Winter 2019 Chadron State magazine Greetings from the graduates prove their worth in the field President By Tena L. Cook Dear Alumni and Friends, Chadron State College has been making a major impact in the region for more than a cen- The summer and fall at Chadron State College are always special times. In addition to summer tury by educating teachers. Often those teach- classes giving students a chance to catch-up or get ahead in their studies, many CSC students ers return to CSC, earn advanced degrees, and succeed on various stages and represent the college well. become administrators. One such example happened in May when a trip to the University of Indiana’s Lilly Library Data from the Nebraska Department of gave Rachel Mitchell of Riverton, Wyoming, an opportunity to view and touch some of the historic Education in 2018-19 shows teachers in the pieces of literature that have shaped the culture of the English-speaking world. The trip to the following counties have earned at least one de- library was part of an independent study course about women traveling. Mitchell was able to hold gree from CSC: Dawes, 73%, Sheridan, 55%, the first bound edition of Shakespeare’s complete works, a cuneiform tablet written in Babylonian, Box Butte, 51%, Scotts Bluff, 49%, Morrill, and the first copies of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. 47%, Banner, 43%, Keya Paha, 43%, Chey- In the fall semester, Mitchell used some of what she learned in the summer as an intern for the enne, 38%, Garden, 38%, Deuel, 37%, Hooker, College Relations’ Department at CSC. Mitchell wrote a blog that is available at csc.edu, con- 31%, Logan, 32%, Kimball, 34%, Grant, 29%, ducted research to expand the college’s Centennial Book, and scanned historical photos into the Sioux, 27%, Cherry, 25%. college’s digital archive. It truly is a wonderful development when students are able to apply what State data shows that 100 percent of the they learn in their studies to their workplace. school principals in six counties have earned Also during the summer, four Chadron State College students placed in the top 10 at the Phi at least one CSC degree: Arthur, Banner, Gar- Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in San Antonio in June. Cody Cooper of Gothen- field, Grant, Kimball, and Sioux. Other coun- Dr. Randy Rhine burg placed fifth in business communication. Dawson Brunswick of McCook and Aubree Noble ties reporting more than half of their principals President of Chadron State College of Chadron placed fifth as a team in network design. Brunswick, Noble, and Bailee Steiner of with one CSC degree are Dawes, 86%, Chey- Morrill, placed ninth as a team in strategic analysis and decision making. enne, 71%, Scotts Bluff, 67%, Dundy, 54%, And in the fall, the college was proud to recognize four alumni during Homecoming. Dr. Angela and Morrill, 54%. Others include Deuel, 44%, Chadron State College has been making a major impact in the region for more than a century by educating Brennan and Justice John Freudenberg receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Dr. Brendan Pawnee, 44%, Burt, 38%, and Box Butte, 35%. teachers. Students are well prepared when they enter the teaching profession. (Photo by Daniel Binkard) Connealy and Dr. Kendra Schmid received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. All of the superintendents in Arthur, Gar- The individuals and students above are all great examples of what Chadron State provides. den, McPherson and Sioux counties also have standing and ultimately they help students live in rural western Nebraska. That is a Throughout the decades, CSC has nurtured leaders in numerous fields. I want you to know we at least one CSC degree. Cheyenne County had learn. I also believe that CSC graduates big obstacle we face in hiring new teach- have another great group on campus that will be soon be stepping into leadership roles in com- 83%, followed by Deuel, 57%, Dawes, 50%, have a good grasp of establishing proce- ers. Sometimes they are not familiar with or munities near you. Keith, 49%, Frontier, 40%, and Richardson, dures and routines as the basis of good aware of the isolation associated with living 38%. classroom manage- in a rural community,” Liggett said. Eugene “Mo” Hanks, ment,” said Hanks, In addition to preparing many teachers Sincerely, the 7-12 grade principal at “Our experience has been who was named the in the Nebraska school systems, CSC also Kimball Jr/Sr High School that the student teachers Nebraska State As- collaborates with regional schools that host is an educator with three come to us with a good sociation of Second- student teachers. Dr. Randy Rhine generations of ties to CSC. base knowledge and also a ary School Principals Jay Ehler, superintendent of Sidney Pub- President He graduated with a bach- High School Prin- lic Schools, said the CSC student teachers elor’s degree, a master’s positive attitude.” cipal of the Year in his school hosts are full participants in the The Chadron State Magazine is published degree, and has been a — Jay Ehler 2014-15. success of his school. twice per year by the Alumni Oce. classroom teacher, coach, Lori Liggett, CSC “They get to experience several aspects Magazine Sta activities director, and sec- alumna and super- of what makes a school work. They leave Inside ondary principal in four regional schools. His intendent of Gordon-Rushville Public the program with a quality teaching experi- Daniel Binkard George Ledbetter Kelsey R. Brummels Con Marshall parents and wife are also educators and CSC Schools, said being familiar with the re- ence and also knowledge of other important Theatre Pros Add Real World Experiences Kaleb Center John Murphy graduates. His daughter will earn an educa- mote situation of rural Nebraska schools is school things. Our experience has been that Tena L. Cook SuAn Reece tion degree and coaching endorsement in May another advantage CSC graduates have over the student teachers come to us with a good 3 Brandon Davenport Jacob Rissler 2020. other job applicants. base knowledge and also a positive attitude Dewayne Gimeson Karen Pope “CSC graduates do a good job with forma- “I feel that attending CSC provides them to be part of Sidney Public Schools,” Ehler Alex Helmbrecht Ben Watson tive assessments to check for student under- with a realistic view of what it is like to said. Campus Center Memorialized Kline Alumni Board of Directors 11 Lou Alcorn Trisha Martens Stephanie Cogdill Clayton Riesen Ron Grant Vince Ryan Powell Named Vice President Bobby Griese Shane Shepherd Russ Harford Loni Watson 12 Please forward address changes to: CSC Alumni Oce, 1000 Main St., Chadron, NE 69337 or [email protected] Helberg Honored as Teacher of the Year CSC is a proud member of the Nebraska State College System. 15 Issues of the Alumni Magazine can be found at www.csc.edu/alumni On the Cover: In this historical photo from the early 1960s, Director of Athletics Physics Graduate Supports Math Science Ross Armstrong, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds Gene Sheaman, and employees of Fullen Construction, pose for a photo 22 near the proposed construction site of Chadron State College’s Kline Campus Center. 1 Construction Set to Begin Summer 2020 Guest Artists Benefit Theatre Students Construction is expected to begin in the the existing east and west wings, while add- be positively impacted by the renovation By George Ledbetter and Daniel Binkard summer of 2020 for Chadron State Col- ing a north wing. and addition of Math Science, according to Chadron State College students taking class- lege’s Math Science building’s renovation The Math Science renovation and addition President Randy Rhine. Science, technol- es in Theatre this year are enjoying the benefit and addition. The Nebraska State Legisla- project has received widespread support in ogy, education, and math education students of working with experienced professionals ture approved its budget in May 2019, which the region. More than 40 organizations, in- will have more opportunities for student- who not only provide knowledge of their craft, included the bond repayment for the $28.5 cluding school districts, city governments, centered learning, as well as increased re- but also share their real-life experiences in the million project. hospitals, and employers in western Nebras- search opportunities, in modern laboratories world of theatre. The Math Science building has long been ka have endorsed the project. and classrooms. Student and faculty recruit- In the Fall 2019 semester, three theatre vet- the top construction project for the NSCS Western Nebraska and Chadron State ment, as well as regional outreach, will also erans — actor and director David Craven, cos- Board of Trustees. The project will renovate College’s current and future students will be positively impacted. tumer designer Pheobe Boynton, and scenic artist Linda Dabbs — taught classes and as- sisted in the department’s public performanc- es, said CSC Associate Professor of Theatre Scott Cavin. For the spring semester, the de- partment’s expanded guest artist program will include actor and director Jennifer Poarch, who will teach voice and movement and stage combat, Cavin said. Exposing students to active theatre profes- sionals gives them an inside look at the pro- fession from people who have lived that life, Cavin said. Guest artists have been part of CSC’s The- atre program previously, perhaps most notably in 2014 when actor Kevin Williams came to play the role of Jim in the musical “Big River.” The response from students and audiences was overwhelmingly positive, Cavin said. Pheobe Boynton, right, works with Alyssa Jensen on a clothing pattern at the Theatre program costume shop at A vacancy in the program’s faculty opened Chadron State College.