officer.
She is employed
by Ben
Hogan
Sports
Therapy
Institute
as a
physical
therapist.
Heather (Nichols) Reinhardt
and her husband, Tim, reside in
Wayne and are the parents of a
son, Tyler
(2). Heather
is employed
at WSC as
an office
assistant in
the Career
Services
office.
2000
Benjamin and Kristene (Strait
’01) Partlow, Gillette, Wyo.,
announce the birth of first child,
Ella Rhiann, Dec. 20. Benjamin
is the financial manager at
Novus
Windshield
Repair/
Replacement
and Kristene
is property
manager at
Apple Self
Storage.
2001
Tami (Hanson) Urwin and her
husband Chad are pleased to
announce the birth of daughter,
Ragan Ilene, Oct. 10. They
reside in Lincoln and Tami is a
consolidation
specialist at
Nelnet,
Lincoln.
Russell and Jessica (Hasty)
Frazey,
Des
Moines,
Iowa,
announce
the birth
of son, Ajay Robert, Aug. 11.
Russell is the general manger at
Team Fitness Training Center
and Jessica is a registered nurse
for the Iowa Health System.
Kara Grant and Lewis Grage
were united
in marriage
May 14.
The couple
resides in
Remsen,
Iowa.
Lewis is a
selfemployed
carpenter and farmer
Alumni Mini-Feature:
Clara Ann (Peterson) Tennis
and Kara is a carpenter’s assistant.
Michael and Trisha (Casey ’02)
Gordon reside in Loveland,
Colo. He is a foreman for Creative
Construction and
she is a
podiatry
assistant
at A Step
Ahead
Foot &
Ankle
Center in
Fort Collins.
Clara Ann (Peterson) Tennis, who received her teaching
certificate while a student at Wayne State College from 1937
to 1939, looks back with fondness on her years at Wayne.
“I enjoyed my friends and classes at Wayne very much,”
she said. “I especially remember the classes under Prof.
Judson Q. Owen and taking his journalism classes. I worked
on the college paper, The Goldenrod, and wrote the ‘gossip’
column about Pile dormitory for every issue, using my high
school nickname, Peter Ann. Many of my classmates knew
me only by that name.”
After her two years at Wayne, Clara Ann taught in a oneroom
school in Burt County, boarding with a family during the week. “I earned $60 a month for the
nine months, and had to pay $20 a month for my room and board,” she recalls. In the fall of 1940,
she enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln with her sister, Doris.
An offer from her aunt Ellen, who lived in Washington, D.C., and who was deaf, led Clara Ann
to what was to become her life’s profession, teaching school for the hearing-impaired. She and her
aunt attended a conference, after which Clara Ann knew that she wanted to teach those who were
hearing-impaired. She received a full scholarship to attend Gallaudet University in Washington,
D.C., the only liberal arts college for the deaf in the world.
After receiving her master’s degree in 1943, she taught two years at the Maryland State School
for the Deaf in Frederick, the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville, and the California School
for the Deaf in Berkeley, where she taught from 1947 to 1974, when she took early retirement.
While at Berkeley, Clara Ann met Barry (Cecil Barrington Tennis), who had been blinded in
the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He was attending the University of California and needed
readers for his classes. Clara Ann signed up, and the rest was history. They were married in 1952 in
Tekamah, Neb. They had one son, Jon Barrington Tennis, who was born in 1958.
After her retirement, Clara Ann and Barry traveled extensively, including trips to Sweden, as
well as trips to England, France, Belgium and Germany with Barry’s 99th Infantry Division Association.
“The Belgian and English people we met were so appreciative of what the American soldiers
had done for them,” Clara Ann said. “Barry was very touched by their actions and comments, and
he said that he finally felt that it ‘had all been worthwhile.’”
Since Barry’s death in 2001, Clara Ann continues to live in their home in Piedmont, Calif. “I
continue to travel, often taking the family with me, and am enjoying my hobbies and friends and
family,” she said.
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 23

You can e-mail alumni notes to delunda1@wsc.edu
2002
Brenda (Leiting) Simpson and her
husband, Nathan, announce the
birth of son, Schuyler John, Feb.
18. They reside in Pierce.
Brenda is a
special
education
teacher at
Norfolk Jr.
High,
Norfolk.
Samantha A. (Volguardsen) Wolfe
and her husband, Brian, announce
the birth Dec. 4 of their first
child, Karter Lee. They reside in
Pierce. Samantha is employed as
an advisor/recruiter for Northeast
Community College, Norfolk.
Kari Conway and Josh Madsen
were married and reside in Blair.
She is
employed
with the
Nebraska
Dept. of
Educational
Vocational
Rehabilitation.
Kristin Jareske and Chris Hoesing
were united in marriage on July
31. She is an adjunct
instructor
at Des
Moines
Area
Community
College,
Ankeny.
The couple
resides in
West Des
Moines, Iowa.
2003
Michelle M. McQuistan resides
in Fremont. She is employed at
Big Brother Big Sisters of the
Midlands, Omaha, as the school
based mentoring program coordinator.
24
Kandi Epperson is a PE teacher
at Stout Elementary School,
Topeka, Kan. She was honored
by her community when they
recognized 30 Women Under the
Age of 30. Her nominee praised
Kandi for her commitment to
youth. This year Kandi is the
leader of a reading group for kindergartners
and she volunteered
and organized an after-school intramural
program for fourth-and
fifth-grade students. Kandi was
praised for her boundless energy
and desire to be her very best.
2004
Michael Halley (MSE) resides
at Scottsbluff with his wife,
Teresa and children Traceten (7)
and Devaney (5). He serves as
the principal at Minatare Public
Schools, Minatare.
In Memory Of
Ruth O. (Burkhead) Watkins ’27,
(99) Wheaton, Ill,; Nov. 20.
Mildred (Francis) Ehrhardt ’27,
(97), Plainview; April 18.
Blanche Collins ’31, (96),
Wayne; Jan. 2.
Dorothy (Gulliver) Hanks ’31,
(92), Kechi, Kan.; Dec. 18.
L. Pearl (Tedy) Moran ’32, (97),
Denver, Colo.; March 18.
Wilma (Israelson) Noecker ’33
(92), Miami, Fla.; Feb. 10.
Marie E. (Heller) Paul ’33, Santa
Monica, Calif.; March 28.
Hyacinth Harsch ’33, (95), Stanton;
April 5.
Marjorie E. (Westerand) Adams
’35, (91), Lincoln; Jan. 6.
William Morris ’36, (90), Albert
Lea, Minn.; Dec. 30.
Franklin H. Victor ’36, (90),
Phoenix, Ariz.; Jan. 25.
Earl L. Miller ’39, (93), Johnston,
Iowa; Feb. 8.
Donald Edgar Peterson’39, (86),
Kingsville, Texas; Feb. 14.
Ruth F. Peterson ’39, (102), Norfolk;
Jan. 21.
K. Leone (Cook) Hemenway ’39,
(88), Boulder, Colo.; March 28.
Della (Giese) Agler ’40, (87),
Wayne; April 5.
Harold Hultman ’40, (87), Bella
Vista, Ark.; April 3.
Marjorie C. (Johnson) Anderson
’40, (96), Eagle Rock, Calif;
March 1.
Keith W. Johnson ’40, (86), Hornick,
Iowa; March 2.
Gail (Hughes) Martindale ’41,
(85), Concord; Jan. 5.
Miriam Ruth (Walker) Johnson
’41, (87), Sioux City, Iowa;
Jan. 17.
June Mussack ’41, (91), Fremont;
Dec. 31, 2004.
Marion (Hecht) Wisch ’44, (82),
Battle Creek; March 26.
Marvin A. Bichel ’47, (86),
Wakefield, Jan. 20.
Robert A. Baker ’48, (82), Spirit
Lake, Iowa; Dec. 31, 2004.
John Ronan ’49, (77), Fremont;
Feb. 20.
Donald F. Carter ’50, (77),
Naples, Fla.; Feb. 9.
Elizabeth “Betty” L. (Kroenke)
Boyle ’50, (75), York; Jan. 12.
Lucille Rotherham ’51, (96),
Norfolk; March 6.
Lorraine (Greenwald) Fitzpatrick
’56, George, Utah; Jan. 30.
Betty (McCullough) King ’57,
(68), Salina, Kan.; Jan. 26.
Jo (Stephens) Fuerhoff ’57, (69),
Knoxville Tenn., April 22.
Sally (Schreiner) Sheppard ’60,
(65), Fremont; March 24.
Doliver “Pete” Nordstrom ’61,
(76), Thornton, Colo.; April 27.
WSC Alumni Notes
Josephine (Decker) Lorenz ’64
(MSE ’69), (88), Norfolk;
March 16.
Irene A. (Kirschmer) Wolverton
’65, (93), Pilger; March 27.
Edna (Anderson) Jeffrey ’66,
(88), O’Neill; Feb. 21.
Allen Curtis Neill ’73, (58),
Ponca; Jan. 31.
Robert L. Klusman ’73, (53),
Kenesaw; Feb. 5.
Elizabeth (Arnberger) Kamphaus
’77 (MSE ’92), (63), Neligh;
Feb. 8.
Myra (Schoenenberger) Hazard
’82, (51), Woodbine, Iowa; Feb.
21.
Larry R. Schutt, MSE ’86, (54),
South Sioux City; Feb. 22.
Joshua E. Kroc ’02, (29),
Coleridge; April 10.
Shawn Gealow ’02, (24), Ithaca;
April 14.
Friends We Will Miss
Esther Echtenkamp, (85),
Wayne; Jan. 24. Esther was
employed as a custodian at WSC
from 1974-1980.
Helen Sommerfeld,(78), Wayne;
May 4. Helen was employed at
WSC as the athletic equipment
manager/laundry from 1967-
1992.
Sage Gray, (29), Laurel; April
10. Sage was employed at WSC
as an electrician master since
Feb. 18, 2002.

WSC Alumni Notes
Moving Please send your address change to the alumni office!
Alumni Mini-Feature:
Bob and Beth (Hart) Lutt
Bob Lutt entered Wayne State College in 1946 as the first
member of his extended family to attend college. He was active
in the concert band, marching band, director of the jazz
band and numerous choral activities; he taught band at Carroll
part-time. In 1950 he and Beth Hart, who attended Wayne State
College and received her Nebraska teaching certificate in 1949,
were married. Beth taught at Leigh for two years. They moved
to Oakland, where Beth taught sixth grade and Bob taught music
in the high school.
Upon graduation in 1950, Bob restarted the band and choral
programs at Oakland High School. These programs achieved
numerous superior awards at Nebraska music festivals. In 1954,
Bob was selected as the Nebraska Band Director of the Year.
After receiving his Masters Degree at the University of Colorado
in 1954, he was offered the position of director of bands
at Berkeley High School in California. During his 20 year tenure
at Berkeley High School his bands participated in the Winter
Olympic Games at Squaw Valley, the World Expo in Seattle, the
Rose Bowl in Pasadena, invited to participate at Disneyland 10
times and had 15 years of straight superior ratings at California
music educators festivals. His marching band appeared annually
at University of California at Berkeley. In 1960 he was awarded
the Young Man of the Year in Berkeley.
In 1957 Bob started Cazadero Music Camp, on City of
Berkeley property approximately 80 miles north of San Francisco
among giant California redwoods. With the assistance
of members of the San Francisco Symphony and local music
educators, the camp grew to over 2,500 summer participants
in 2004. The camp offers band, orchestra, jazz, piano, dance,
a family music camp and an outreach program for 5th graders
for students from throughout the San Francisco Bay area. In
the year 2000, the music performance area was named the Lutt
Family Amphitheater.
Beth served as a natural science docent for many years at
the Oakland, California Museum of California History. She was
also on the staff at a Lutheran church in Berkeley. She finished
a bachelor of arts degree in English Literature at the University
of California at Berkeley.
Beth was very involved with the development of Cazadero
Music Camp and worked on the staff for many years. She is presently
on the board of directors and serving on the finance committee
and active in raising funds for scholarships for campers.
In the 1980’s Beth and her sister developed an estate liquidation
company in the San Francisco Bay area and became active in fine
art and antique appraisals.
In 1975 Bob moved to San Francisco State University as
director of the concert band and music education programs. He
designed a program with the San Francisco Foundation to allow
university music students to teach at Cazadero Music Camp each
summer for a salary and college credits; Mr. Lutt retired in 1985
after 50 years of teaching. He was honored by the National Conference
of Music Educators for Outstanding Achievement.
After retiring from teaching he joined his son William to start
an international music production company named World Projects.
Their first project was to take over 60 bands, orchestras and
choirs from North America to the World Expo in Brisbane, Australia
in 1988. Over 4,800 students participated in this event. The
Lutts then created festivals in Hawaii, the Sydney Opera House,
Carnegie Hall, Japan, Singapore, London, San Francisco, New
Orleans, Washington D.C. and designed worldwide performance
tours for numerous high school and university music groups. In
the year 2000, World Projects assembled 2,000 international students
for a marching band for the opening ceremony of the summer
Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Bob has worked with bands throughout Asia and the South
Pacific as adjudicator and clinician. He has developed through
World Projects, exchange programs with high school bands in
China. He assisted in creating the New Zealand Concert Band
Director Association. He is a member of the World Association
of Bands and Ensembles, the Music Educators Association, a
charter member the California Band Directors Association and the
California Music Educators Association. He retired in April 2005
from active music production activities, and now serves as a consultant/advisor
for World Projects and is an active board member
and fund raiser for Cazadero Music Camp.
Beth has accompanied her husband traveling worldwide to
various music festivals and conferences. In 1990 she accepted the
position of chief financial officer for World Projects Corporation
– International Music Productions. She retired in October 2004.
Her favorite activities in retirement are gardening and playing the
piano.
Bob and Beth Hart Lutt will be married 55 years in August
2005. This Homecoming will also be Bob’s 55th WSC class
reunion. The Lutt family includes sons William (Australia/Philippine
Islands) and Brian (Singapore), and daughter Rebecca (St.
Paul, Minn.). They have three grandchildren.
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 25

WSC Alumni Notes
Phonathon
Thanks!
Student managers Colin Williams, Lincoln; Larry
Moser, Randolph; Deann Settles, North Bend;
Kristen Blair, Elgin and Deb Lundahl, director
of development and alumni relations would
like to give a big THANK YOU to all of you who
responded to the Phonthon appeal, Pepsi Cola for
providing beverages for the student callers and
area businesses for prizes they donated!
Kateria Jones, Bellevue; Cheryl Swanson, Omaha and Shea
Lundeby, Sioux Falls, SD were three of the students calling for
Phonathon 2005. Student callers updated address information
for college publications, shared campus happenings and raised
$182,640 in gifts and pledges from alumni, friends and parents.
Send us your
news &
photos, too!
Class___________________
The Phonathon supports scholarships, building projects, faculty
development, alumni publications, athletics and student support
services and affords students the opportunity to connect with WSC
alumni and friends. WSC student callers included Melissa Hemmer,
Humphrey; Amy Cech, Clarkson and Amanda Gasper, Lindsay.
We encourage you to send photos with your alumni notes - wedding, new baby, promotion,
informal gathering with other alumni, etc. Be sure to identify people in the photos.
Digital photos with fewer than five megapixels cannot be accepted.
You can e-mail your news to: delunda1@wsc.edu - remember to update your address!
Or mail to: Alumni Office, Wayne State College, 1111 Main St., Wayne, NE 68787
Name________________________________________________________ (Maiden Name) ____________________________________________
Spouse ________________________________________ (Maiden Name)___________________________________ Class ___________________
Address______________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________________
State__________________ Zip_____________________ Home Phone_________________________ E-mail _____________________________
Employer_____________________________________________________ Title ____________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________________
State_____________________________________ Zip_________________ Phone ___________________________________________________
Spouse’s Employer______________________________________________ Title ____________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________________
State_____________________________________ Zip_________________ Phone ___________________________________________________
Information for alumni notes ______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
26

WSC Alumni Notes
Alumni publications are now online - www.wsc.edu
Northern California Reunion
Alumni and friends met for a late afternoon gathering at the home
of Ron Holt and Bill Huggett in San Francisco Saturday, April
2. Back: Janis (Nelson) ’ 54 and Robert Wicks, Dale Riehart
’77, President Richard and Marilyn Collings, Byron Bonsall ’88,
Yvonne Greer, Mac McManigal ’52, Phyllis Conner, vice president
for development. Middle: Marilyn (Grifi th) Trippy ‘42,
Clara Ann (Peterson) Tennis ’39, Marlene (Carlson) Sterner ‘73.
Front: Bill Huggett ’86, Ron Holt ’89, Deb Lundahl, director of
development and alumni relations.
Southern California
Reunion
Robb ‘75 and Eriko Dalton hosted WSC alumni and friends
in their home at Rancho Santa Fe followed by lunch at The
Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe Country Club on Saturday,
March 12. Row 1: Marilyn Collings, Gwen (Rush) Lindell
’65, Kellie Welsh ’84, Jan and Norm ’58 Ellis, Deb Lundahl,
director of development and alumni relations, Row 2: President
Richard Collings, Mark and Carolyn (Blue) Reinmiller
’73, Diane (Zabel) Schreiber ’67, Tom Lindell, Virgil Smith
’42. Row 3: Robb Dalton ’75, Phyllis Conner, vice president
for development, Dennis Kasischke ’68, Joe Schreiber, (not
pictured: Eriko Dalton).
Upcoming Events:
August 29-
Dakota Dunes Golf Event
September 30 and October 1 -
Homecoming
December 16 -
Commencement
Dakota Dunes Country Club
960 S Dakota Dunes Blvd
Dakota Dunes, SD
1:00 p.m. Shotgun start
regular play
5:30-7:00 p.m. Buffet
$65/person (18 holes of golf,
cart and buffet)
Dakota Dunes Golf
August 29, 2005
For more information:
Alumni Office
Deb Lundahl
402-375-7209
delunda1@wsc.edu
Florida
Reunion
Paula (Rolfes) ‘62 and Larry
Winker hosted alumni and friends
in their home for a delicious evening
meal they prepared February
19 in Boca Raton. Attending were:
President Richard and Marilyn
Collings; Paula Rolfes ’62 and
Larry Winker; Marlys Engstrom
’71 and Jim Dickmeyer; Marsha
’96 and Bob (retired WSC associate
professor) Foote; Lyle ’51
(WSC President Emeritus) and
Ginny Seymour; Cindy Keagle’79
and Scott Swigart ‘79; Phyllis
Conner, vice president for development;
and Deb Lundahl, director
of development and alumni relations.
Paula Winker
WAYNE STATE MAGAZINE 27

President Richard J. Collings, right, receives a standing ovation after delivering his inaugural address. On the platform with him are,
from left, Dr. Jerry Moskus, president of Metropolitan Community College, representing the Nebraska Community College Association;
Steve Lewis, chair of the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees; Kathy Janke, WSC support staff senate president; Gov. Dave
Heineman; Norman B. Small, II, system student trustee; Stan Carpenter, system chancellor; and Lin Brummels, WSC professional staff
senate president.
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