Summer 2010 - Wayne State College

President’s MessageDr. Richard J. CollingsThis will be my last president’s message for the Wayne State CollegeMagazine. I have accepted the presidency of Southwestern CommunityCollege in Sylva, North Carolina. Marilyn and I have had six great years atWayne State College interacting with students, faculty, staff, alumni, andfriends of the college. We had no plans on leaving until an opportunity arosethat enabled us to go from one great college to another great college and tobe close to our children and grandchildren. We are looking forward to newchallenges, but we will miss the many friends we have made through ourassociation with Wayne State College.When I began to think about being a college president, I wanted to go toa medium-sized college that was serious about teaching and learning, serving its region, and maintaining a sense of community thatenabled the other two things to happen. I said I would rather be president at a first-rate teaching and learning college than a third-rateresearch university. I found this environment at Wayne State College and did my best to support and enhance it. Faculty and staffmaintained their focus on students and “promoting a culture of student success.”Faculty and administrators worked together to enhance international opportunities for our students in such countries as Greece,Taiwan and Costa Rica. We have sent a steady stream of graduates to a variety of health professions at the University of NebraskaMedical Center and to graduate programs in the sciences. Our teacher education programs at the undergraduate and graduate levelshave recently renewed their national accreditation and continue their long history of excellence. Our programs in business, art anddesign, and music are thriving and have also achieved national accreditations.Wayne State has 80 majors and minors — enough to allow students to choose degrees that match their talents and interests. Wehave worked together to increase our enrollment and to maintain the vitality of our undergraduate and graduate programs. WSC hasreceived national attention from such organizations as the American Enterprise Institute and the Southern Regional Education Boardfor exemplary retention and graduation rates.Despite tight budgets, with assistance from the state, student fees, and the Wayne State Foundation, we have maintained ourclassrooms, laboratories, studios, residence halls, athletic facilities, and service buildings. Many of our students live on campusand most of them attend classes on campus, so keeping our facilities in good shape is crucial to attracting and retaining studentsand maintaining employee satisfaction. Your gifts to the Wayne State Foundation have been important in assisting the college withrenovating our science labs and athletic facilities, and with the creation of the campus commons. I hope you will be able to visit thecampus soon and see for yourself.Our athletic teams continue to be strong competitors in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. We have excellent studentathletes, coaches, and facilities and we regularly contend for conference championships in a variety of sports. NCAA Division IIconferences have a good balance between athletics and academics and our student athletes have cumulative grade point averages thatare consistently close to a B average.I am proud to have been a participant in celebrating WSC’s centennial year. Our Centennial Campaign and the creation of thecommemorative pictorial history of Wayne State’s first hundred years are accomplishments that will continue to have positive impactson WSC.While I am proud of Wayne State’s progress in the past six years, it is important to remember that most of the work is done by thefaculty, administrators, staff and students of the college. In addition, I have had the good fortune to get to know several past presidentsof WSC; such as Lyle Seymour, Ed Elliot, Don Mash and Sheila Stearns. All presidents stand on the shoulders of their predecessorsand they have left a wonderful legacy for Wayne State College.Ultimately, most of life is about community — about relationships with family, friends and co-workers. In a college environmentyou must add students, alumni and friends of the college. Marilyn and I have been blessed with many opportunities to interact with theWayne State community and we are the better for it. Thank you for all you have done for us and for Wayne State College.Wayne State Magazine 3

Wayne State Recognized for Graduation Rate“SREB researchers found that Wayne State achieves its graduation rate througha culture of “friendliness,” “care,” “attentiveness” and “excellent cooperationbetween academic, student services and other administrative units.”CELEBRATING 100 YEARSWayne State is known regionally forthe culture of student success that drivesthe college’s outstanding student graduationrate. Now that recognition has moved ontothe national stage. A recent report publishedby the Southern Regional Education Board(SREB) profiled Wayne State among 15public colleges and universities from acrossthe nation, noting that WSC’s “success inraising graduation rates may provide otherinstitutions with practices and strategiesthat work to help more students succeed.”These 15 public colleges anduniversities are outperforming mostsimilar institutions in helping studentsstay on track and graduate, a major newreport from SREB shows. The report,Promoting a Culture of Student Success:How Colleges and Universities AreImproving Degree Completion, profiles sixpublic institutions in SREB states: MurrayState and Western Kentucky universitiesin Kentucky, Delta State University inMississippi, North Carolina Central andElizabeth City State universities in NorthCarolina, and Sam Houston State Universityin Texas.All of the institutions in Promotinga Culture of Student Success outperformsimilar colleges and universities by havingrelatively high graduation rates comparedwith similar institutions, based on criteriadeveloped by SREB. The report also outlinescommon approaches and strategies that theseinstitutions are using to boost student successfor other institutions, university systems andstates to use.Wayne State was approached by SREBto participate in the study on the basis ofthe college’s success in graduating studentsdespite many of WSC’s students comingfrom disadvantaged economic backgroundsand having low median SAT or ACT scores.SREB researchers found that Wayne Stateachieves its graduation rate through a cultureof “friendliness,” “care,” “attentiveness” and“excellent cooperation between academic,student services and other administrativeunits.”“These institutions are helping manystudents complete college degrees whootherwise often do not graduate,” saidCheryl Blanco, an SREB vice president whoco-wrote and researched the report withconsultant Paul Bradley. “The strategiesthey’re using can be adopted by othercolleges and universities, and will guidestate policy decisions to improve degreecompletion across the nation,” she said.Despite rising college enrollment,improvement in students’ timely completionof bachelor’s degrees in the United States hasstalled, according to the report. Less than onethirdof degree-seeking, full-time freshmenin public four-year institutions graduate infour years. Most students who enter collegeas first-time, full-time freshmen take at leastsix years to earn a bachelor’s degree — andonly 55 percent graduate in that time span.And research shows that students fromdisadvantaged economic backgrounds or withlow SAT/ACT scores are even less likelyto complete bachelor’s degrees than theirclassmates.The institutions profiled in the SREBreport are helping more students completetheir degrees while also providing a qualityeducation. These institutions often serve acomparatively high percentage of studentsfrom low-income families and students withaverage-or-below scores on standardizedachievement tests. Yet their six-yeargraduation rates are near the national averagefor all students.The study team used The EducationTrust’s College Results Online databaseto select colleges and universities that metthese criteria in 2006: a six-year graduationrate of at least 45 percent; a median SATscore no higher than 1050 (ACT average ofapproximately 25); a proportion of studentsreceiving Pell Grants of at least 25 percent;and Carnegie Classification as a publicbaccalaureate or master’s institution. Atthe time of the 2006 report, Wayne State’sgraduation rate was 52 percent; medianSAT score was 990; and 38.9 percent of thecollege’s students received Pell grants.Using the study criteria, SREB selected15 institutions for this report: CaliforniaState University, Long Beach and CaliforniaState University, Stanislaus; Western IllinoisUniversity; Murray State University andWestern Kentucky University; Delta StateUniversity; Northwest Missouri StateUniversity; Wayne State College; MontclairState University in New Jersey; QueensCollege, The City University of New Yorkand The College of Staten Island, TheCity University of New York; ElizabethCity State University and North CarolinaCentral University; Clarion Universityof Pennsylvania; and Sam Houston StateUniversity in Texas.The Southern Regional Education Board,or SREB, based in Atlanta, was created in1948 by Southern governors and legislaturesto help leaders in education and governmentwork cooperatively to advance educationand improve the social and economic lifeof the region. SREB has 16 member states:Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida,Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma,South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginiaand West Virginia. More information isavailable online at www.sreb.org.Wayne State Magazine 5

Campus NotesShuck Receives Alumni Achievement AwardGeorge L. Shuck was presented the Alumni Achievement Award at the Spring 2010baccalaureate commencement ceremony. He enrolled at Wayne State in the fall of 1973in the business school and completed his studies at Wayne State in 1976, graduatingsumma cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in business administration with aconcentration in accounting and a minor in economics.While at Wayne State, Shuck was vice president of the Student Senate and wasa member of the tennis team. After graduating from Wayne State, he attended theUniversity of Kansas, graduating with a master of science degree in accounting in 1977.Shuck began his career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen & Co. as astaff accountant in the auditing division in the company’s Kansas City office in 1980.While at Arthur Andersen, Shuck’s audit focus was on commercial business enterprisesprimarily in the manufacturing and retail sectors.Shuck changed his career path from public accounting to private industry in1985. He became chief financial officer for a computer hardware and software retailerin Kansas City. Another opportunity presented itself a year later and he became ashareholder and president of a T.J. Cinnamons franchise in Memphis, Tenn. Shucktemporarily relocated to Memphis and was actively involved in the entire businessoperations of the franchiseAfter spending two years away from Kansas City, Shuck returned and joinedFerrellgas, Inc., a national propane retailer in Liberty, Mo., as manager of financialaccounting and reporting. He was promoted to director of administration servicesin 1992. In this position, George’s responsibilities included the tax, audit andadministrative services departments.Shuck left Ferrellgas and became president and sole stockholder of a custommetal fabricating company in Kansas City in 1995. He sold the business in 2004 afterreceiving an offer from a local strategic competitor. Shuck assumed the position of vicepresident and chief financial officer of Clearwater Natural Resources in 2005 where hecontinues his employment today. Clearwater was founded in 2005 as a private MLP toacquire coal mining businesses in eastern Kentucky.George and his wife, Deb, make their home in Kansas City, Mo. They enjoy golfand supporting their alma maters (Deb is a graduate of Kansas State University). Shuckhas been a Trustee of the Wayne State Foundation since 1993 and has hosted two KansasCity alumni reunions.Wayne State Honors RetiringFaculty O’Leary and TaberDr. Jay O’Leary came to Wayne State College44 years ago in 1966, specializing in music and,specifically, woodwind instruments. He holdsbachelor of music education and doctor of musicalarts degrees from the University of Colorado. Hismaster of music degree is from Boston University.He received the Wayne State FoundationTeaching Excellence Award in 1970. Beforecoming to Wayne, he served as Associate PrincipalClarinet and Soloist of the United States ArmyField Band of Washington, D.C., during whichtime he played at the funeral of President John F.Kennedy and the later inauguration of Lyndon B.Johnson.O’Leary was Fine Arts division head atWayne State for 20 years, and was the director ofthe Wayne State Summer Music Camp. He wasPrincipal Oboe of the Sioux City Symphony for40 years, and currently plays in the Sioux CityMunicipal Band and Siouxland All-America Band.Dr. Jay O’LearyDr. Linda TaberDr. Linda Taber began her career as a WayneState College professor in 1992. She earnedher bachelor’s degree in history at Penn StateUniversity in 1964, her master’s degree in historyat Rutgers University in 1966 and her doctorate inhistory at Stanford in 1983.She served as a visiting professor of history atthe University of South Dakota and the Universityof Iowa before joining the Wayne State facultyfull time. Taber taught Wayne State courses inWorld History, World Civilizations, Ethics andValues, Society and Gender, African History, theRenaissance and the Reformation, and Slavery in aGlobal Perspective.She noted in thoughts about her retirementthat, “The college has undergone numerouschanges in campus and curriculum, but someof the best things about teaching here haveremained the same. Every semester I have hadthe opportunity to teach in fields that interest me,even when my interest took an unexpected turninto the history of slavery, ancient and modern. Iappreciate the program flexibility which made itpossible to develop and share new interests.”6

Dr. Doug Christensen, professor of biology, was presented theState National Bank Teaching Excellence Award at the spring 2010baccalaureate commencement ceremony. This prestigious honor isawarded on the basis of rigorous standards that require a superiorlevel of effective teaching.President Richard Collings and Phyllis Conner, vice president fordevelopment and executive director of the Wayne State Foundation,presented the award. David Ley, the bank’s chief executive officer,established the State National Bank Teaching Excellence Award in1998 as a way of recognizing and strengthening outstanding teachingat Wayne State. Ley and the State National Bank of Wayne supportthe college in many ways, including scholarships and as a trustee ofthe Wayne State Foundation Board of Trustees.Christensen began his career at Wayne State in 1998 afterearning his bachelor of science and master of science degrees in FoodScience and Technology and his Ph.D. in biological sciences from theUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln.Christensen’s nomination materials for the award note hiscontributions to the Wayne State Life Science Department, such aschallenging students to increase their critical thinking abilities andbeing instrumental in bringing undergraduate research opportunitiesto the college through a joint research program with the University ofNebraska Medical Center.CELEBRATING 100 YEARSChristensen Receives State NationalBank Teaching Excellence AwardDr. Doug Christensen (center) was presented the State NationalBank Teaching Excellence Award during the spring commencementceremony by Phyllis Conner (left) and President Richard Collings.Spring 2010CommencementWayne State held commencement for graduate students in Rice Auditorium and undergraduatesMay 8 in the Willow Bowl. A total of 429 degrees – 102 graduate degrees and 327 undergraduatedegrees – were conferred at the ceremonies by Wayne State President Richard J. Collings.Congressman Jeff Fortenberry delivered the commencement address at the baccalaureate ceremony.Jessica Rachelle Helgren,daughter of Randy and the lateAva Helgren, delivered thegraduate ceremony invocation.She graduated from Neligh-Oakdale Public Schools in 2004.While at Wayne State College forher undergraduate education, sheserved in several leadership rolesincluding president of Theta PhiAlpha sorority, president of GreekCouncil, and Student Senatevice president. After graduatingin August 2008 with a doublemajor in sport management andmass communications, Helgrenreturned to WSC for her graduateeducation and took on a positionas a graduate assistant. Duringthe past two years, she hastaught classes while workingon her master’s degree in sportmanagement.Helgren is the newoperations director of the CoxClassic golf tournament inOmaha. She enjoys being activeand spending time with familyand friends.Jeremy Francis, whoreceived his master’s degreein curriculum and instruction,delivered the graduate ceremonycommencement address. Hegraduated from MidlandCollege in Fremont, Neb.,with a bachelor’s degree inelementary education and waspart of Wayne State’s FremontLearning Community. Francisteaches second grade at HillriseElementary in Elkhorn. Heserves as part of the COREteam for developing, orderingfor, and selecting staff for WestDodge Station Elementary inElkhorn, which will open in thefall. Jeremy will be teachingsecond grade at West DodgeStation. Francis and his wife,Jill, both of Hooper, Neb., havetwo children, a son, Kayl, anda daughter, Keegan. Jeremy isthe son of Wayne and SharonFrancis of Fremont.Katherine Fitzgerald,daughter of Mark andJacqueline Fitzgerald ofNorfolk, Neb., delivered theinvocation at the baccalaureateceremony She is a doublemajor in Spanish and speechcommunication with anemphasis in organizationalleadership and publicrelations.While at Wayne StateCollege, she has been involvedas president of Lambda PiEta Communication HonorSociety, president of SigmaDelta Pi Spanish HonorSociety, member of Phi KappaPhi, president of Navigators,and a STRIDE tutor. Sheis a Neihardt Scholar andparticipated in the HonorsProgram. Fitzgerald hasstudied abroad in Spain, wasHomecoming queen, and hasserved on Student Senate forthree years. Upon graduation,Kate will attend law school atthe University of Nebraska.U.S. Congressman JeffFortenberry delivered thecommencement address atWayne State’s baccalaureateceremony. Fortenberry waselected to the United StatesHouse of Representatives to serveNebraska’s First CongressionalDistrict in November 2004.Congressman Fortenberryhas an extensive background ineconomics and public policy. InCongress, Fortenberry serveson the House Foreign AffairsCommittee with significantresponsibilities for Middle Easternaffairs; the Agriculture Committee,where he helped write the HouseFarm Bill; and the Oversight andGovernment Reform Committee,with a focus on ensuring effectivegovernmental operations.He earned a bachelor’s degreein economics at Louisiana StateUniversity and two master’sdegrees, one in public policy atGeorgetown University, and theother from Franciscan Universityin Ohio.Wayne State Magazine 7

Campus NotesDalager NamedDean atWayne StateDr. Jon DalagerDr. Jon Dalager has been named as Deanof the School of Natural and Social Sciencesat Wayne State College. Dalager receivedhis bachelor’s degree from the University ofMinnesota at Morris, his law degree fromthe University of Minnesota, and his Ph.D.in political science from the University ofIllinois at Champaign-Urbana.“I wanted to work for a school thatwas committed to providing outstandingopportunities to its students, that wasfinancially stable, and had an excellentreputation as a college or university,” Dalagersaid. “I also wanted to work at a smallerliberal arts college where the students andfaculty knew each other.”He has been a member of the facultyat Georgetown College in Georgetown,Ky., since 1996 and has been chair of theDepartment of Political Science since 1999.Dalager has extensive experience in campusgovernance and has served as the facultyrepresentative to the Board of Trustees, thechair of the Social Sciences Division, thechair of the Curriculum Committee, the chairof the Institutional Effectiveness Committee,and has served on a number of othercommittees and task forces.“I was most impressed with the peopleI met during my campus visit. They were allvery dedicated to Wayne State College andI look forward to working with the facultyand staff to continue to bring good programsto the students and to develop new academicprograms so that Wayne State can keep itsstudents prepared for the global economy andchanging technologies,” Dalager said.As an expert in higher education law,Dalager has published articles and madepresentations on legal issues in facultyrecruitment and hiring, faculty evaluationprocedures, and the legal significance of thefaculty handbook.Dalager said he grew up in a collegetown of 5,000 residents (Morris, Minn., homeof the University of Minnesota at Morris), soWayne will be very much like going home.“My wife grew up in Breckenridge,Minn., which had a population of 3500, soshe is familiar with small towns as well,” hesaid. “What makes Wayne special is that itwill provide a small town atmosphere withthe extraordinary opportunities provided bythe college, and it is still relatively close tolarger cities such as Sioux City and Omaha(Morris was 4 hours from Minneapolis).”“I like to do a lot of activities with mychildren including skiing, camping, hiking,fishing, and traveling,” Dalager added. “Iused to play golf when I was a lawyer and amlooking forward to returning to that activity,and I am a huge soccer fan. I watch mydaughter play and I am a fan of ManchesterUnited in the English Premier League. Iam looking forward to the World Cup thissummer (Go USA!)”Online MBA Program Ranked No. 1 for AffordabilityWayne State’s online MBA program has grown steadily insize and reputation since being approved by the Higher LearningCommission in 2007. The college is excited to announce thatGetEducated.com, a consumer group that reviews and ranks onlineuniversities for cost, quality, and credibility, has ranked Wayne StateNo. 1 nationwide for the affordability of its program.The online university cost rankings of the top best values inonline MBAs are based on a comprehensive, independent surveyof 90 regionally-accredited business schools that offer 250 MBAdegrees via distance education. Wayne State College earned an “A” inaffordability for its general online MBA.Total degree cost: about $6,750. By comparison,the average cost for an online master’s in business(regionally accredited category) is $22,924.“Distance learning has made higher education more accessiblenationwide,” said Vicky Phillips, GetEducated.com’s founder, “butcost remains a huge inhibiting factor. Wayne State College offersonline students nationwide a high-quality master’s degree throughdistance learning for close to one-quarter the cost of the nationalaverage. That’s an amazing value proposition.”8“While public universities often charge more for out-of-statestudents, learners nationwide can enroll at WSC online and enjoyone low distance-learning tuition rate, yet sacrifice nothing in termsof quality,” Phillips said. “In return, they gain access to a businessschool that carries regional accreditation, an accreditation statusconsidered by many to be the hallmark for residential degree grantinguniversities.”“We are especially delighted to add new affordable businessprograms like Wayne State College to our online university directory,”Phillips said. “State schools often do little or no advertising online.The distance learning research staff at GetEducated.com is dedicatedto finding and showcasing these gems of affordability for onlinestudents.”WSC is one of 11 new regionally-accredited business schoolsGetEducated.com added to their 2010 Best Online MBA rankings.Founded in 1989, GetEducated.com is a consumer group that reviewsand ranks online university degree programs along the dimensionsof cost, quality and credibility. The group issues report cards onaccredited online degree programs in an effort to bring transparencyto the online education selection process in terms of cost, publicperception and student satisfaction.

Centennial ReflectionsWayne State pride: Teachingat Wayne State College is aprivilege. It is a real honorto work with the impressivefaculty and staff acrosscampus and collectively weimpart education and lifelongexperiences for our students.Dr. Pearl Hansen, Professor of Art/Art EducationHansen graduated from Wayne State in 1971 with bachelor of fine arts education; master’s insculpture and art history from Kansas State; PhD in Administration, Curriculum and Instructionwith research interest in the area of art hazards from University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Connections: In addition to myself being a graduate, my mother and six brothers and sisters aregraduates of Wayne State. Many of my nieces, nephews and in-laws are also graduates ofWSC. My parents believed they couldn’t leave a better legacy than to have a well-educatedfamily and it always was instilled in us that we would receive a degree from Wayne StateCollege. Teaching at Wayne State College has given me many opportunities to generate ideasand involve the college (students, faculty and staff) in art and across disciplines in inventingideas and many rich experiences through art. These have included projects with the college andthe Wayne community, as well as regional, national and even international experiences.Wayne State’s legacy: The college community and what we weave into the lives of our students.The future of WSC: The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. The futurestarts today … and I am still part of it! Students’ families have given them their roots, we asfaculty give them their wings.Wayne State’s influence: I always wanted to be a Renaissancewoman. Wayne State helped shape my belief that cultureand art are essential to the existence and continueddevelopment of being human.Fondest memories: There are many, but I am alwaysmoved by students’ accomplishments while atWayne State, their graduation and celebration withfamily and friends, and where they go once theyhave the degree in hand. I feel we have all been apart to opening up new challenges and experiencesfor them to use the rest of their lives.Professor Pearl Hansen's domes are three-dimensionalpieces, made of steel and enamel, that "look a bit like largeladybug shells," according to an Omaha World-Herald reviewof her exhibit at Fred Simon Gallery in the Nebraska Arts CouncilLey TheatreDavid Ley, chief executive officer and chairman of the board ofState National Bank, WayneLey graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Collegeof Business in 1970. He took classes at Wayne State as haveall members of his family since the 1890s.Connections: The connection of the Ley family and Wayne Statehas been long and very strong. My great grandfather, Henry Ley,the founder and president of the State National Bank of Wayne,was a friend and confidant of James Pile, founder and presidentof Nebraska Normal College. When the college needed to havethe financial support of the State of Nebraska or close, a localdelegation of four including Henry Ley, being a former statelawmaker, went down to Lincoln and spent a year enthusiasticallysupporting the college being successfully brought into theexisting state teachers college system. He then served on theBoard of Trustees of the Nebraska Normal Colleges. His son,Rollie, graduated from Nebraska Normal College and served aspresident of the Alumni Society. His grandson, Henry, served onthe Board of Trustees of Nebraska State Colleges and was one ofthe founders and later president of the Wayne State Foundation. Ihave served as president of the Wayne State Foundation.10

CELEBRATING 100 YEARSWayne State pride: I’ve been heresince 1986. I have very muchenjoyed my time at Wayne State.I have been able to work withsome outstanding colleaguesin the School of Education andCounseling and in the otherschools. So, it’s been a wonderfulexperience to have been astudent at Wayne State Collegeand then a professor.Dr. Jean Blomenkamp, professor of education, served as interim co-dean of theSchool of Education and Counseling, and Department ChairBlomenkamp graduated from Wayne State with a bachelor of science in elementary educationin 1968, and a master of science in elementary education in 1969; earned her Ph.D. inadministration, curriculum and instruction from University of Nebraska in 1996.Connections: Every time I enter the HahnAdministration building, I think backto when I was a child growing up.That was the college lab school, K-12lab school, for Wayne State Collegeuntil 1962. So, that’s where I went toschool. Every time I walk through theeast door into the lobby and I see thesteps going up, I can remember andpicture myself and other Wayne Prepstudents. At Christmas time the choirwould stand on the steps in our choirrobes, and we all held a candle, andthen the student body would be allgathered around on the floor, and wewould sing Christmas carols. It’skind of a nice memory.Wayne State’s legacy: Many studentscome to Wayne State if they want Hahn Schoolto become teachers because theirparents are teachers, they had relatives who are teachers, or their teachers at school wereWayne State grads and recommended it. Wayne State has a top-notch reputation for ourteaching program, and we do a number of things to really help our students receive a topnotcheducation.Wayne State’s future: Our teacher education program is outstanding, and I have a passion tohelp see to it that level of excellence continues.Wayne State’s legacy: Wayne State’s past and its future show an ability to adapt to theneeds of continuing education of America’s youth. Starting as a predominately teacherscollege, Wayne has evolved into a highly respected business, scientific and fine artsinstruction. At the same time, the college has continued to give students experiencesthat are mostly associated with larger institutions. Wayne State has been able to do thiswhile continuing a high enrollment to graduation level.Fondest memories: My memories center on the Willow Bowl, chimes, grassy areas, statelybuildings, the excitement of students returning, and so many others. From my first swimin the old college pool to exploring the heating tunnels, the college was an importantpart of my youth. I am looking forward to seeing those memories and new ones createdfor my grandchildren who now live in Wayne.Wayne State’s influence: The city of Wayne has benefitedimmeasurably from Wayne State College. It is one third ofWayne’s population. My family would have moved on in thelast hundred years without the benefits of a four-year collegein our community. Our family bank has employed WayneState’s graduates, who have made great contributions toour business and community. Wayne State has shaped thecommunity of Wayne for the better.Wayne State Magazine 11

Campus NotesWSC Alumni and FriendsEnjoy Scandinavia TripThe Wayne State Centennial AlumniTrip to Scandinavia began May 14 with aflight to Stockholm, Sweden. The grouptoured the city, Drottningholm Palace,the City Hall, the Wasa Museum andother sites in Stockholm. They traveled toUppsala, Sigtuna and Goteborg in Sweden,visiting a farm in Brunnsta Gard on theway to Goteborg. From Goteborg theyboarded a ferry to travel to Frederickshavn,Denmark, and traveled from there to thenorth tip of the country to the peninsulaknown as Skagen. Then it was on to Arhus,Denmark, to visit Den Gamle By (theold town) and on to Odense, Denmark,to see the Viking Museum and the HansChristian Andersen Museum. The final stopwas Copenhagen, Denmark, where theysaw the sights of the city and traveled tomuseums, churches, palaces and castles innearby cities. They connected in Virum,Denmark, with a long-time friend ofWayne State College, Mogens Dalsgaard,who beginning in the 1970s was a visitingmusic professor. Wayne State College inthose days had institutes in Sweden andDenmark. Mogens is a concert pianist whoperforms internationally, and he invited thegroup to his home for a performance. Itwas an amazing experience. FormerPresident Dr. Ed Elliott and his wife,Sandra, had encouraged the group toconnect with Mogens. The alumni groupleft from Copenhagen to journey home May24. Pictured on the trip: Front Row: PhyllisConner, vice president for developmentand executive director of the Wayne StateFoundation, Judy Nissen Boelts ’72,Robert Johnson ’75, Lyla Swanson, DebLundahl, director of development and alumnirelations, Gene Mardesen; Second Row: DonSoukup ’71, Diane Massman Soukup’71,Marti Harrison, WSC Professor of SociologyJean Karlen, Sharon Justice Judson ’69;Back Row: Ernie Swanson, Leon Anders’62, Jerry Karlen, Marce Picha , MarilynCollings, wife of President Richard Collings,Megan Mardesen ’09, Vicki McDermott, andDale Judson ’70.Teacher Education Programs Reflect Commitment to QualityThe Nebraska Department of Education notified Wayne State onJune 9 that the college has successfully completed the State TeacherEducation Approval process. The notification served as the officialcontinuing state approval for operation of educator preparationprograms at WSC.“The Nebraska Department of Education has been veryappreciative of the time spent in preparation for the state approvalprocess, the responsiveness of WSC faculty and staff to addressquestions and requests for additional information, and the hospitalityreceived during the on-site visit. The positive comments we heardthroughout the onsite visit speak well of the commitment of WSC toproduce quality educators,” Sharon Katt, administrator for TeacherEducation Program Approval, said in the notification letter.“We are proud to build on a proud legacy of preparingoutstanding educational professionals at Wayne State,” said Dr. NealSchnoor, dean of the college’s School of Education and Counseling.“Receipt of this approval from the Nebraska Department of Educationfollowing a rigorous review process confirms our commitment tocontinuous improvement and innovation in meeting the changingneeds of educator preparation. The approval process required intensepreparation by faculty in the School of Education and Counselingin collaboration with colleagues in each school across campus, ouradministration, and our P-12 school partners. We are indebted to allfor their ongoing commitment to quality preparation of educationalprofessionals.”Teams of reviewers examined Wayne State’s institutional reportand folios during a Nov. 19 off-site folio review. This was followedby an April 18-20 onsite visit during which time interviews wereconducted with stakeholder groups and individuals to validate theinformation provided in November and to gain additional informationabout the characteristics and quality of WSC educator preparationprograms.“It was evident to the folio review and onsite team members thatWSC is committed to producing quality educators, as evidenced bychanges implemented since the state visit and the ongoing programevaluation used to address and guide program improvement needs andthe changing needs of educator preparation,” Katt said in the letter.“Congratulations to you and the entire faculty at WSC. Thiswas a huge effort for the Teacher Education program faculty, andrepresents significant work by many other faculty and staff members.The dedication exhibited by the entire teacher education faculty totheir students, both current and past, is to be commended. The entirecampus should celebrate the accomplishments that we witnessedthrough the review of your materials and the conversations withcandidates, graduates, advisory committee members and others,” Kattconcluded.12

Wayne StateStudentsSpendSemesterin GreeceVisit http://blogs.wsc.edu/greece2010/to read students' blog entries writtenduring their semester abroad in Greece.CELEBRATING 100 YEARSTwenty-one students participated in the Wayne State Semester in Greece programduring the spring semester. The program is in its second year and is under the directionof Professors Kathleen and Gerald Conway. Seventeen of the students were from WayneState this year and the other four came from University of Nebraska-Omaha, University ofNebraska-Kearney, Peru State and Chadron State. The group was very diverse, coming from15 majors, however eight were business majors and one was an MBA student.Under the base program students earn 12 credit hours through Wayne State College.Most students use the credit for general studies requirements but the credit can be tailoredto fit into majors as well. While studying in Greece, students learn about Greek culture byliving within it. Lectures, field trips, presentations and discussion groups address Greekhistory, art, architecture, philosophy and religion. Students learn about contemporary Greekculture including government, politics, economics, family, education and social issues.While in Greece they are also introduced to the Greek language through coursework andimmersion.The cost of the program this year was $7,750, which includes 12 credit hours and fees,round-trip airfare from Omaha, housing in Greece, health insurance and a meal allowance.The cost also included field trips around Greece as well as a 6-day trip to Istanbul, Turkey.Students are only responsible for their spending money.Most of the students were very engaged and took advantage of every opportunity tointeract with the local culture and people. They also were very active with additional travelbeyond what was included in the program. During Easter break the students took advantageof reasonable European airfares and traveled (in small groups) to places of their choicein Europe. Some of the places visited included Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, London,Dublin, Amsterdam, Munich, Berlin, Zurich, Prague and Barcelona.While in Greece several of the students kept regular blogs about their experiences,which can be read on the college’s Facebook page or at blogs.wsc.edu/greece2010/For information for spring 2011: Gerald Conway, Associate Professor, School ofBusiness and Technology, 402-375-7029 or geconwa1@wsc.edu.Wayne State Magazine 13

Wildcat AthleticsWildcat SoftballPosts Record-Breaking SeasonJunior pitcherKatie Goetzingerbecame WayneState’s first All-American insoftball since1986 when shewas named tothe LouisvilleSlugger/NFCAAll-AmericanThird Team.14Spring 2010 was another record-breaking season for the Wayne State College softballteam. The Wildcats posted a stellar 43-14 record, breaking last season’s school record (41-21)of 41 wins to give WSC softball its first-ever back-to-back 40 win seasons.Fueled by a school-record 16-game win streak at the end of the season, WSC won the2010 NSIC Tournament, beating Augustana 2-0 in the championship game, and hostedthe NCAA Central Regional Tournament for the first time. The ‘Cats went 3-0, defeatingAugustana 2-1 in the title game, to advance to the NCAA Super Regional where WSC lost apair of hard-fought games to 4 th -ranked national power Metro State in Denver, falling 2-1 and6-2 in nine innings. WSC ended the season ranked 14 th in the final NFCA Division II Top 25Coaches Poll, the highest national ranking for a Wildcat softball team.Several milestones were achieved during the season. Senior outfielder Amy Sandstrombecame the all-time hits leader at WSC, finishing her career with 257 hits. She also becameWayne State’s all-time leader in runs scored (154), total bases (372), doubles (49) and at bats(769). Junior first baseman Jennifer Radley became Wayne State’s career home run leader andhas 23 with one year left to play. She is also the all-time leader in career walks with 74.WSC landed five players on the 2010 NSIC All-Conference Softball Team. KatieGoetzinger, Jennifer Radley and Amy Sandstrom each earned First Team All-NSIChonors while Sam Earleywine and Blaire Kuhl earned Second Team All-NSIC honors.Goetzinger earned First Team Daktronics All-Central Region honors and was named tothe Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Central Region First Team while Kassie Nurton, JenniferRadley and Amy Sandstrom received Second Team All-Central Region honors from LouisvilleSlugger/NFCA.Junior pitcher Katie Goetzinger became Wayne State’s first All-American in softballsince 1986 when she was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Third Team.The Harlan, Iowa, native posted a 32-10 record with a 1.11 ERA, finishing with a schoolrecord 358 strikeouts in just 264 innings pitched and was named the 2010 NSIC Pitcher ofthe Year. She ranked third in NCAA Division II in strikeouts, fifth in hits allowedper seven innings (3.95), seventh in wins (32), eighth in shutouts (11) and 10 th inERA (1.11). Goetzinger had 11 shutouts and 25 complete games while making34 starts. She also pitched 30 less innings this season to break her single seasonstrikeout mark from last season. Goetzinger also excelled in the classroom and wasnamed to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team with a3.77 grade point average.With just one senior on this year’s team, Amy Sandstrom, the Wildcats look to be a part ofeven more records in the 2011 season.

The Wayne State College track and fieldteams set six school records during the spring2010 season and had two athletes qualifyfor the NCAA Division II National Trackand Field Championships held May 27-29 inCharlotte, N.C.Senior sprinter Christina King competedin the 400 meter dash while junior PaigePollard qualified in two events, the 400 meterhurdles and the 800 meter run. King ran atime of 55.38 seconds in the 400 meter dash tofinish 16th overall. Pollard’s time of 1:01.12in the 400 meter hurdles was good for 12thoverall while she set a school record in the800 meter run with a time of 2:11.70 to place14th overall at nationals.At the Northern Sun Conferencechampionships, the WSC women took ninthplace scoring 41 points. Pollard, a juniorfrom Newcastle, Neb., was the conferencechampion in the 400 meter hurdles and wassecond in the heptathlon with a school record4,558 points to also earn All-NSIC honors inthe event. King also claimed All-NSIChonors with a third place finish in the 400meter dash in 55.67 seconds.The Wildcat men finished ninth at theNSIC Championships in Moorhead, Minn.,with 49 points. Sophomore Alex Timperleywas the top finisher for WSC, placing secondin the triple jump with a top mark of 46’ 4 ¼”to earn All-NSIC honors. Teammate LucasSirek also captured All-NSIC recognitionin the triple jump finishing third at 46’ 3 ¼”while John Kern, third in the 10,000 meterrun, and Nate Preston, third in the 3,000 metersteeplechase, were other WSC runners to earnAll-NSIC honors.Two WSC athletes earned academichonors at the end of the season as JacobMathieson and Sarah Thomsen were bothnamed to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDAAcademic All-District VII Second Team.CELEBRATING 100 YEARSSenior sprinter Christina King competed in the 400 meter dash at the NCAA DivisionII National Track and Field Championships held May 27-29 in Charlotte, N.C.Two ‘Cats Qualify for NCAA Nationals in Track and FieldJunior Paige Pollard qualified in two events, the 400 meter hurdles and the 800 meterrun, at the NCAA Division II National Track and Field Championships.The ‘Cats are just a click away at www.wsc.edu/athletics/Wayne State Magazine 15

2010 Homecoming Schedule of EventsTHURSDAY, September 23, 2010NoonFRIDAY, September 24, 2010Scholarship Luncheon (by invitation) - Student Center, Frey Conference Suite10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Hospitality/Information Center - Student Center, Atrium10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Trustee Workshop (by invitation), Gardner AuditoriumNoon - 1 p.m. Trustee Luncheon (by invitation), Student Center, Niobrara RoomNoon - 1 p.m. Alumni/Cat Club Luncheon - Upper Deck (Student Center, Lower Food Court)1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Annual Trustee Meeting, Gardner Auditorium3:30 p.m. Dedication of The Commons and Centennial Birthday Celebration, Seymour Heritage Plaza3:30 p.m. Former WSC Football players attend practice with Coach McLaughlin, Bob Cunningham Field5 p.m. Greek Olympics, Willow Bowl6 - 8 p.m. Outstanding Alumni Awards Banquet, Student Center, Frey Conference Suite8:30 p.m. Bonfire & Pep Rally, Tennis Court Area (rain site-Rec Center)SATURDAY, September 25, 20109:30 - 10:30 a.m. Parade, Homecoming/Band Day, will travel along Main Street10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Presidents Society Brunch (by invitation), Student Center, Frey Conference Suite10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. All Honored Classes Reunion Brunch, Niobrara Room, Student Center(Classes of '50, '60, '70, '80, '85, '90 & '00)Noon - 1 p.m. Tailgate Party, Bob Cunningham Field, under the tent (free to "Cat Club" members)General admission: adults $8; students $5Noon Football Players Reunion - Tailgate Party and tour of facilities with Athletic Director12:30 p.m. Homecoming Royalty introduced12:40 p.m. - 1 p.m. Pre-game Show - WSC Marching Band, Bob Cunningham FieldHalftime show - WSC Band, and introduction of Hall of Fame Inductees1 p.m. Football Game - WSC vs. Northern State (General admission $10; Reserved $15)3:30 p.m. (after game) RHOP & MARHOP Reunion, Student Center Atrium, social, program and tour of the Carhart renovation3:30 p.m. SPIZZ Reunion - Humanities Building, Journalism Room (4th floor)5:30 - 6:15 p.m. Social - Student Center, Frey Conference Suite (for banquet ticket holders)6:15 - 8:30 p.m. Homecoming/Hall of Fame Banquet, Student Center, Frey Conf. SuiteSUNDAY, September 26, 20109 a.m. RHOP & MARHOP Golf & lunch, Wayne Country Club1 p.m. Alumni Softball Game - Chapman Baseball/Softball Complex1 p.m. Alumni Soccer - Soccer FieldFor more information contact:Deb Lundahl • Alumni Office • Wayne State College • Wayne, NE 68787 • 402-375-7209 • delunda1@wsc.eduFor a list of registered attendees please check upcoming events at www.wsc.edu/alumniWayne State Magazine 17

2006Lindsey (Stockwell) Moselreceived a Doctor of Medicinedegree at commencementceremonies at the Universityof Nebraska Medical Center,Omaha on May 8.2007MakalaDostalwas unitedin marriageto ColeWilliams.She is theeconomicdevelopmentcoordinatorfor Elkhorn Valley EconomicDevelopment Council, Norfolk.The couple resides in Norfolk.Erik Kravig (MSE) serves asthe principal at Winside PublicSchools in Winside. Erik and hiswife, Krista, announce the birthof son, Jarren Jens, on April 15.Jarren is welcomed to their homein Wayne by sister, Sierra.Jeremy Fajman received amaster of arts in theatre degreefrom the University of CentralMssouri, Warrensburg, Mo.Jeremy resides in Columbus.2008TimothyMcKenna,Bloomington,Ill., receivedhis master’s incommunicationdegree fromIllinois StateUniversity inMay. He hasCELEBRATING 100 YEARSaccepted a full tuition waiver andassistantship at Ohio Universitywhere he will continue hiseducation to obtain his Ph.D.2009Cody Wortmann is employedat Sand Creek Post & Beam inWayne. The company recentlyannouncedthat he wasawarded“Best Ad inthe Issue” forits Our Iowamagazine.Cody beganemploymentat the SandCreek plant while workingtoward his graphic design degree.Cody and his wife, Mallory,reside in Wayne with their son,Owen.Robin Labenz tested andreceived accreditation from theHuman Resource CertificationInstitute earning a professional ofhuman resources certificate. Sheis employed at WSC, serving asthe administrative assistant to thepresident. She resides in Norfolkwith her husband, Marvin. Theyare parents to Aimee (26), Kelly(26) and Tyler (18).2010Brett Mills and Molly Gibsonwereunited inmarriageMay22. Thecoupleresidesin GrandIsland.Consider AddingWayne State In Your WillWhen you name the Wayne State Foundation in your will, or make another kindof planned gift, you become a member of our Heritage Society. Members ofthis special group of donors have at least one thing in common: a commitmentto the future of Wayne State College.As a member of the Heritage Society, you will be invited to special events andreceptions designed especially for our forward looking supporters. You willalso be recognized in our annual Honor Roll of Donors publication and on ourHeritage Society recognition wall in the Student Center. Members who requestconfidentiality will remain anonymous.Would you like to learn more about the Heritage Society and the variousplanned giving options available?Please visit our Web site at www.wsc.edu/foundation/or contact Kevin Armstrong, Director of Planned Giving,and he will be happy to assist you.Kevin ArmstrongDirector of Planned GivingWayne State Foundation402-375-7534Kearmst1@wsc.eduWayne State Magazine 21

Alumni NotesLewis Makes a Difference in ChicagoStanley Lewis ‘75 continuesto be an innovative key player.Although his team roles havechanged, his efforts keep himat a high level of achievementwhether he’s contributingon defense as a Wayne StateCollege football player,professional ball player for theCleveland Browns or executivedirector of Kelly Hall YMCA inChicago.“The Y has always been asafe place for kids, a place toenjoy values-based programmingand a meaningful place to cometogether as a community. TheKelly Hall YMCA brings all ofthis and more to West HumboldtPark,” Lewis said.West Humboldt Park is oneof the poorest and more violentneighborhoods in Chicago.More than 50 percent offamilies live below the povertyline. Gangs have infiltrated thearea. Parents look for a place fortheir children to go after schoolwhere they might be kept safefrom the dangers of the streets.Lewis began with theYMCA program 24 years agoand has more than 20 yearsexperience as YMCA director.Lewis lives in Calumet City,Ill. He develops and overseesprograms designed to enhancethe quality of life for youth,teens, adults and senior citizensin underserved communities.Lewis implemented anarts initiative involving fivearts organizations and fivecommunity-based agencies. Healso developed and implementedrecreational, physical,educational and leadershipprograms with activities forstaff, young adults and children.22“Raised by a single parent, Ispent a lot of time working out atthe YMCA while I was growingup. The guys that I met therewere my mentors,’’ Lewis said.“Now I want to do whatthey did for me. Working at theYMCA is rewarding, especiallywhen young people tell me thatthey too want to come back andfind a way to give back the sameexperiences to others.’’Four years at Wayne Stateprovided the same type ofinspiring experiences for Lewisin the 1970s.“My football coach, RalphBarclay, provided discipline andhelped me focus. He made useach stronger as a person andStanley Lewis (center) meets with young participants in a YMCAproject in Chicago. Students created artwork to show whatmakes them think about home.helped us learn how to deal asmen with real life situations,’’Lewis said. “I appreciate allhe taught me. We were alwayschallenged by him. You weren’tjust a number at Wayne StateCollege.”During his first year at WSC,Lewis was contacted by coachesfrom the University of Nebraska.He chose to stay at WayneState and found individualizedattention from faculty and staffmembers.“I found a close-knit campuswith people that you could relyon when you needed them,”Lewis said. “The small classsizes helped me succeed. I wouldnot have done as well at a largercollege.’’“My mother, Lillian MarieLewis, 83, is still here. Shehas always helped me to stayfocused. When I went to WayneState College, she told me to domy studies, don’t forget yourbackground and remember how“My grandma AmandaLewis has been the rock of thefamily. Everything I did whenI went away to school kept mewithin the same challenge thatwas there when I was growingup. Every day I try to findways to build the same type ofcharacter in these young peoplethrough the YMCA. It is achallenge for these young peoplesurrounded by killings andrandom shootings.’’Connecting with parentsand their children, Lewis focuseson what matters most for hisprogram including finding newfunding options in tight financialtimes and providing a positivealternative to becoming involvedin street and gang activities.“I ask to see their grades.They know I care. Some of theyoung people that we serve havenever had anyone ask about theirschool work or have someonewho goes to school to get gradesLewis said. “I also have parentswho are very grateful for whatwe provide for their families.”Today, despite the importanceof his work, grants and fundingare becoming increasingly hardto find. Lewis is working onbuilding a board to help sustainthe program.“Wayne State Alumni andfriends have looked me upthough the YMCA and madesignificant contributions to ourprogram,’’ Lewis said. “My goalis to develop Kelly Hall YMCAinto a model that we can expandon with the sustainability that’sneeded. It is vital to involve astrong board of directors whohave the vision it will take tobuild on this partnership.’’Once drafted by theCleveland Browns in the 10 thround of the 1975 NFL Draft,Lewis now drafts others toanother type of unique andworthwhile team effort, theyou were raised,’’ Lewis said. or information from teachers,’’ YMCA.NEWSLETTERHighlights include photo galleries of the Carhart renovation project, springcommencement, the annual children's show, and the Freedom Calls art expo. Youcan sign up for the electronic newsletter at www.wsc.edu/alumni/update_info/ andread the latest edition at www.wsc.edu/emails/alumni/enewsletter_spring_10/.For more alumni news, visit www.wsc.edu/alumni/news/.Did you miss it?The fifth edition of the electronic newsletter wassent out last month. Have you signed up for thisconvenient way to keep up with Wayne State?

IN MEMORY OFPauline (Murray) Elliott ‘35, (94), Ames, Iowa;April 22.Twila (Gildersleeve) Anderson ‘37, MSE ‘61, (93),Hartington; May 28.Eleanor (Severson) Clemon ‘40, (88), Sioux City,Iowa; Jan. 1.Lila (Brauer) Johring ‘41, (91), O’Neill;March 31.Delia (Welch) Miller ‘41, (88), Kansas City, Mo.;March 3.Lila L. Fletcher ‘47, (94), Norfolk; March 5.Marian (Sandahl) Biermann ‘47, (83), Wisner;Jan. 19.Marjorie Jane (Beyerly) Richards ‘48, (85),Lincoln; May 15.Bonnie C. (Fleming) Feller ‘50, (81), West Point;June 9.Delores M. (Wuebben) Becker ‘52, (79), Wynot;June 8.Roger L. Higgins ‘55, (79), Omaha; June 20.E. Lee Farber ‘57, (79), Fort Dodge, Iowa; Feb. 20.Norman R. Ellis ‘58, (81), Santa Monica, Calif.;June 11.Duane H. Mackey ‘60, (71), Vermillion, S.D.;March 11.Paul F. McKeever ‘60, (72), Bennington; Nov. 15.Bonnadell (Roe) Fredrickson ‘61, (88), Norfolk;June 20.Gail (Vasek) Otten ‘63, (67), York; March 4.LaVeryl (Nelson) Tharpe ‘63, (66), Charlotte,N.C.; April 19.Eleanor “Ann” (Manning) Splittgerber ‘65, (67),Las Vegas, Nev.; May 31.Cathy (McGrew) Shrauger ‘66, (65), Casselberry,Fla.; Mar. 22.Marilyn (Haitz) Pierson ‘68, (82), Wakefield;June 26.Jack McRae ‘70, (63), Scottsdale, Ariz.; Feb. 18.Joanne (Twibell) Leiding ‘71, (73), Orchard;June 29.Sandra (Whitehurst) Dahlkoetter ‘72, MSE ‘93,(62), Stanton; March 6.Jeffrey A. Gross ‘75, (58), Omaha; Jan. 4.Joyce (Goodman) Rohlfs ‘75, (29), Osmond;March 12.Lloyd G. Arie ‘76, (56), Fremont; May 5.Lavah (Poeschl) Maciejewski ‘78, (87), Tucson,Ariz.; April 24.Leona (Ingram) Kloepper ‘79, (80), Neligh;Feb. 17.Merlyn W. Weddingfeld ‘81, (83), Hartington;March 5.Joseph E. Dolsak ‘82, (55), Virginia Beach, Va.;April 13.Ronald Rosicky ‘88, (45), Renton, Wash.; April 18.CELEBRATING 100 YEARSNorman Ellis, Longtime WSC Supporter, DiesNorman Ellis ’58 passed away June 11, 2010, at St. John’sHospital in Santa Monica, Calif. Ellis was 81.He graduated from Wayne High School in 1946 and fromWayne State College in January of 1958. He married JaniceNordman in August of that year. He spent more than 32 years withthe University of California, retiring in October 1991. The yearsfollowing his retirement were busy with volunteer work at thelocal elementary school, where the children called him “grandpa,”and being active in the Methodist Church.Ellis had been a trustee of the Wayne State Foundation since 1985, along with hiswife, Jan. They have been active trustees, returning for Homecoming and the annualmeeting of the foundation. Wayne State could always count on Norman and Jan toattend the alumni events in California. They established the Janice E. and Norman R.Ellis Endowed Scholarship, and they were generous in their support of the initiativesof the college.Ellis will be greatly missed by his friends at Wayne State College.Lois Nuernberger, Longtime WSC Employee, Dies at 62Lois Ann Nuernberger, 62, died March 7, 2010. Shewas born April 1, 1947, in West Point, Neb., to William andHildegarde (Hugo) Noonan. Nuernberger was an informationresource director at Wayne State’s Conn Library for 20 years.She attended District #77 Logan View north of Wakefield,St. Mary’s Catholic School, graduated from Wayne High Schoolin 1965, and attended Wayne State College from 1965 to 1967.Nuernberger returned to Wayne State to earn her bachelor ofscience degree in 1998.She married Jim Nuernberger on Feb. 4, 1967, at St. Mary’sCatholic Church in Wayne. The couple farmed south of Wakefield and later southeastof Wayne. She served as director of activities at the Wakefield Health Care Center.Nuernberger was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was aMass lector. She enjoyed sewing, walking, reading, line dancing, landscaping, andmost of all her family.Professor Russ Rasmussen Dies at 71Dr. Russell Lee Rasmussen of Wayne, Neb., died June 5. Hewas 71 years old. A memorial service was held June 9, in RamseyTheatre.Rasmussen was born to Sydney “Pete” Rasmussen and ClaraHalvorson Rasmussen on Sept. 5, 1938, in Allen, Neb. He earneda bachelor of science degree and PhD in chemistry from theUniversity of Nebraska. He spent two years as a Fulbright Scholarin Germany, studying in Tübigen and Berlin. He taught chemistryat Wayne State College from 1969 until his retirement in 2001.Rasmussen was recognized as an outstanding teacher by his students and bylocal, state and national groups. He received a Loren Eiseley award for outstandingscientist-humanists as well as the Burlington Northern and the Nebraska State CollegeSystem Teaching Excellence Awards.He enjoyed participating in campus life including judging science fairs andforeign language competitions, and attending International Club events.Rasmussen was an enthusiastic botanist, an avid collector and a voracious readerin a wide variety of disciplines. He spoke, read and sang loudly in German, and taughthimself several other languages.Wayne State Magazine 23

WAYNE STATE FOUNDATION1111 MAIN STREETWAYNE NE 68787www.wsc.eduNon-ProfitOrganizationU.S. PostagePAIDPermit #227Sioux City, IowaThe people, the places, and the memories that youtreasure all in a special limited-edition book.Visit www.wsc.edu/centennial_book/ for an online preview of Far From Normal. This beautiful,commemorative pictorial history of Wayne State College’s first 100 years will be cherished byalumni and friends for years to come.Wayne State College is far from normal in so many ways. From its humble beginnings as anormal school to the dynamic college it is today, the passion of its people has been the secretof its success. As Wayne State College marks its centennial this year, it is a special time toremember, to commemorate and to celebrate.The Wayne State Foundation has published a unique limited-edition hardcover pictorial history book, richly illustrated with more than 200photos. Alumni and friends of Wayne State College will want to own Far from Normal. This special volume captures in words and pictures thestudents, faculty, alumni, buildings, community and spirit of WSC.To order contact Carol Stephens at 402-375-7510or e-mail her at casteph1@wsc.edu