Winter 2005 - Wayne State College

Adrian Minks ReceivesWSC AlumniAchievement AwardAdrian Minks, center, receives the AlumniAchievement Award from PresidentRichard Collings and Vice President forDevelopment and Executive Director of theWayne State Foundation Phyllis Conner.Adrian (Johnson) Minks, vice president of corporate servicesand marketing for the Omaha Public Power District in Omaha,received the Alumni Achievement Award from Wayne StateCollege at winter commencement ceremonies.Minks received her bachelor of science degree Summa cumLaude from Wayne State in 1968, and holds a master’s degree inbusiness administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.She joined the Information Services Division of OPPD in 1988,and subsequently served as executive assistant to the presidentand division manager of Customer Sales & Service. In January2002 she was promoted to vice president; her currentresponsibilities include market research, product development andmanagement, business strategy, material procurement anddisposal, facilities management, and security.Prior to joining OPPD, Minks was employed in variousinformation technology and strategic planning positions withNorthern Natural Gas Company, Northern Border PipelineCompany, and InterNorth, Inc. She serves on the board of trusteesof the Wayne State Foundation, and on the boards of directors ofthe YWCA Omaha, the University of Nebraska-Omaha AlumniAssociation, and the Institute for Career Advancement Needs. Sheand her husband of nearly 30 years, Jon R. Minks, are members ofthe United Way Bridge Builders Society. She is a past boardmember of Family Housing Advisory Services and North AmericanTechnician Excellence. Minks, a native of Little Sioux, Iowa, is agraduate of West Harrison Public Schools.WSC Awards 238 Undergraduate, Graduate DegreesWayne State College winter commencement ceremonies were held on Dec. 17 inRice Auditorium. A total of 238 undergraduate and graduate students received degreesfrom Dr. Richard Collings, president.Ashley Petersen of Herman, graduating Summa cum Laude with Honors in MajorSpeech Communication/Corporate, Community and Public Relations, gave the invocation.Lisa Lange of Fordyce, was the student speaker for commencement ceremonies.Ashley Petersen, left, gave theinvocation at winter commencement,while Lisa Lange, right, presentedthe honor address.Lange Gives Honor Address at Wayne State CommencementLisa Jean Lange of Fordyce presented the honor address at Wayne State College wintercommencement ceremonies on Dec. 17. Lange is the daughter of Marvin and EvelynLange of Fordyce.She graduated Summa cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education withendorsements in Elementary Education K-8 and Special Education MMH K-12, and aconcentration in Mathematics.While a student at Wayne State, Lange served as president of Cardinal Key HonorSorority; president of the Catholic Newman Club; treasurer of LifeSavers; a LearningCenter peer tutor, a tutor office assistant; and a Wayne State College Ambassador. She is amember of the Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy, Wayne Student EducationAssociation of Nebraska, Student Council for Exceptional Children, Habitat forHumanity, Wayne State College Choir and Chorale, and Kappa Delta Pi (internationaleducation honor society). After graduation, she began a teaching position in the Fremont(Neb.) Public Schools.6