INSIDE Message from the Chairman I Just Returned from a Visit to the Midwest, Where I This Disaster on a Per Capita Basis Was Roughly Ten Friends & Alumni
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WESTERN inA publication for friendstouch & alumni of Western Nevada College Fall 2010 • Volume 14 • Number 2 INSIDE Message from the Chairman I just returned from a visit to the Midwest, where I this disaster on a per capita basis was roughly ten Friends & Alumni ...............2 lived almost 20 years ago. Sadly, one of the things times that experienced by Hurricane Katrina. FEMA that I saw was the devastation an F4/5 tornado can turned down their request for help, citing in their de- Class Notes ...........................4 cause. Lake Township and its town of Millbury are cision that it wasn’t a big enough disaster to warrant located just outside of Toledo, Ohio. On June 6, 2010, any aid. Gifting: Change a Life ..............6 in the evening, a massive tornado slammed into this As it turns out, Lake Township is coming back peaceful farming community. (Actually it turned out stronger than anyone could have imagined. The lo- College Happenings ...........10 to be the most powerful tornado recorded that far cal outpouring of donations and volunteers has been north.) It destroyed the township’s administration amazing. People who have very little are donating Wild About Wildcats ...........12 offices, police department, high school and scores generously. Keep in mind that Ohio is number three of homes and farms. It also killed seven people. Ted in the highest unemployment (Michigan being num- Foundation News ................14 Kranzes, the superintendent of schools and father of ber two and Nevada, with the worst unemployment the 2010 Class Valedictorian, was one of those who in the country). At the end of the day, even though Arts & Culture .....................15 lost his life. He was at the high school that fateful it will take quite a bit longer without any FEMA aid, evening, checking Lake Township will be stronger and more vital than on the school’s gen- before the storm. erator and making So why did I include this in my semi-annual ar- Welcome to in touch! sure all was secure, ticle? Our educational system here is much like Lake when the tornado Township after the tornado hit. Education in Nevada Enjoy the updates about obliterated the from K-12 through the universities has been devas- Western. high school with tated over the last three years. Per-student spending its full force and is at an all time low, the worst in the nation. The high vengeance. Com- school dropout rate is the highest in the country and mencement was go- university budgets have been stripped to the bone. ing to be at the high And folks, it is pretty clear we are on our own. school the next day. While it is true in an election year, we may see TO RECEIVE FUTURE ISSUES, The magnitude of continued on page 13 E-MAIL US YOUR PREFERENCE: Donal Hummer, Jr. By mail: To receive in touch in the mail, provide your full name and address so that College Accreditation is Renewed Western Nevada College has received its notice of re-ac- you will continue to receive future issues. The accreditation site visit in May was the culmi- creditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges nation of two years of preparation, volumes of written and Universities, following a comprehensive evaluation. reports, and three days spent hosting peer experts who Online: To receive in touch as a pdf file, “It’s official,” said President Carol Lucey. “The Com- examined all facets of the college. The Commission re- provide your full name and e-mail address so mission was very positive about the progress that has affirmed WNC’s accreditation at the associate degree that we can notify you with our online link to been made at our college, thanks to the diligence and level, and also granted the college accreditation at the future issues of in touch. commitment of our faculty and staff. The evaluators baccalaureate degree level, effective from September 1, also offered us some valuable recommendations for im- 2008, when the college began offering its first bachelor’s E-mail: [email protected], or provements over the coming months.” degree, a Bachelor of Technology in Construction Man- [email protected] agement. 775-445-4410 Keep up to date on Western happenings @ www.wnc.edu - Bookmark it! www.wnc.edu/foundation/ WNC in touch MAGAZINE Fall 2010 1 FRIENDS & ALUMNI Increasing Energy Efficency Donors & Volunteers NV Energy Recognizes College for Make a Difference Sustainability Each year, donors and volunteers give time and resources to support the col- In August 2009, WNC President Carol portion of the costs associated with lege and its programs. Recent assis- Lucey signed a document committing purchasing, installing and operating a tance included: volunteers from the the college to increasing energy sus- retrofit heating and cooling system in Sunset and Carson City Rotary clubs tainability and making campuses car- the Bristlecone Building at WNC Car- who spent a Saturday beautifying and bon neutral. Efforts to fulfill this com- son City. The system will yield an an- weatherizing the Planetary Walkway mitment are paying off. nual electrical savings of 182,350-kilo- at the Jack C. Davis Observatory, as NV Energy presented the col- watt hours, or roughly $21,000. An part of the international “Rotary at lege with an incentive check totaling additional $9,000 in annual natural gas savings is projected. Work Day.” In addition, Bill Bernard of $15,216 in March. The funds offset a Carson City donated a CISCO switch to be used by the college’s Computer Information Systems department to enhance the learning experience for students. WNC extends a special thank you to all members of the com- munity who help make a difference for the college and its students. “It’s true that education costs money. But so does NV Energy representatives present a check to WNC. ignorance.” Former Governor Kenny Guinn “Three Cups” Author Mortenson Donates Books to WNC Library WNC Public Services Librarian Valerie Andersen experi- enced author and humanitarian Greg Mortenson’s good- hearted generosity first-hand when she attended his Carson City lecture last spring. She waited in line for two hours to have her copy of “Three Cups of Tea” signed by the author. “I was amazed that he stayed and ensured that everyone had the opportunity to have books signed,” An- dersen said. “He took time to speak to each person, take pictures and write a message in each book.” When Andersen made her way to the front of the line, she told Mortenson that she was a librarian at the col- lege. Mortenson reached over to his pile of books for sale and gave her two signed books for the college’s juvenile collection. “His kindness brought me to tears. I felt like I shared a third cup of tea with him,” Andersen recounts. 2 Fall 2010 WNC in touch MAGAZINE www.wnc.edu/foundation/ FRIENDS & ALUMNI DONOR PROFILE- Remembering Kandee “I Put the Band on the Right Left Hand This Time” Bob Kahn loves his late wife Kan- in Reno where they met in 1987. Nine dee Ann and cherishes her mem- months later, they eloped. ory. His description of their life During a romantic cruise on Lake together is laced with pride, nev- Tahoe’s M.S. Dixie sternwheeler, Kan- er-ending devotion and honor. He dee requested a song that is now “their wants Kandee to be remembered song” in Bob’s memory – I Put the Band on the Right Left Hand This Time. forever. “Kandee was the most positive “It was a God thing,” he said as person I met in my whole life,” Bob he described the circumstances sur- said. “She never got upset and always rounding Kandee’s decision to become stayed calm. She was the best.” an emergency services dispatcher and Bob’s life journey seemed to be how their paths crossed in life. As a headed for an intersection with Kan- teenager, Kandee found her passion dee’s. As a 6th grade teacher always as an emergency dispatcher after a interested in law enforcement, he Coffee w/Carol chance ride-along with a deputy sher- became a reserve deputy sheriff for iff. Beginning her career at age 19 in The foundation is proud to present Washoe County in 1984. With teach- California, she became a pioneer for “Coffee with Carol” events to famil- ing skills and a law enforcement back- women in law enforcement as she iarize the community with the many ground, he served as the Lyon County entered a profession that was domi- outstanding faculty and programs Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E. officer in 1991. nated by men. During 39 years of ser- at WNC. Join President Carol Lu- He also piloted the very successful vice she was highly respected by all of cey at these free, semester discus- “Stranger Danger” program in Lyon her public safety colleagues and found sions. Enjoy coffee and a continen- County. Drawing on his experiences, herself in many interesting situations. tal breakfast and receive a “Coffee he wrote 15 books, three of which are Kandee was a dispatcher during with Carol” commemorative mug. published. Kandee’s crime novel, Dis- the Mount St. Helens volcano erup- patched, was also published and was tion in 1980, and was the voice of the the culmination of years on the front DOUGLAS CAMPUS dispatcher on the television show “48 line. Friday, Oct. 8 • 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Hours” during the Darren Mack mur- As an instructor of criminal jus- Featured Professor: Dr. Mike Hardie der case in Reno. But the most exciting tice and driver education at the WNC Topic: Student Learning Styles & the Assessment event of all, according to husband Bob, Fernley center, Bob established an en- of Student Learning was Kandee’s decision to accept a job dowment to honor Kandee’s service Location: Bently Hall, Rm.