Plus VERIZON’S ANGELA KLEIN / WRITING CONTEST WINNERS / TRAVEL SECTION

EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN NEBRASKA Magazine

Nebraska to NIGERIA Natalie Hahn (’67)

Volume 112 / No. 2 / Summer 2016 huskeralum.org

Members of the Tizer Quartet featuring saxophonist Eric Marienthal entertain the crowd in the lawn west of the INSIDEsummer at the June 14 Jazz in June concert. 5 Alumni Voices Not Your ORD-inary Brew UNL grad Caleb Pollard, ’05, has two passions in life. They are rural Nebraska and craft beer, and he has happily merged the two by 6 University opening Scratchtown Brewing Company in Ord, Nebraska, according 22 to writing contest entrant Kelly Riibe, ’03. Update 46 Alumni Authors ‘What Can I Get You?’ In his writing contest nostalgia piece, Robert Kerr, ’84, recalls the Selleck snack bar job that helped him meet college expenses, form 48 Alumni News enduring friendships with co-workers and interact with supportive 24 staff and student pranksters. 53 Chapters & Affiliates Learning to Fall Jerilyn Adam Weaver, ’68, ’69, never knew quite what to expect from 56 William Morgan’s acting class at UNL, yet the lessons learned from Class Notes that class transcended the years. She recounts the most memorable 26 ones in her writing contest entry. 57 Alumni Profiles Nancy Eicher, ’79, ’82 From Nebraska to Nigeria Ralph, ’47, and with Natalie Hahn Barbara Fox, ’44 As a United Nations program officer with agencies and programs Jon, ’90, ’94, and 28 in Europe, the U.S. and Africa, Natalie Hahn, ’67, masterminded Marianella Jost, ’94 international projects that ranged from assisting with water systems in Malawi and introducing new food crops to rural women in Nigeria Sandy Massey, ’83, ’86 to reorienting bank loans to benefit rural women globally. This Woman Means Business When Angela (“Angie”) Klein, ’01, was less than three years into her career at Verizon Communications, she was presented with a high- stakes challenge that would launch the trajectory of her career, and Cover photo by Craig Eiting 41 change the face of the telecom industry in the .

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 3 alumnivoices Summer 2016 n Vol. 112, No. 2 NEBRASKA Swan Song Magazine

For alumni and friends of the I found my dream career in just my second job after University of Nebraska-Lincoln college. That’s why, 45 years later, I’m still editing this magazine … albeit, for the last time. Shelley Zaborowski, ’96, ’00 It feels like this is what I was always meant to do. Executive Director, As a child, I spent hours pouring over my mother’s and Nebraska Alumni Association grandfather’s Cornhusker Yearbooks. NU was where I Andrea Wood Cranford, ’71 knew I would go to school and, hopefully, get to edit Editor that yearbook. Move Creative Design I wasn’t chosen to edit my high school yearbook, nor the Cornhusker when I came to UNL to major Kevin Wright, ’78 Layout and Photography; Class Notes Editor in journalism. But I spent four years working on the Cornhusker and two on . After Nebraska Magazine (USPS 10970) is graduation, I dutifully accepted a job in my field – and published quarterly by the Nebraska Alumni Association, the known office of publication is kept looking for that “perfect” career. 1520 R St., Lincoln NE 68508-1651. Alumni And then it happened. The alumni magazine editing association dues are $50.00 annually of which $10.00 is for a subscription to position was offered and accepted – and I could do Nebraska Magazine. Periodicals postage it for much longer than the one-year tenure the high is paid at Lincoln Nebraska 68501 and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster send school and collegiate positions offered! Best of all, it address corrections to: Nebraska Magazine meant reporting the interesting research, achievements and activities of faculty, students and in care of the Nebraska Alumni Associa- tion, 1520 R St., Lincoln, NE 68508-1651. alumni of my alma mater. Requests for permission to reprint materials Thinking back to that first year at the alumni association … The Nebraska Alumnus was and reader comments are welcome. a one-color, 32-page, bi-monthly magazine printed on an inexpensive off-white paper stock. Send mail to: The alumni staff consisted of seven people – an executive secretary (the equivalent of today’s Nebraska Magazine Wick Alumni Center / 1520 R Street executive director), an editor, an office manager and four women who devoted their days Lincoln, NE 68508-1651 to typing alumni updates on 3x5 cards and replacing them in the bank of file drawers that Phone: 402-472-2841 Toll-free: 888-353-1874 flanked the east wall of our office in the Student Union. The association offered a magazine, E-mail: [email protected] homecoming reception, alumni awards program and reunion weekend, a few alumni chapters Website: huskeralum.org and bowl tours. Views expressed in Nebraska Magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of Fast forward 15 years. The association had moved to the new Wick Alumni Center (after the Nebraska Alumni Association. The alumni four moves in the previous 13 years) and our records were computerized. We had two dozen association does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, employees and offered many more programs, including some for students. We did our work religion, marital status, veteran’s status, na- on computers, including design of a full-color magazine, although we didn’t yet have email or tional or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. cell phones – just fax machines. We offered foreign tours to alumni and sponsored dozens of Alumni Association Staff alumni chapters. Shelley Zaborowski, ’96, ’00, Executive Dir. Another 15 years passed. Cell phones and email were now second nature to us. The Emily Anderson, ’10, ’15, Asst. Dir., Bus./Alum renamed Nebraska Magazine became a quarterly, with more pages and content. We added Relations Alex Cerveny, ’13, Alum/Student Relations and subtracted other publications – the Alumni Resource Guide, the Palladian, the GoodNUz, Coord. a calendar and the eNUz. The association opened the Nebraska Champions Club and Jenny Chapin, Dir., Venues Andrea Cranford, ’71, Sr. Dir., Publications launched or enhanced mentoring programs, career counseling, scholarships and programs Charles Dorse, Custodian for young alumni, students and children of alumni. And we embarked on the digital age with Derek Engelbart, Assoc. Exec. Dir., Alum Relations Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc. Jane Epley, ’77, Projects Asst. Which brings me to 2016. It’s been a great ride these past 45 years. Along the way, I’ve Brooke Goedert, ’14, Venues Mgmt./Event Spec. Paul Goedert, ’14, Gameday/Facility Operations acquired a husband, two sons, several cats, several dogs, five grandchildren, many friends … Mgr. and a lot of additional duties at work. But the work assignment that has been my greatest joy Jordan Gonzales, Asst. Dir., Student Programs Sarah Haskell, ’09, Dir., Alum Engagement is editing this magazine and interacting with you, the readers, to fine-tune each issue. Ryan Janousek, Venues Mgmt./Oper. Spec. Wendy Kempcke, Admin. Asst. I’ll miss it, but it also feels like the right time to hand the reins to another generation. Jessica Marshall, ’11, Dir., Written Comm. I hope you’ll welcome 1989 UNL graduate Kirstin Swanson Wilder and support her, as Traci Moore, Exec. Asst. Charley Morris, Graphic Design Spec. you have me. She’s coming home after 24 years in LA and will be taking over with the fall Carrie Myers, ’03, ’11, Dir., Alumni magazine. (Learn more about her on page 48 of this issue.) Engagement Heather Rempe, ’03, Asst. Dir., Digital Comm. Larry Routh, Alum Career Spec. Always a Cornhusker, Viann Schroeder, Alum Campus Tours Deb Schwab, Assoc. Dir., Venues Andy Washburn, ’00, ’07, Assoc. Exec. Dir., Oper./Mbr. Katie Williams, ’03, Sr. Dir., Marketing Comm. Hilary Winter, ’11, Asst. Dir., Digital Strategy/PR Kevin Wright, ’78, Dir., Design Andrea Wood Cranford

4 SUMMER 2016 alumnivoices

2015-2016 NAA EXECUTIVE BOARD Facebook William J. Mueller, ’77, ’80, President, Lincoln Nebraska Alumni Association shared Erleen Hatfield, ’91, ’96, New York, N.Y. University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s photo. Bill Nunez, UNL May 31 – What do you remember from L.G. Searcy, ’82, ’91, Lincoln New Student Experience? Joe Selig, ’80, ’87, NU Foundation Judy Terwilliger, ’95, ’98, Lincoln Bradley Shafer May 31 – I clearly recall being struck by Steve Toomey, ’85, ’89, Lenexa, Kan. the sheer of number options and opportunities there for the discovering. 2015-2016 Alumni advisory council NSE is still vivid to me. Damon Barry, ’00, Denver, Colo. Stephanie Bolli, ’89, Omaha Jennifer Christo, ’97, ’99, Omaha John Clarke, ’74, Mitchell, S.D. @NebraskaAlumni tweets and retweets Daniel Dawes, ’06, Mableton, Ga. Lynn DiDonato Canavan, ’86, McKinney, Texas May 29 – #GBR from Italy! These May 25 – Way to rock it all season long, Megan Dreyer, ’03, Lincoln #Huskers on our Mediterranean Hannah [UNL class of 2013]! You have Kendra Eberhart, ’79, Peoria, Ariz. Spring Serenade trip are loving made all of Husker Nation proud! Rick Grady, ’98, ’98, ’04, New Albany, Ohio cruising together! Nebraska Alumni @NebraskaAlumni Betsy Hardin, Current Student, McCook Nebraska Alumni@NebraskaAlumni Pam Hemann, ’70, Pasadena, Calif. Troy Heuermann, ’92, Saint Paul, Minn. Jane Hirt, ’89, Chicago, Ill. Greg Johnson, ’89, ’93, Denver, Colo. Ka’Ron Johnson, ’00, Houston, Texas Lauren Kintner, ’92, Papillion season 10, you were so much fun! Jeffrey Kratz, ’03, Washington, D.C. Hannah Huston @thehannahhuston Duane Kristensen, ’76, ’78, Minden Desi Luckey-Rohling, ’81, Edgerton, Wis. Steven Miller, ’81, Lincoln William J. Mueller, ’77, ’80, Lincoln May 27 – Val’s is coming to the May 21 – Nebraska Alumni Retweeted Gregory Newport, ’76, Lincoln Union! Congrats on a great season, @KStokes10 Nebraska Alumni @NebraskaAlumni and the whole @HuskerSoftball squad! Jamie Reimer, ’03, ’08, Papillion Nebraska Alumni @NebraskaAlumni Russ Ripa, ’99, Lincoln Kevin Scheider, ’85, Raymond Robert Scott, ’94, Lincoln Christine Scudder Kemper, ’87, Kansas City, Mo. @HuskerSoftball will always be home! L.G. Searcey, ’82, ’91, Lincoln Thank you Nebraska Dale Tutt, ’88, Wichita, Kan. Kiki Stokes @KStokes10 Renee Wessels, ’82, Omaha May 27 – THIS IS NOT FAIR. I WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL NOW. #UNL CONNECTION BOX Logan @LogieBera May 15 – Congrats, #Huskers! #GBR Nebraska Alumni @NebraskaAlumni huskeralum.org May 27 – @LogieBera @ twitter.com/NebraskaAlumni NebraskaAlumni wow, I can’t even imagine how much weight facebook.com/UNLalumni I would’ve gained, and how broke vimeo I would’ve been! Jay Saunders @JayinMilwaukee huskeralum.org/linkedin

[email protected] 2016 Outdoor Champs! #Huskers May 27 – @LogieBera you are NUTrackandField @NUTrackandField welcome back anytime! #UNL @NebraskaAlumni UNL @UNLincoln

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 5 UNIVERSITY UPDATE

CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION Chancellor Ronnie Green Green Named UNL Chancellor

Ronnie Green is the 20th chancellor officer for the campus, which serves breeding and genetics in 1988. of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, more than 25,000 students in nine Green has served on the animal succeeding Chancellor Harvey Perlman academic colleges, employs more science faculties of Texas Tech who stepped down after more than than 6,400 faculty and staff, has an University and Colorado State 15 years of leadership of NU’s operating budget of more than $1.2 University, and as the national program largest campus. The long-awaited billion and research expenditures of leader for animal production research announcement was made by University more than $275 million, and includes for the USDA’s Agricultural Research of Nebraska President Hank Bounds on a nationally prominent Division I Service. He also was executive April 6, 2016. athletics program. secretary of the White House’s Green – a first-generation college Since 2010, Green has served as the interagency working group on animal graduate originally from Fincastle, Harlan Vice Chancellor of the Institute genomics within the National Science Virginia, who earned his doctorate from of Agriculture and Natural Resources. and Technology Council where he was UNL – said he is humbled to have the In this role, he also jointly served as one of the principal leaders in the opportunity to lead the institution he the Vice President for Agriculture and international bovine, porcine and ovine has served since 2010. Natural Resources of the University of genome sequencing projects. “Every day the University of Nebraska system. Since 2015, Green Prior to returning to NU, Green Nebraska-Lincoln impacts the lives also has served as UNL’s Senior Vice served as senior global director of of students, Nebraskans and people Chancellor for Academic Affairs, acting technical services for Pfizer Animal around the world. I’m honored to be as the institution’s chief academic Health’s animal genomics business. a part of that,” Green said in April. officer and its responsible authority in He is a Fellow of the American Society “We are in many ways a fundamentally the absence of the chancellor. of Animal Science and the American great university. There’s no doubt in The new chancellor will immediately Association for the Advancement of my mind we can be even greater. UNL begin national searches for both the Science. has the opportunity to lead the way in IANR and academic affairs leadership The new chancellor and his wife, addressing key global challenges, to positions. Jane, are the parents of four children: attract many more talented students Raised on a mixed beef, dairy and Justin, a UNL political science student and serve them more effectively, and to cropping farm in southwestern Virginia, and political journalist in Washington, meet the needs of Nebraska’s workforce Green received bachelor’s and master’s D.C.; Nate, a UNL business and economy. I’m excited to work degrees in animal science from Virginia administration graduate and current with faculty, staff, students and all Tech and Colorado State University, UNL law student; Kelli, a UNL student Nebraskans to build UNL into a globally respectively. His doctoral program was majoring in advertising, public relations leading, distinctive Big Ten university.” completed jointly at the University of and global studies; and Regan, a UNL Reporting to the NU president, the Nebraska and the USDA-ARS U.S. student majoring in pre-inclusive early UNL chancellor is the chief executive Meat Animal Research Center in animal childhood education.

6 SUMMER 2016 ACADEMIC AFFAIRS / IANR UNIVERSITY Green Appoints Interim Vice Chancellors UPDATE

UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green program supervisor of the Child extension education through Nebraska acted quickly to appoint two interim Development Laboratories and chair Extension. vice chancellors, filling the posts he of the Department of Family and As part of the appointment, Yoder vacated when he became chancellor Child Ecology. She has taught at the also will serve as interim vice president May 8. On May 9, Marjorie Kostelnik undergraduate and graduate levels and for agriculture and natural resources became interim senior vice chancellor her research focuses on early childhood with the NU system, where he will for academic affairs and Ron Yoder education and community coalition oversee the Nebraska College of stepped into the interim vice chancellor building. Kostelnik was vice president Technical Agriculture, the Daugherty of the Institute of Agriculture and of the National Association for the Global Water for Food Institute and the Natural Resources position. Education of Young Children, chair for Rural Futures Institute. Kostelnik has been dean of UNL’s the Great Plains Interactive Distance Yoder’s research focus is in the areas College of Education and Human Education Alliance, a consortium of agricultural water management, Sciences. She has been at the of universities engaged in distance measurement and estimation of university since 2000, when she education, and is currently chair of the evapotranspiration and land use was hired as dean of impacts on water quality. the College of Human His more than 30 years of Resources and Family experience in agricultural Sciences; in 2003, it water management partnered with Teachers includes extensive field College to become the research and work in College of Education and , Zambia and China. Human Sciences. He has worked for the The senior vice University of Wyoming, chancellor for academic for the U.S. Department affairs is UNL’s chief of Agriculture Agricultural Marjorie Kostelnik Ron Yoder academic officer and is Research Service in the responsible authority Colorado and Washington in the absence of the chancellor. The Educare of Lincoln Partners Board. She and for the University of Tennessee. He Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor recently served on a yearlong Institute is a fellow and past president of the is charged with helping the university of Medicine and National Research American Society of Agricultural and achieve excellence across all areas Council panel on transforming the Biological Engineers and a fellow of of the academic enterprise through workforce for children, birth through the American Institute of Medical and oversight of undergraduate age 8. Biological Engineering. teaching and learning; graduate Beth Doll, associate dean in the The university has opened an mentoring; faculty development, College of Education and Human international search for both vice promotion and tenure; resource Sciences, will be the college’s interim chancellor positions with the intent to allocation; strategic planning; and the dean during Kostelnik’s tenure in have new leaders in place by January development of innovative academic academic affairs. 2017. initiatives that will be recognized as Yoder has been at UNL since – Steve Smith | University unique signature strengths. 2004 and is currently associate Communications The senior vice chancellor’s vice chancellor at IANR, the multi- office also is responsible for the division UNL institute that focuses EDITOR’S NOTE: As the search for administration, coordination and on agriculture and natural resources. the academic affairs position began, development of general policies and Teaching occurs through the College the title was changed to executive vice functions for academic programs. of Agricultural Sciences and Natural chancellor – in line with what other Kostelnik was on faculty at Michigan Resources, research through the schools are doing. State University for 22 years as Agricultural Research Division and

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 7 NU RURAL FUTURES INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY UPDATE Impacting All Things Rural Regional Forums Scheduled Across State

RFI will host three regional forums Each forum will be created by and to help increase community capacity for local leaders addressing specific as well as the confidence of rural areas such as housing, business people to address their challenges and succession and leadership succession opportunities. Each will: 1) showcase and intergenerational engagement. some of the current RFI-funded Discussions will focus on collaborative awards projects that are successfully efforts that are paying off in business addressing specific rural concerns, 2) growth, downtown redevelopment, highlight local small business success expanded opportunities for further stories that defy the negative rural education and increasing quality of life narrative, 3) engage local high school for all generations, including youth and students in envisioning the future of young adults. Successful rural communities have their communities, and 4) perhaps Registration for the forums will leaders who drive change. Research most importantly, listen to regional open on August 1 and can be found at has shown and practice has proven leaders and determine priority areas ruralfutures.nebraska.edu. This will be that leadership matters, thus it for RFI research, teaching and program the second round of forums; the first remains front and center as the efforts going forward. Forum locations forums were held in the fall of 2014 in Rural Futures Institute (RFI) at the and dates are West Point – Sept. 22, Scottsbluff, Broken Bow and Nebraska University of Nebraska plans Regional North Platte – Sept. 27 and Chadron – City. Forums across Nebraska. Sept. 28.

CONNECTION BOX ruralfutures.nebraska.edu cyn.nebraska.edu [email protected] [email protected]

facebook.com/ruralfutures facebook.com/youngnebraskans @rural_futures @YoungNebraskans

Connecting Young Nebraskans Network to Gather in York

Young leaders from across the focusing on the vital role 20- to state are invited to gather in York, 40-year olds play in the future of Nebraska, this fall on Oct. 27-28 for rural communities. The network is the Connecting Young Nebraskans coordinated by Kayla Schnuelle, Summit. The summit provides dynamic integrated marketing specialist young leaders the opportunity to and young leader coordinator network and build leadership and other at the RFI. Schnuelle relies on skills that enable them to help shape young leader volunteers from the future of Nebraska. across the state to help organize and Recognizing that intergenerational plan the summit. leadership and engagement must be Through a competitive selection strengthened in rural areas, the Rural process, the community of York was be the fifth CYN Summit with the Futures Institute at the University of selected this year as the host for the long-term goal to energize, develop Nebraska established the Connecting summit, which will be held at the and retain talented individuals in the Young Nebraskans (CYN) network Holthus Convention Center. This will state’s rural communities.

8 SUMMER 2016 the virus are UNIVERSITY mistakenly told UPDATE they do not. In an effort to overcome these challenges, Adamec said Noviplex cards will soon be distributed to eight South American states throughout the Amazon. The World Health Organization, which has classified Zika as an international public health emergency, is monitoring the project. The technology is already addressing another health issue within South America’s largest country. Because

Jiri Adamec, associate professor of biochemistry. Courtesy photo some Brazilian mining operations illegally use mercury to extract gold – afterward dumping the toxic element DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY in local rivers – officials are also using Noviplex cards to prescreen for elevated levels of mercury in marine Researcher Develops life and citizens who consume seafood. And with the Olympic Games set to Device to Test for Zika descend on in August, the Brazilian Olympic Team has A University of Nebraska-Lincoln underdeveloped brains, among the adopted the technology to monitor researcher is partnering with Brazilian babies of women who have contracted biomarkers that can indicate the onset officials to distribute a device that the virus. of fatigue and other physiological could accelerate testing for the Zika “The current Zika virus outbreak stressors. virus and monitor contamination of the is affecting remote areas such as the Modifying the technology, which country’s freshwater food sources. Amazonian region of Brazil, and it’s R&D Magazine named a top-100 In 2014, biochemist Jiri Adamec extremely difficult to get to those areas invention of 2014, might even allow and colleagues introduced the Noviplex to screen residents for the virus,” physicians to eventually detect card, which separates plasma from a said Adamec, associate professor of biomarkers of brain injury in athletes, blood sample taken by the simple prick biochemistry. “Medical professionals Adamec said. of a finger. After the sample is blotted (currently) have to fly in and out by “It’s difficult to say what impact on a small card, the technology can helicopter very quickly to ensure the Noviplex will have in the next five upload a digital image of the separated blood samples remain stable at a low years,” he said, “because the plasma to a clinic or laboratory that temperature.” possibilities are really endless.” can analyze it for signs of disease. This reality has made mapping the Adamec and his colleagues, who If those signs are detected, the prevalence of Zika more difficult, developed their technology through a sample – which retains its integrity Adamec said. Moreover, he said, an co-founded company named Novilytic for weeks even in the humidity of a existing test used to screen for Zika LLC, received research support from tropical rainforest – can be sent to a has exhibited unacceptably high rates the National Institutes of Health. medical facility and further tested for a of false positives and false negatives. – Haley Steinkuhler, IANR diagnosis. This means that some uninfected This unprecedented capability individuals are identified as carrying makes the technology especially suited Zika, even as some who actually have to prescreening for the Zika virus, Adamec said. The virus has been strongly linked with microcephaly: abnormally small heads, and often

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 9 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS UNIVERSITY UPDATE 10 Fulbright Winners a UNL Record

A record 10 University of Nebraska- English. She will return to her • Bailey Lathrop – A UNL Honors Lincoln students have earned Fulbright birth country of South Korea, Program student awards for the 2016-17 academic where she previously had a with majors in year, while four more have been Fulbright ETA, to conduct geology and chosen as alternates. research on Korean transnational anthropology and The university’s previous record adoptees searching for their birth minors in Spanish

for Fulbrights awarded in a single families. Bailey Lathrop and mathematics, academic year was nine in 2011. • Annie Himes – Himes, from Lathrop has been The Fulbright Program, established Omaha, graduated awarded a study/research grant in 1946 and funded by the U.S. this spring from the to . The Valley native Department of State, is designed to University Honors will study rock formations in the foster understanding between the Program with Cuyo Group in the Neuquen Basin United States and other countries. bachelor’s degrees with other researchers at the

The U.S. Student Fulbright program Annie Himes in Russian, history National University of La Plata’s gives recent graduates, graduate and global studies Geologic Research Center. students and young professionals the and minors in Spanish, English, • Sophia Loveless – A Kearney opportunity to conduct research, study human rights and humanitarian native, Loveless or teach in one of 160 designated affairs, women’s and gender graduated in May countries. Recipients are awarded the studies, and political science. 2015 from the Fulbright on the basis of academic and She will return to , where University Honors professional achievement as well as she once studied, for her Program with

their potential for leadership. Fulbright ETA. Sophia Loveless bachelor’s degrees There are two types of the nationally • Aaron Hostetler – A May 2015 in political science, competitive award: the research/ graduate of the global studies and history and study award, which supports students University Honors minors in ethnic studies, human working on a project in a foreign Program with rights and humanitarian affairs, country; and the English Teaching bachelor’s degrees and African studies. She will Assistantship (ETA) award, which in English and return to Rwanda, where she once

places recent graduates in classrooms Aaron Hostetler history, Hostetler volunteered as an English abroad to provide assistance to local resides in South language teacher, for her English language teachers. The Korea, where he teaches the Fulbright ETA. students are also cultural ambassadors English language to native Korean • Rachel O’Hanlon – A 2014 for the United States. speakers. This fall, the Pleasant graduate who Though the 10 students sets a Dale native will switch his focus studied psychology, university record, the number of UNL to English language students in Japanese and students who earn Fulbrights could . sociology, O’Hanlon continue to grow in the coming weeks • Ethan Koopman – Koopman will travel to

because Fulbrights are not awarded all earned bachelor’s Rachel O’Hanlon as a at once. UNL students who have won degrees in physics, Fulbright English Fulbright awards as of April 20 are: mathematics and Teaching Assistant. Since • Katelyn Hemmeke – From German in August graduating, O’Hanlon, of Lincoln, Hamilton, 2015. A native has been teaching the English Michigan, Ethan Koopman of Meadow Grove, language in Amakusa, Japan, Hemmeke he will return through the JET Program. graduated this to , where he once spring with a studied, for a Fulbright ETA. Continued on Page 11

Katelyn Hemmeke master’s degree in

10 SUMMER 2016 NU SYSTEM-WIDE AWARDS UNIVERSITY Drone Lab Founder Earns UPDATE

• Helen Pitts – A graduate student University-wide Honor working toward a For expanding his academic expertise beyond university classrooms, Matt master’s degree in Waite has received one of the University of Nebraska system’s most prestigious German and awards. foreign language Waite, a professor of practice in UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass pedagogy, Pitts will Communications, has earned NU’s Innovation, Development and Engagement return to Germany, Helen Pitts Award. The IDEA honor recognizes faculty who extend their area of expertise where she studied and enrich the broader Nebraska community. in 2013, for her Fulbright ETA. The IDEA was one of five university system-wide honors announced by NU Pitts, of Lincoln, graduated from President Hank Bounds on April 27. The annual awards recognize faculty UNL’s Honors Program in 2014 whose teaching, research and engagement has had a significant impact on with bachelor’s degrees in students, the German and mathematics and a university and minor in European studies. state. • Kevin Thor – A Stanton native, Waite is founder Thor will return to of UNL’s Drone Vietnam, where he Journalism Lab. volunteered and The lab, which taught English launched in in 2014, for his 2011 and is the Fulbright ETA. He Kevin Thor first of its kind, graduated in May is designed to with bachelor’s degrees in explore how Matt Waite, a professor of practice in journalism and mass communica- communication studies and tions, has earned the IDEA honor from the University of Nebraska. drones could be Waite is founder of UNL’s Drone Journalism Lab. management. used for reporting. Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communications • Josh Valdez – An aspiring Students and international faculty in the human rights lab build drone lawyer, Valdez will platforms, using them to research the ethical, legal and regulatory issues travel to Russia for involved in using pilotless aircraft to do journalism. his Fulbright ETA. Since he joined the faculty in 2011, Waite and his students have used Valdez, of Lincoln, Josh Valdez drones to report news in six countries on three continents. graduated in May Waite regularly speaks about the legal and ethical complexities of using with bachelor’s degrees in French drones at conferences around the world and is frequently consulted by media and Russian. organizations about their potential. He also teaches courses in data journalism, Victoria Chraibi, Emma DeVries, web development and the intersection of storytelling and technology. Johnica Morrow and Mariah Wailes, He created an open learning lab for students called Maker Hours, helped all of Lincoln, have been named develop an interdisciplinary minor in informatics and serves on the publications alternates. This status indicates that a board of the Daily Nebraskan. candidate could be offered an award if Waite previously was a hybrid programmer/journalist for the St. Petersburg additional funding becomes available. Times, where he developed PolitiFact, a website that fact checks what politicians say. The site became the first website awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2009. Before becoming a web developer, Waite was an award- winning investigative reporter. CONNECTION BOX – Melissa Lee, NU Central Administration dronejournalismlab.org/

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 11 UNIVERSITY UPDATE

The 2015 December commencement ceremonies begin at . UNL is one of the nation’s best four-year institutions in substantially improving graduation rates for African-American students, a newly released national report shows. Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communications

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS UNL a Leader in Improving Black Student Grad Rates

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln for traditionally underserved and underrepresented minority students. is one of the nation’s best four-year underrepresented minority students. In recent years, UNL has created institutions in substantially improving The first report, published in several retention programs and services, graduation rates for African-American December 2015, showed that UNL led including the Office of First Year students, a new national report shows. the nation in narrowing completion gaps Experience and Transition Programs, UNL was No. 11 among four-year between white and underrepresented the Military and Veteran Success public institutions in the report, minority students over the same 10- Center, the First Husker Program authored by the national advocacy year timespan. for first generation students and group The Education Trust. The Amy Goodburn, UNL’s associate the implementation of the MyPLAN university is underlined for its 10-point vice chancellor for academic affairs advising system. reduction in the achievement gap and interim dean of enrollment Initiatives and programs to provide between white and black students management, said the university’s gains academic and social support for between 2003 and 2013. In that can be attributed to several factors, African-American students began with timeframe, UNL saw a 4.5 percent including efforts to boost retention the creation of the Culture Center in increase in overall graduation rates and of all students, and special programs the early 1970s. While this program a 13.7 percent increase in graduation that focus on mentoring and support began with support from the Athletic rates for African-American students. for underrepresented minority and Department, the value and need for The report, published March first-generation students. For instance, this support system was realized by the 23, is titled “Rising Tide II: Do OASIS – the Office of Academic larger university community, said Jake Black Students Benefit as Grad Success and Intercultural Services Kirkland, director of OASIS and the Rates Increase?” and is the second – and the William H. Thompson Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center. comprehensive Education Trust study Scholars Learning Community both More recent student support programs, in recent months to note how UNL has provide academic success classes, such as OASIS and the Gaughan stood out in peer mentors and program staff, Center, are the beneficiaries of the CONNECTION BOX improving and social, academic and cultural creation of the Culture Center. graduation programming for students who receive – Steve Smith, University edtrust.org/resource/risingtideii/ rates various scholarships, many of whom are Communications

12 SUMMER 2016 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION UNIVERSITY Cather Nephew Leaves $5.8 Million to UNL UPDATE

• Support for the university’s Charles Cather also donated to the scholarly programming on Cather, University of Nebraska his personal such as conferences and property related to his aunt that seminars, as well as assistance on contained her manuscripts, including Cather-related creative activities, the beginning of her last novel, letters, such as collaborations with medals and inscribed first editions of musicians and other artists. her work. These items were publicly Founded in 2002 by the UNL announced by the university in 2011 Department of English, the Cather shortly after Charles Cather’s death. Project supports research and teaching The University of Nebraska has the that focuses on the life and work of largest Cather archive in the world. The Willa Cather. The Willa Cather Archive, author graduated from the university in Charles Cather sponsored by the UNL Center for Digital 1895 and died in 1947. Her novels, Research in the Humanities, aims to such as “O Pioneers,” “My Antonia” create a rich, useful and accessible and “Song of the Lark,” recognized The nephew of renowned author Willa digital site for the study of Cather’s life frontier life on the Great Plains. She Cather has bequeathed $5.8 million to and writings. was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1923 support leading Cather initiatives at the for “One of Ours.” University of Nebraska-Lincoln. – Robb Crouch, NU Foundation Charles E. Cather left an estate gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to create endowed funds that will provide annual support for the university’s many Cather initiatives. The funds will be used collaboratively by UNL Libraries, the Willa Cather Archive, the Department of English and the Cather Project. The gift will enable the university to focus on various Cather programs and initiatives, including: • Support for digital resources that are either scholarly or educational, the Cather special collections and public programs that team with other organizations on Cather events and community outreach; • Student support in the form of stipends or awards for under- graduate and graduate students studying Willa Cather; • Support for the Willa Cather Scholarly Edition, the major scholarly publication of Cather’s work published in partnership with the Cather Project and the University of Nebraska Press;

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 13 COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY UPDATE Ankerson Named Architecture Dean

Katherine Ankerson, cross-disciplinary resource Lighting Across the [Design] professor and head engagement, the value Curriculum. Ankerson just completed a of the Department of of design and making, three-year term of elected presidential Interior Architecture and embracing leadership with the North American and Product Design new technologies organization, Interior Design Educators at Kansas State in addition to Council. She is a CIDA site visitor and University, became strengthening the education member of the Nuckolls dean of the University traditional design Lighting Fund board of directors. of Nebraska- tools. Ankerson also held academic Lincoln College of She is an award- positions at Radford University and Architecture July 1. winning author, Washington State University after Prior to her tenure and as lead of the spending many years as a practicing at K-State, she was Katherine Ankerson 20th Anniversary architect and designer. She received a professor and Nuckolls Lighting her bachelor of science in architecture associate dean in the UNL college from Grant, she worked with nine other and bachelor of architecture from 1996 to 2011. educators in architecture, engineering Washington State. She also earned a A strong proponent of design and interior design representing four master’s degree in architecture from education, Ankerson said she believes major universities to initiate and Washington State. in the potency of interdisciplinary and produce the award-winning web-based

UNL DEPARTMENT OF ART AND ART HISTORY ‘UNL Alumni Artists 1974-1978’ on Display this Summer

Forty-three alumni from the The participating alumni this Slade, Lawson Smith, University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s year include: Ron Anderson, Timothy L. Solien, Department of Art and Art History will Judith (Schweitzer) Andre, Mary Christine M. Stalder, show their work this summer in the E. Bartek, Bill H. Burk, Anne Douglas R. Stanley, BJ exhibition titled “UNL Alumni Artists Burkholder, Nancy K. Childs, Stych, Melvin M. Tingley, 1974-1978” in the Eisentrager- Sharon Lacy Cech, Rayna D. Christina M. Willey, Robert Howard Gallery at Richards Hall. Collins, Carl Coniglio, Rebecca J. Wilson and Saundra P. The exhibition opened May 16 and R. Cooper, Carol Crawford, Zieg. continues through Aug. 5 in the gallery, Karen N. Dienstbier, Gregory Admission to the which is located on the first floor of J. Eilers, Florence E. Flynn, Eisentrager-Howard Richards Hall. Visitors can stop by Rm. Mary K. Foree, Mary P. Gubbels, Gallery is free and open to 120 of Richards Hall Monday-Friday Nancy Heiser, Glenn J. Hild, the public. Richards Hall is between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for access Kristin A. Hoffman, Karen M. located at Stadium Drive to the gallery. Honaker, Susan G. Horn, Sheila and T streets on the UNL The Department of Art and Art A. Hubbard, Thomas G. Hubbell, city campus. History solicited alumni who graduated Karen S. Kunc, John Kudlacek, from UNL between 1974-1978 to Ilona A. Lefler, Nena S. St. Louis, send artwork for the exhibition. The Douglas S. Martin, Lawrence exhibition will be repeated in future D. McFarland, William J. Opp, Thomas G. Hubbell, “Cross Town years with different graduation dates Harry Orlyk, William D. Shaffer, Traffic,” wood-fired porcelain extrusions and slabs, press- included. Jonathan M. Shepard, Terry L. molded with coil, 23” x 6”, 2015.

14 SUMMER 2016 UNIVERSITY UPDATE

(From left) Christopher McCune; Matthew Beio, a UNL graduate student in chemistry; and David Berkowitz are UNL researchers who helped develop a molecule that may inhibit DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY a stroke-related enzyme. Photo by Troy Fedderson, University Communications Researchers Design Molecule that Suppresses Stroke-related Enzyme

Research teams separated by 14 hours and 9,000 miles have collaborated to develop a molecule that can inhibit an enzyme linked with the onset of stroke. UNL chemists partnered with medical researchers from the National University of Singapore on the work. Most strokes occur when a disruption of blood flow prevents oxygen and This graphic depicts a new inhibitor, 6S, locking up an enzyme (red) to block the production of glucose from reaching brain tissue, hydrogen sulfide (yellow and white). Hydrogen sulfide concentrations have been shown to climb ultimately killing neurons and after the onset of a stroke, leading to brain damage. Graphic by Matthew Beio, UNL other cells. The team found that its molecule, known as 6S, reduced the ended up latching onto the biology,” the study could streamline the more death of brain tissue by as much as Berkowitz said. “It’s actually been general production of enzyme-targeting 66 percent when administered to the really fun. These are two kinds of inhibitors. cerebrum of a rat that had recently science that are pretty far apart, and “We started out with a very suffered a stroke. that’s probably the most exciting fundamental-science perspective on It also appeared to reduce thing about this: the interdisciplinary understanding the chemistry of this the inflammation that typically nature.” whole class of vitamin B6-dependent accompanies stroke, which the World Because the 6S inhibitor has enzymes,” he said. “We’re in a good Health Organization has estimated kills demonstrated its effects in cell cultures place now because that science has more than 6 million people annually. and the brain tissue of rats, Berkowitz allowed us to make these inhibitors To test the effectiveness of the 6S cautioned that it represents just an and many others. We’re now working molecule in treating stroke, Berkowitz initial step toward developing a stroke- on several enzymes that may represent and fellow UNL chemist Christopher treating drug for humans. However, he important targets for translation of the McCune reached out to Peter Wong, said the proof-of-principle experiments basic inhibitor chemistry into truly professor of pharmacology at the effectively illustrate the concept’s therapeutic goals.” National University of Singapore. promise. – Scott Schrage, University “Peter ended up latching onto the Berkowitz also expressed optimism Communications chemistry more than we did, and we that the synthesis method detailed in

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 15 UNIVERSITY UPDATE

A Sheldon Museum of Art employee shoots a photo of Edward Hopper’s “Room in New York” as part of a demonstration held during an April celebration of the museum’s digitization project.

SHELDON MUSEUM OF ART Sheldon Enters Final Phase of Digitization

Sheldon Museum of Art is using million building somewhere close by, completed in phases through small pixels rather than bricks and mortar to we have decided to spend much less to grants, starting with funds from expand access to its collection. create an online database that will be the Cooper Foundation in 2013 to The University of Nebraska-Lincoln available to the world.” purchase a collections database. A museum has launched a digitization The project is budgeted to cost less second grant from the Henry Luce initiative that will create an online than $130,000 – or, about $10 for Foundation funded high-resolution database featuring images and every piece of art in the collection. photos of approximately 8,200 works detailed information about each of the The digitization process is fairly on paper. A current grant from the items in its collection. The database simple, yet time consuming. High- National Endowment for the Arts is – which will expand the museum’s resolution photos with colors enabling the museum to photograph limited online collection resource – is matched precisely to each piece of paintings. scheduled for completion in late fall. art are recorded and combined with Sheldon is seeking public support “With 12,866 items in the information – size, medium, purchase for the fourth and final phase of the collection, this museum certainly price, etc. – the museum has on project, which will make the collection has a lot to show people,” Wally file for each art piece. The photos accessible to the public via the Mason, director of the Sheldon, and related information will then be searchable, online database. said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have entered into a searchable database For more information on the project sufficient room in the museum to show and made available online. Museum or how to offer support, send email to every item in staff are working with University [email protected] or call 402- CONNECTION BOX the collection. Communications to build the online 472-1366. So, rather than database. – Troy Fedderson, University sheldonartgallery.org/give build a $100 The digitization project has been Communications

16 SUMMER 2016 MORRILL HALL, IQSC, SHELDON UNIVERSITY Campus Museums Participate in Blue Star Program UPDATE

The University of Nebraska State Museum-Morrill Hall, Geneva Convention common access International Quilt Study Center and Museum, and Sheldon card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID) or DD Museum of Art are three of more than 2,000 museums Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. across America to offer free admission to military personnel military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard and their families this summer in collaboration with the – as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and NOAA Department of Defense. Commissioned Corps – and up to five family members. The three museums will offer free admission to active duty Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be military personnel including the National Guard and Reserve included in the free-admission and their families through Labor Day as part of the Blue Star program. For questions on CONNECTION BOX Museums program. particular exhibits or museums, arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums The free admission program is available to anyone with a contact the museum directly.

WALT WHITMAN ARCHIVE Price Key in IDing Rare Whitman Letter

As one of the world’s foremost Walt Whitman scholars, UNL professor Ken Price can easily identify the handwriting of the famous 19th- century poet, essayist and journalist – Ken Price from his unusual upstroke on the letter “d” to the peculiar way he made the letter “x” to a host of other signs that, infantryman dying of tuberculosis in a “His work in the hospitals was taken together, clearly show evidence Washington, D.C., hospital shortly after extraordinary,” Price said. “Hospitals of Whitman’s pen. the Civil War. The letter, and Price’s were very dangerous places in the Civil “It’s something that, both holistically role in assisting in its authentication, War, so his time spent visiting soldiers and specifically, you recognize when made national headlines. was courageous and generous. Few you see it,” said Price, the Hillegass The January 1866 note, found last writers would have sacrificed such an University Professor of American winter in the archives by a research enormous amount of time at the height literature at UNL. librarian, was written neatly in ink and of a literary career.” So when the head of the National is among only three Whitman-scribed In addition to being protected Archives contacted him on a recent “soldier letters” known to exist. It at the National Archives, the letter Sunday evening asking Price for his will now be housed in a vault at the will be digitized and entered into opinion on a newly discovered “soldier National Archives with other valuable the digital Walt Whitman Archive, a letter” suspected to be in Whitman’s documents. long-term effort to edit Whitman’s hand, it didn’t take long for Price to The discovery is important because work on the web. Price co-directs the deliver a definitive verdict. of its rarity as well as its touching Whitman Archive with Ed Folsom of the Price was able to swiftly authenticate nature, said Price, who is also the University of Iowa. the letter, which Whitman penned on co-director of the Center for Digital – Steve Smith, University behalf of a New Hampshire Research in the Humanities at UNL. Communications

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 17 UNIVERSITY UPDATE

Taikoproject’s “Interlocking Rhythms”

HIXSON-LIED COLLEGE OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS 2016-17 Lied Center Season Announced

The Lied Center for Performing Arts’ • Oct. 28: Sandy Hackett’s “Rat Pack • April 2: Richard Goode, piano 2016-17 season will feature country Show” • April 4: Momix’s “Opus Cactus” star Clint Black, blues legend Buddy • Nov. 13: Ingrid Fliter, piano • April 7: The Midtown Men Guy, violinist Itzhak Perlman, the • Nov. 30: Sara Watkins • April 20: “Defying Gravity,” starring political satire group The Capitol Steps • Dec. 5: “Rhapsody in Black” Stephen Schwartz and holiday concerts by Canadian • Dec. 9: Brian Regan • April 22: Itzhak Perlman, violin Brass and Mannheim Steamroller. • Dec. 10: “Canadian Brass • April 30: Russian National Ballet The season will open Sept. 30 with Christmas” Theatre’s “Sleeping Beauty” Broadway, film and television star Idina • Dec. 20: “Mannheim Steamroller • May 18: Joey Alexander Trio Menzel and close with a six-show run Christmas” by Chip Davis • May 31-June 3: Roald Dahl’s of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical,” • Jan. 27-29: Rodgers and “Matilda the Musical” May 31 to June 3. Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” Season ticket packages (four or more The Glenn Korff Broadway Series • Feb. 7: Lucas Debargue, piano events with varying discounts), except also will bring in top musicals • Feb. 8-12: “Late Night Catechism” for the Menzel concert, went on sale “Once,” Rogers and Hammerstein’s • Feb. 16-17: “Into The Woods” May 12. Any remaining tickets will “Cinderella,” “Into The Woods,” • Feb. 22: Elephant and Piggie’s “We be available for single-event purchase “Mamma Mia” and “Defying Gravity.” Are in a Play” starting Aug. 16. Season ticket orders The Lied Center’s full 2016-17 • Feb. 23-24: Gabriel Kahane can be placed online, by phone at season is: • March 3-5: “Mamma Mia!” 402-472-4747 or at the Lied Center • Sept. 28: Sounds of China (special • March 9: Heather Henson’s “Crane: box office, 301 N. 12th St. event) On Earth, In Sky” Tickets for Menzel’s concert became • Sept. 30: “An Evening with Idina • March 17: Trinity Irish Dance available in early June as part of a Menzel” Company Broadway Fan Club season ticket • Oct. 7-8: “Once” • March 18: “An Evening with Buddy order, and any remaining tickets will • Oct. 12: Travis Wall’s “Shaping Guy” be available for purchase individually Sound” • March 24: Riders in the Sky starting in July. • Oct. 21: The Capitol Steps • March 26: Boston Pops Esplanade – Carrie Christensen, Lied Center for • Oct. 23: Clint Black Orchestra Performing Arts • Oct. 25: “Twyla Tharp: 50th • March 31: Taikoproject’s Anniversary Tour” “Interlocking Rhythms”

18 SUMMER 2016 ALUMNI AWARDS Nebraska Alumni Association Awards Nominations

Nebraska Alumni Association Awards Program The alumni awards program is designed to recognize outstanding alumni, students and former faculty from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in several categories.

Alumni Achievement Award Shane Osborn Student Leadership Award/Scholarship Established in 1974, the Alumni Achievement Award honors alumni Established in 2002, this award honors Lieutenant Shane J. Osborn, a who have a record of outstanding achievements in a career and/or civic UNL Naval ROTC graduate who on April 1, 2001 courageously piloted involvement. The association seeks to recognize alumni at all stages of a U.S. reconnaissance plane to a safe crash landing after it was hit by their lives and careers, including young alumni. two Chinese fighters. Subsequently, Lt. Osborn endured an aggressive interrogation and, along with the rest of his crew, eleven days of captivity Outstanding International Alumnus Award by the Chinese government. The award is not limited to students Established in 2006, this award honors alumni who were non-U.S. with ROTC involvement. The winner of the award will also receive a citizens during their attendance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln scholarship stipend. and who have attained national/international prominence through their efforts in education, sciences, technology, agriculture, the arts, business, Howard and Judy Vann Student Leadership Award/Scholarship humanities, government or other world endeavors. Established in 1998, the Howard and Judy Vann Student Leadership Award recognizes undergraduate students who have shown exceptional Alumni Family Tree Award leadership capabilities through energetic participation in student Established in 1995, the Alumni Family Tree Award honors one family activities, commendable classroom performance, and the personal per year that has at least three generations of University of Nebraska- integrity, perseverance and sense of honor demonstrated by those who Lincoln graduates and at least two family members with a record of successfully lead their peers. The winner of this award will also receive a outstanding service to the university, the alumni association, their scholarship stipend. community and/or their profession. Doc Elliott Award Distinguished Service Award Established in 1986 to honor a retired University of Nebraska-Lincoln Established in 1940, the Distinguished Service Award recognizes alumni faculty or staff member who has exhibited a record of exemplary service, who have a record of distinguished service to the Nebraska Alumni whose caring has made a difference in the lives of students and alumni Association and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. and who has gone beyon d traditional expectations. Recipients must be former faculty or staff members of UNL who have been retired at least five years.

RULES: 1. Recipients MUST attend the awards ceremony to receive an award. If a recipient is unable to attend during the year in which they were selected, they may defer to the following year. 2. The fact that an individual has previously received an alumni association award in another category does not preclude him/her from receiving another award. 3. The awards committee will accept nominations from any alumnus, friend or alumni affiliate organization of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 4. The awards committee retains and considers nominations for three years or until selected. 5. If a recipient is deceased, a representative of the family may accept the award. 6. The deadline for submitting nominations is November 1 of each year.

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Complete the award nomination form. Be sure to indicate for which award you are placing this nomination. 2. Submit a letter of nomination describing the nominee’s accomplishments and why you believe he/she is deserving of the award. 3. Send the completed form and the letter of nomination to: Alumni Awards, Nebraska Alumni Association, 1520 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-1651. Nominations may also be placed online at huskeralum.org.

Nominators will be notified of their candidate’s status whether or not they are selected for the award. This notification generally happens in December. Only nominees who are chosen to receive an award will be notified of their selection/nomination.

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 19 Education and Human Sciences. Programs n Prem Paul, vice chancellor for research and hosted there include audiology, speech- economic development, received the lifetime language pathology and special education. achievement award from the University CAMPUS The center is also home to the Barkley Speech Industry Demonstration Partnership. n Language Hearing Clinic, HearU Nebraska and David von Kampen, a lecturer of composition BRIEFS the Lion’s Club and Sertoma Club hearing aid in the Glenn Korff School of Music, has banks. n Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical been selected as the 2015 Music Teachers Park opened for its 25th-anniversary season National Association Distinguished Composer May 3. The 360-acre park near Royal is home of the Year. n Yvonne Lai, assistant professor to skeletons of prehistoric animals, including of mathematics, and Joe Louis, assistant APPOINTMENTS rhinos, camels, three-toed horses and professor of entomology, were presented with birds – preserved in the area where volcanic the Harold and Esther Edgerton Junior Faculty ash killed them 12 million years ago. The Award during Spring Honors Convocation at paleontology treasure is a joint project of the UNL. n Maureen Honey, professor of English, University of Nebraska State Museum and received the Annis Chaikin Sorensen Award the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. for Outstanding Teaching in the Humanities. n The National Drought Mitigation Center n Willa Cather/Charles Bessey professorships celebrated its 20th anniversary April 22. The have been awarded to Gwendolyn Foster, center was established in 1995 to develop Willa Cather Professor of English; Rodney and implement measures to reduce drought Moxley, Charles Bessey Professor of Veterinary vulnerability across the United States. Among Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; some of the tools the center has played a Melanie Simpson, Willa Cather Professor of role in or developed over the years are: the Biochemistry; and Kimberly Tyler, Willa Cather U.S. Drought Monitor, U.S. Drought Impact Professor of Sociology. n Martha Mamo, Sonia Feigenbaum Reporter, Drought Risk Atlas, VegDRI and professor of agronomy and horticulture, a suite of web-based drought management was named the John E. Weaver Professor decision-making tools. of Agronomy and Horticulture. n Susan J. n Sonia Feigenbaum, associate provost for Rosowski Professorships were given to Mehmet global engagement at Brown University, Can Vuran, associate professor of computer has been named UNL’s new associate vice KUDOS science and engineering; and Kathleen Moritz chancellor for international engagement n William G. Thomas III, John and Catherine Rudasill, associate professor of educational and global strategies, beginning Aug. 15. Angle Professor in the Humanities at UNL, psychology. n Special awards for teaching Feigenbaum succeeds David Wilson, who has earned a John Simon Guggenheim and service went to Linda Schwartzkopf Fultz, returned to the faculty in late 2015. n Memorial Foundation Fellowship. Thomas director of Greek Affairs, who received the Peter McCornick, deputy director general has been a pioneer in digital history with James V. Griesen Chancellor’s Award for for research at the International Water such projects as the History Harvest and Exemplary Service to Students; William Lopez, Management Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Virginia Center for Digital History at the professor of practice of teaching, learning and has been named the next executive director University of Virginia, and as a co-editor of teacher education, who received the Donald of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food the award-winning digital project Valley of the R. and Mary Lee Swanson Award for Teaching Institute at the University of Nebraska. He Shadow: Two Communities in the American Excellence; and John Ballard, emeritus will assume his new role Sept. 1, succeeding Civil War. professor of industrial and management WFI’s founding executive director, Roberto systems engineering, who received the James Lenton. n Robert Ladislas Derr, associate O’Hanlon Academic Leader Award. n Louise professor of art, undergraduate chair and Pound-George Howard Distinguished Career photography area coordinator at Ohio Awards went to Frances Kaye, professor of State University, is the new chair of UNL’s English; and Harvey Perlman, UNL chancellor Department of Art and Art History. He replaces and Harvey and Susan Perlman Alumni Pete Pinnell, who has served as chair since Professor of Law. n Kelly Payne, chief 2011. undergraduate adviser in the Department of English, received the Dr. Charles Riedesel ANNIVERSARIES Outstanding Academic Advising Award. n n The Barkley Memorial Center on East Leslie Gonzalez, academic adviser and recruiter Campus celebrated 40 years of service for the College of Architecture, received the this spring. The Barkley Center houses Foundation Builder’s Award for Outstanding the Department of Special Education and Academic Advising. n Michael Dodd, Communication Disorders in the College of William G. Thomas III associate professor of psychology, received the Outstanding Undergraduate Research

20 SUMMER 2016 Mentor Award. n Winners of the 2016 College coordinator of the graduate program in visual Awards for Distinguished Teaching are: impairments, has been awarded a grant of College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural nearly $1.1 million from the U.S. Department Resources – Erin Blankenship, professor of Education’s Office of Special Education of statistics; College of Arts and Science Programs. Savaiano will use the personnel – Chad E. Brassil, associate professor of preparation grant to train at least 30 graduate biological sciences; Jeannette Jones, associate students to teach children and youth with professor of history and ethnic studies; sensory disabilities. n Xia Hong, assistant Jody Koenig Kellas, associate professor of professor of physics and astronomy, received communication studies; Nora Martin Peterson, a five-year, $750,262Faculty Early Career assistant professor of modern languages and Development Program Award to help her pursue literatures; Jordan Soliz, associate professor of nanoscale control of extremely thin films and communication studies; and Jeffrey Stevens, pair them with two-dimensional materials to assistant professor of psychology. College of expand the versatility of technologies ranging Jian Zhang Business Administration – Jake Messersmith, from solar cells to transistors. n By marrying associate professor of marketing; College of the inorganic with the organic and the rigid Education and Human Sciences – Edward with the stretchable, UNL chemist Stephen Program Award from the National Science Daly III, professor of educational psychology; Morin has begun crafting hybrid materials Foundation to develop an organic-based Elizabeth Lewis, associate professor of that could find use in technologies ranging catalyst that uses the sun’s energy to facilitate teaching, learning and teacher education; from soft electronics to soft robotics. Morin chemical reactions. His work could one day and Scott A. Napolitano, associate professor of lead to cleaner fuel production. n CME Group practice of educational psychology; College Foundation of Chicago has given a $500,000 of Engineering – Sohrab Asgarpoor, professor grant to the Clayton K. Yeutter Institute of electrical and computer engineering; and of International Trade and Finance at the Deepak Keshwani, associate professor of University of Nebraska-Lincoln to support a biological systems engineering; College of Law new biennial symposium. n Simanti Banerjee, – William Lyons, professor of law; Hixson-Lied assistant professor of agricultural economics College of Fine and Performing Arts – Stanley at UNL, has received a four-year, $498,641 V. Kleppinger, associate professor of music grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture theory. to study the effectiveness of conservation auction policies. n A Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant is helping Terri Norton expand her GRANTS & GIFTS research into disaster debris management. n A grant of nearly $2.8 million awarded The associate professor in UNL’s Durham to UNL professor Steven Barlow will be School of Architectural Engineering and Stephen Morin used to study the link between the brain’s Construction will use the award to research molecular pathways and the development Japan’s faster-than-expected recovery from a of oral feeding skills in extremely preterm will expand his efforts to seamlessly combine devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011. infants. Barlow, Corwin Moore Professor in hard and soft materials with the help of a Norton plans to use the information to help UNL’s Department of Special Education five-year, $649,474Faculty Early Career people around the world. n UNL alumnus and Communication Disorders, will lead the Development Program Award from the National and former employee Ronald J. Lockard of five-year, multi-site study that will examine Science Foundation. n Jiantao Guo, assistant McKinney, Texas, has made a $100,000 gift 180 preterm infants born between 24-27 professor of chemistry, earned a five-year, to provide support for computer science and weeks at neonatal intensive care units at $622,320 Faculty Early Career Development engineering students in the UNL College of CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, Tufts Program Award from the National Science Arts and Sciences. The gift establishes the Medical Center in Boston and Santa Clara Foundation to further his work on a promising Lockard Family Scholarship and Fellowship Fund Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California. new method for incorporating new amino acids at the University of Nebraska Foundation. n UNL sociology professors Kirk Dombrowski into proteins. n Hongfeng Yu, Yufeng Ge and and Bilal Kahn have earned a three-year, $1.2 Harkamal Walia have received a $534,194 million grant from the National Institutes of National Science Foundation grant to develop Health to build a smartphone application and a multi-wavelength laser ranging and imaging software that will analyze people’s behaviors, instrument for phenotyping plant shoots social networks and relationships in real to identify opportunities to improve crop time. They will co-lead an interdisciplinary performance. n Jian Zhang, assistant professor team to develop ODIN, short for Open of chemistry, recently earned a five-year, Dynamic Interaction Networks. n Mackenzie $527,154 Faculty Early Career Development Savaiano, assistant professor of practice and

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 21 PROFILE WINNER, honorable mention 2015 Writing Contest

Kelly (Uhl) Riibe graduated from UNL in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism (advertising and public relations). Her undergraduate days were spent making lots of lifelong friends and also working at the Nebraska Law College within their career services department. Currently Kelly is the co-creater and a writer for www.familyfootnote.com, a blog she started with a good friend and fellow UNL alum. It is about motherhood and all things family. In addition to her blogging duties, Kelly is a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer. She lives in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, with her husband (Gary), three kids (Mia, Mallory and Graham) and their Jack Russell Terrier.

Not Your ORD-inary Brew A Profile on Alumnus Caleb Pollard

By Kelly Riibe, ’03

University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumnus Caleb Pollard has two passions in life. They are rural Nebraska and craft beer, and he has happily merged the two by opening Scratchtown Brewing Company in Ord, Nebraska. “I like to say we can take the Sandhills on a beer drinking journey,” explained the 2003 graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences. Riibe Pollard’s path to beer making did not begin at UNL; however, his interest in rural economic development did get sparked during his undergrad days. Initially an environmental studies major, he switched his major to an individualized program of study that dealt with natural resource policy and community development after an internship at the Nebraska Unicameral and some assistance from Professor Bob Kuzelka. “That was fantastic. It really got me back on track,” said the Theta Xi member. After graduation Pollard began working in the private sector, while picking up the hobby of home brewing in his basement. Travel, for business and pleasure, also allowed him and his wife to make frequent stops at wineries and breweries across the country. “I just kind of fell in love with the craft beer culture and

22 SUMMER 2016 Imperial Porter. It is set for distribution throughout the eastern third of Nebraska. “I’ve probably got close to 100 (stores) that want us,” said Pollard, who had to wait 18 months before implementing a larger distribution plan due to high taproom sales. In addition to handling distribution, Pollard is also president of the company. However, due to an old promise, he holds a more interesting title. “I had a group of friends, that when we were getting out of college and going into the real world, we all made a pact that the first person to own his own business would make his job title, the Chief Mover of Units,” said Pollard who is listed this way on the beer company’s website. The Scratchtown Brewing Company family gathered for His duties include marketing, managing, brew their first bottle release party in January 2015. They are making, floor sweeping, bathroom cleaning, (left to right): Mike and Julie Klimek, Christina and Caleb beer pouring and more. Pollard’s work commute Pollard, Michelle and Jade Stunkel. Courtesy photo. is a three-minute bicycle ride, and he proudly knows almost every local customer to frequent his establishment. really enjoyed making home brew,” explained the farm boy from Since opening, the partners have made around 45 different Nehawka. beer batches. While it is hard to pick a favorite, Pollard is After working in Omaha and Lincoln for several years, particularly fond of their “Prairie Fire Smoked Schwarzbier,” Pollard wanted to return to a more rural setting. In 2008 he which is a smoked German black lager. It is noted to be dark took a job as the executive director at Valley County Economic colored, with a light and smoky barbecue flavor. Development and the Ord Area Chamber of Commerce. During “It pairs really well with smoked meat and game,” said Pollard, this time Pollard met Scratchtown’s chief brewer, Mike Klimek. who served the beer for their “Scratch-Patty’s Day” event in He helped Klimek find a job through his office’s employee March. placement program. Klimek wanted to buy Pollard a beer in Scratchtown also had fun creating a cream ale, called “Popcorn appreciation, but both were disgruntled that there was no where Daze,” for North Loup’s annual popcorn festival last summer. It to go locally for a craft brew. They had to settle for visiting one was lighter in taste and made with locally air-popped popcorn another at home and drinking their own recipes. Weekly home from Nebraska’s Valley County. brewing sessions soon became a tradition. “It tasted like a hint of popcorn after you took a drink,” “That’s really kind of where things got started,” said Pollard Pollard said. who categorizes Klimek as a “lights-out” beer technician. Another one of Scratchtown’s unique brews recently took The two men and their third partner, Jade Stunkel, came second place at Nebraska’s Hop Fest in La Vista. It was a dark together and saw a need to bring something special to the area. rye IPA, made from 100 percent Nebraska hops. They lost first They built a downtown brewery in October of 2014. Since place by one vote to Omaha’s Upstream Brewery. Pollard was its inception, the taproom has been serving beer to customers happy with their strong showing, but wants more. who typically have a standing-room-only option. They are open “I want to be recognized as one of the best breweries in the three days a week and have no outside investors. The focus is on country, not just one of the best breweries in rural Nebraska,” staying small and true to themselves. said the father of two. “I believe you take care of home first,” emphasized Pollard Pollard has intentions of who wants to keep the taproom a priority, so Ord can continue winning a gold medal at to flourish. the Great American Beer The brewery has boosted tax values and tourism, while also Festival. He also looks contributing to manufacturing jobs. The partners have their own forward to continued hop garden, and buy local ingredients whenever possible. They growth, and introducing celebrated their one-year anniversary with a “Scratchtober Fest” new customers to Ord celebration. Local hotels were sold out, and the taproom poured and all it can offer. beer for more than 600 patrons. “I want to prove Currently only two brew batches have been made for bottling. to people that rural The first is an Oatmeal Imperial Stout, that gets sold “to go” Nebraska is awesome, in the taproom only. The brew comes with high praise and an and I think making even higher alcohol content. It is described as a dessert beer. great beer out here is Scratchtown’s second bottled batch is their popular Black Eye one way to do that.” v

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 23 NOSTALGIA WINNER, Honorable Mention-Student DAYS 2015 Writing Contest

Robert Kerr, a 1984 graduate of UNL, is in his 30th year of teaching history at Hastings Senior High School. For hobbies, he still does distance running, and he began learning guitar at age 49. Kerr lives with his wife, Michelle (UNL 1992), and three children in Hastings.

‘What Can I Get You?’ By Robert Kerr, ’84

Kerr (second from right) posed with some of his Selleck snack bar co-workers in 1982.

24 SUMMER 2016 My earliest recollection of the it tasted OK, even if it looked dormitory snack bars at UNL strange, and sat down to finish goes back to my freshman year the milk. Whew! in early September of 1980. My Beyond the chance to meet roommate, John, decided a trip others, the snack bar was to the snack bar would provide a entertaining due to the “regulars” welcome break from our studies who lived in Selleck and came in Harper Hall. by every night. When we went “Can I help you?” asked to refillable cups as a way to sell the girl with the bandana tied more drinks at a lower price, around her hair. “I’ll have a hot while also reducing paper cup dog and a cookie,” replied John. use, one student got in the habit (Big cookies were apparently a of seeing how far from down the new item that year and they had hallway he could launch his cup Marge Shriver, shown here with Robert Kerr, obviously caught the attention of and have it reach me in the air. I supervised the snack bars for UNL Housing. my roommate.) As she turned to still remember the spin he would fill his order, the girl said, “A hot put on it each time he threw it. By Robert Kerr, ’84 dog and a cookie? That’s a weird Then there was Steve, a combination!” character who lived for the chance to throw peanut M&Ms he Amused by her editorial comment on his order, my roommate had just purchased into the popcorn bin as we filled a bag for the and I just looked at each other and laughed. Little did I know at next customer. A few ice cubes tossed in his direction were our the time that I would find myself working at a campus snack bar main line of defense. Another student always referred to our “Big the very next year. Red Burger” as a “Big Dead Bug Burger” when ordering. And the Looking for ways to help pay for school, I took a part-time girl at Harper thought a hot dog and a cookie was a weird request! position in the maintenance department in Selleck Hall. What I I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that one of the best parts didn’t realize until my first day on the job was that my main task of working at the snack bar were the people with whom I worked. entailed spraying out the trash bins that collected garbage from At the top of the list would be Marge (Seymour) Shriver, who the chutes on each floor. Disgusting, hot and wet are the words supervised the snack bars on campus from her position in UNL that sum up that experience. Housing. She set high expectations for student workers, but also As I walked through the basement of Selleck after clocking let you know she cared about you. Her office door was always out, a sign attached to the snack bar counter immediately caught open for advice or just a friendly conversation. my attention: “Help Wanted.” The rest is history. From October The list of fellow student co-workers is too long to list, but of 1981 until I left college to begin my teaching career, Selleck’s Kathy, Ann and Dan are among those who made the job seem snack bar would be a constant in my life. more like fun than work. Of the many friendships that endure Simply put, the Selleck snack bar was a great place to work. from my college days, most originated at the snack bar. While it never seemed to have the aura or reputation of Cather- It may be hard to believe in this day of skyrocketing expenses Pound-Neihardt’s “The Pub,” Selleck nevertheless sat more in the for college (I speak from experience as my oldest son is currently heart of campus. As a result, I was able to make the acquaintance enrolled at UNL), but my snack bar paycheck went a long way of students and staff that I otherwise might not have met. toward paying for room, board and tuition. Beyond that, however, For example, the UNL Housing Department was located in the it gave me a sense of responsibility and achievement. Selleck Quadrangle. Dr. Zatechka, or “Dr. Z.” as he was known, I still remember worrying I wouldn’t be up to the challenge director of housing, was a regular afternoon visitor who always when asked to be a shift supervisor at the snack bar. That same greeted us with a friendly word and a smile. feeling hit again when my former manager asked if I wanted to Dave Rimmington, the award-winning center who cleared succeed him as he left for another job. In both cases, I was up to the path for Big Red’s “scoring explosion offense” of Gill, Rozier the challenge and enjoyed the new responsibilities. That set the and Fryar in the early ’80s, occasionally dropped by. A specific pattern of accepting new challenges in my career as a teacher. memory that stands out with regard to him is when he asked me When I last visited Selleck over a year ago, the snack bar had why the milk he had ordered had white flecks floating around been turned into a convenience store setup. Nevertheless, its walls, in it. While my brain flashed images of his ability to pull me tile floor, etc., took me back more than 30 years in time. The over the counter and shake me to within an inch of my life for popcorn and pop machines may be gone, but the memories of having served him funny milk, I explained that we had to freeze my years at the snack bar will last a lifetime. As much as I enjoy unopened milk over semester break to avoid having it spoil. Those teaching, there are days I would gladly trade “Good morning, flakes were the result of thawing it out. The gentle giant said students” for “What can I get you?” v

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 25 NOSTALGIA WINNER, honorable mention-Memorable Professor 2015 Writing Contest The daughter of UNL alums, the late Bernice and Jerry Adam, Jeri Adam Weaver met her husband, Bob, in Love Library, and they both received undergraduate and graduate degrees from UNL in the 1960s. A self-employed communications consultant for many years, Jeri taught communications courses at the University of Georgia and Georgetown University and held management positions at the Washington Post and Harte-Hanks Communications. She is currently director of communications and media services for a Washington, D.C., area church. Married for 45 years, Jeri and Bob have one son, three daughters and two grandsons.

Learning to Fall

By Jerilyn Adam Weaver, ’68, ’69

26 SUMMER 2016 (more than 100) on the masthead of Newsweek maga- zine and then use those as my only language in an improvisational exercise. We learned improvisational skills that weren’t taught anywhere else. He assigned us plays to read and passages to act out. He always partnered me with excellent actors, so I usually got A’s – until our final assignment, when we got to pick our own plays and our own partners. My friend Diane and I chose a passage from “Streetcar Named Desire;” I took the part of Blanche. When we were finished, Morgan said some nice things about our performance, but then announced that Tennes- see Williams was a friend of his, and that he knew the woman after whom the Blanche character was based. Pointing to me, he said, “You were nothing like her!” It was our bad luck to select a play that was written by our professor’s friend. Dr. Morgan and his students in the 1960s. Around that time I got a haircut. (Wanting a change from my long hair, I got what was known back then as a pixie.) The next day Morgan announced to the class, oming into Dr. William Morgan’s acting class each “Some people think they can get cast in a play even if afternoon, we never knew what to expect. To sur- they don’t look the part. They think the company will just buy vive the semester, one had to have a phenomenal them a $3,000 wig and everything will be fine.” He was cast- memory and be cunning, inventive, spontaneous, ing “Cleopatra” at the time, and the only female roles were for quick-thinking and, well, shameless. Cleopatra and her cohorts. I didn’t land a part. Yet the lessons learned from that class transcend the years, and Thinking I could add a fun and easy one-hour theater depart- Cjust last week I heard myself quoting Morgan to some friends ment course to my schedule, I enrolled in Morgan’s class in stage who had never been to Nebraska and had (of course) never heard makeup. Little did I know how much work it would be. We first of him. had to have larger-than-life pictures taken of our faces. Each Standing in front of the class one afternoon back in the 1960s, week we slipped the photos under tracing paper, and designed Morgan was a stoutly dapper figure in a suit, tie and green the makeup for a character in a play. We then made ourselves up, sweater vest. Starting his lecture, he spoke with the formality of copying the drawings. Preparation for this class involved reading a Shakespearean actor. “Beginning actors fall like this,” he said, a play every week, and then responding to Morgan’s detailed hurling himself onto the slick floor and landing with a thud. questions about the play (he had read them all) and about the With one fluid movement he was back on his feet. “Someday, personality of our chosen character – all while we were working when you’re in a Broadway show and have to fall on stage a on our faces. dozen times a week, you’ll have to know how to do it right,” he Morgan was succinct and merciless in his criticism. I re- added, again demonstrating several times how not to do it. member him telling me, “There’s nothing wrong with your face Finished with the “not this” instruction category, he moved except your sausage-like brows.” So, each week for the class I into carefully executing a fall that “landed on the fatty parts of had to arrive early to mix soap and water to create a scum to the body and created a decent noise.” Explaining that a silent fall cover my eyebrows, then wait for the surface to dry, then cover is “too staged” and doesn’t appear authentic, he then selected a it with pancake makeup before doing my assignment. When we few class members to join him on stage so he could push them were fully made up, we all went onto the stage. Under the strong down and they could fall correctly. Soon we were divided into lights, he could usually still see my eyebrows, so he would bellow pairs, pushing one another, falling (correctly and incorrectly) in front of the whole class, “if you ever expect to be a serious and being graded by Morgan as he wove himself through the actress, you’ll have to shave off those brows!” group. Finally, he put the best “fallers” back on stage to demon- Morgan was unimpressed when he learned I had joined the strate their skill, praising those who had mastered the technique. debate team. “You can’t do both,” he told me. And of course he Now that I’m approaching 70, the topic of falling is on my was right. Needless to say, I never made it to Broadway. radar in a different way. Friends of mine have taken classes in After college I drifted away from the theater, teaching univer- how to avoid falling and how to go down correctly if you do lose sity-level communication courses, doing management consult- your balance. Might what I learned in college 50 years ago be of ing, raising children. Throughout those years I continued to use any use? I think so! what I learned in Morgan’s classes. Thanks to him, even today I Of course there is more to acting than falling. Each week we can think on my feet, improvise, keep an audience’s attention, v memorized extensive dialogues and sometimes long passages that do my own makeup and fall without breaking anything. made no sense. I remember having to memorize all the names

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 27 From Nebraska Can Do! to Nigeria

Dozens of colorfully dressed dancers performed a tribute to Natalie Hahn for her efforts in helping Nigerian mothers and their infants.

28 SUMMER 2016 By Tom Nugent

During her 35-year career as an administrator of United Nations-linked development programs, Natalie Hahn (BS ’67) masterminded international projects that ranged from building water and sewer systems in Malawi to helping low-income women obtain bank loans and launch entrepreneurial start-ups in Nigeria. While doing her best to feed the hungry and empower women in half a dozen different countries, Hahn also dodged machine gun bullets during a revolution and fought off half a dozen attacks of malaria. Along the way, she led highly visible campaigns to build elementary schools and provide badly needed notebooks and pencils for more than 3 million African children. “I learned two very important words as a farm kid growing up in Polk, Nebraska,” said the tireless globetrotter, when asked the secret behind her Hahn as she appeared when she was success as an international assistance administrator: installed as an Honorary Chief of the Yoruba “Can do!” Tribe in Nigeria.

Ogbomosho, Nigeria. Summer, plots of donated land directly adjacent 1984 to medical facilities where the new form Connection Box Approaching the front doors of of protein-rich milk was desperately the Kersey Children’s Home at the needed. malaikafoundation.org/history.html Ogbomosho Public Hospital, Natalie After months of planning and more Hahn paused for a moment and took a months spent converting harvested very deep breath. soybeans into milk, Hahn and her IITA southern Nigeria. This was it. team of researchers, including world- As she marched up the steps and This was the moment she’d long been class agronomists, were about to unveil pushed through the massive front doors awaiting ... the moment when her hard- a cutting-edge nutritional campaign that that led into the busy medical center, she won skills as a UNL- and Harvard-trained had the potential to dramatically reduce was steeling herself for what she knew researcher and public administrator malnutrition in infants and children. would be a challenging day. Unlike most would be tested to the max. In order to launch their “miracle hospital nurseries in the U.S., the neonatal As the first woman scientist to work crop” and begin saving lives with it, treatment center at Ogbomosho was a for the highly regarded International however, the IITA researchers first had jam-packed gathering place where entire Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), to demonstrate its effectiveness in the families – frequently including cousins, Hahn was about to begin her tour of duty sub-Saharan world of Africa ... where in-laws and grandparents – camped out as a socio-economist who’d been hired the mortality rate among premature beside the recovering mothers and their to help launch a major new initiative in newborns was estimated to be seven times often struggling, premature infants. introducing 13 food crops and nutrition higher than the rate in Europe and North In this sometimes chaotic and crowded programs for women in Nigeria. America. setting, the Nebraska native with the She designed the pioneering program, Located in mostly undeveloped and home economists was responsible for “The African Farmer and Her Husband,” resource-poor southwest Nigeria, the showing nurses and mothers how to to provide life-saving nutritional assistance Kersey Children’s Home was the perfect prepare the soy milk for the hungry to premature and sickly newborn infants place to begin unveiling a nutritional infants and then feed it to them. at a major children’s home affiliated with program that Natalie Hahn and Nigerian “We brought in soy milk that had one of the country’s major hospitals ... home economists felt sure had the been prepared by the IITA,” Hahn where malnourished mothers were often potential to lower the neonatal mortality remembered later, “and we went right to unable to breast feed their babies and rate almost overnight. work in the nursery. With the help of a cow’s milk was heartbreakingly expensive. But first they had to gain the trust of translator when necessary, we would teach Hopefully, the breakthrough program the Nigerian mothers who would be asked the nurses how to handle the milk, and would begin to solve that terrible problem to give soybean milk to their struggling we would explain to the mothers: ‘This by providing struggling infants in rural infants. is really going to help your child to feel Nigeria clinics and hospitals with milk In order to accomplish that key initial better and gain weight quickly.’ made from soybeans. step, Hahn spent this day in the huge, “These were three-, four- and five- Easy to digest and powerfully crowded nursery affiliated with the major pound infants, often undernourished, and nourishing, the inexpensive plant (36 hospital in Ogbomosho, a city of about quite often their mothers couldn’t breast- percent protein) could often be grown on 620,000 located in the rural forestlands of feed them. And of course, most of these

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 29 nation gathered to After She Helped To Bring Them honor her with a Water,They Named Her ‘Chifundo’ special banquet. (Translation: “One Who Brings Mercy”) At that festive shindig not far Natalie Hahn spent five years as the UNICEF from the Kersey Representative to Malawi (1993-97), during Children’s Home which she: where her work on • Helped implement a massive water and the soybean project sanitation program that brought clean water had begun, Hahn resources to more than 300,000 residents in watched dozens of Ndirande, an economically stressed section of colorfully costumed Blantyre; dancers perform as a • Helped lower the cholera rate in Ndirande tribute to her efforts by 50 percent, thanks to the new water system at helping mothers developed by South African engineers ... which and infants. was a crucial step in protecting thousands of Then, in a solemn ceremony that was lives; When Hahn served as the UNICEF representative, • Helped organize and launch the Initiatives also attended by she was a colleague of former Malawi President rural families, two for Mobilization of Private Action (IMPACT), Joyce Banda. an innovative network of 32 national and U.S. ambassadors international companies that was instrumental and several UN officials (along in building primary schools throughout the families couldn’t afford cow’s country, along with new water supply systems and with Natalie’s milk in that setting. And so we enthusiastically applauding improved health programs in several areas; showed them how to set up a • Helped design and launch a countrywide program sister, Marilyn Pierpont), Hahn feeding regimen with soy milk, was formally installed as an to care for and educate thousands of HIV-AIDS and we recommended that the Honorary Chief of the Yoruba orphans; babies be given the milk every Tribe. • Established a trust fund for six HIV-AIDS orphans 30 minutes, around the clock.” In their part of the Nigerian (all siblings) and has supported them for the past 20 The results, Hahn soon world, she was henceforth years. The youngest is now a lawyer and the oldest noticed, were nothing less than known as Balogun Iyalaje. daughter completed a master’s degree in Ireland. All six amazing. Translated to English, the of them are doing well today. “The babies started gaining title means: “The person who “I loved my time in Malawi,” said Hahn, “and it weight right away,” she said, empowers others.” was a great privilege to work with a skilled leader like “and within a week or two, former President Joyce Banda, who is a very courageous most were healthy and thriving. Riding the ‘Stagecoach’ – and visionary woman and a real hero in her country.” And that was an extraordinary to their New ‘Sod House’ For her part, Madame President Banda remembers thing to witness. What I really Natalie Hahn grew up on a Hahn as a passionate supporter of women and children loved about that program was farm about two miles outside in Africa ... and also as a talented administrator the way you could see the Polk, Nebraska, a tiny farm who had more than enough management savvy to impact of what you were doing, town (current population: 322) implement UNICEF’s visionary programs. right there in front of you. located in the east central part “She came here during the time when Malawi was “There’s a magnificent of the state, 100 miles west of transitioning [from a dictatorship] into a democracy,” Hebrew quote from the Talmud Omaha. Hahn attributes her President Banda said during a recent phone call from that I’ve always liked, as a UN spirituality to early years at the Senegal. “At one point, I remember how she became program administrator who Polk Methodist Church and determined to help provide notebooks and pencils to often worked on health and Biblical lessons learned from all the schoolchildren in Malawi. And that was more education issues in Africa. The her Aunt Mildred Anderson, than 3.2 million kids. But she went straight to work. saying is: ‘If you’ve saved one who taught Sunday School She obtained contributions from the private sector and life, you’ve saved the entire for 63 years in the community. grants from several foundations ... and in the end the world.’” Those years were also marked children got their school supplies. Natalie Hahn worked on by her dedication to such 4-H “Natalie Hahn to this day is seen as a dear friend by the soy milk program and the Club activities as competing many people in Malawi. Before she left our country introduction of other improved with her baked goods and and returned to the United States, she was invited to crops in rural Nigeria for demonstrations at the yearly attend an elaborate celebration during which there was several years ... and when she Polk County Fair. a banquet with many women dancing in her honor. finally completed her tour of Describing those “On that day, she received the honorary title of duty and moved on to her “wonderfully exciting” times ‘Chifundo’ – which means, ‘One Who Brings Mercy.’ next assignment (in , as when she was thrilled to “feed a women’s economic adviser She’s a wonderful friend, and I shall forever be grateful piglets from a baby bottle on with the International Fund to her for all the great things she helped accomplish for the back porch,” the future UN for Agricultural Development the women and children of Malawi.” program manager remembered [IFAD]), more than 1,000 of long days spent “de-tasseling her fans in the sub-Saharan the corn” with other kids from

30 SUMMER 2016 farm families like her own. the rest of the world. “We rode out into the And that fire burned fields in a big truck every even brighter when she morning and brought our had the good fortune to lunches and worked all day find two “wonderfully long for about 50 cents an inspiring mentors” – Home hour,” she recalled, “and Economics Dean and you’d come home soaking Professor, the late Virginia wet because of the water Trotter (who later became the boys had thrown on you U.S. Assistant Secretary of at the end of the day – they Education), and Journalism were such rascals!” Professor William Hall, As the offspring of under whose tutelage she German-Swedish great- later earned a master’s grandparents who’d degree at The Ohio State “come to Nebraska on a University (where Hall stagecoach in the 1870s went in 1966 after leading and then lived in a sod the journalism program at house,” Hahn spent the Nebraska). first six years of her life in a “I think I was very lucky Polk farmhouse that didn’t to study with both of have an indoor toilet. And Virginia Trotter (right), director of the School of Home Economics, 1963- them,” she said. “Virginia yet her own parents, Lloyd 70, and dean of the College of Home Economics, 1970-72, was a major Trotter was years ahead of and Grace Hahn, talked influence in Hahn’s career. She has given an African art collection to the her time as a researcher in endlessly about education College of Education and Human Sciences in Trotter’s honor. home economics, and Bill and the importance of Hall introduced me to the attending college. “I can’t wonderfully exciting world say enough about my mother in that “Can you believe my mother and all of international politics and journalism. regard,” Natalie explained with a note four of her sisters earned college degrees And the intellectual skills I gained from of awe in her voice. “Mother was my and later became teachers – after growing them were very helpful in preparing major inspiration – she was a marvelous up on a Nebraska farm in the 1920s? I me for a life of service as a global journalist and global thinker. What a mean, that really says it all about women development scientist with the UN.” thrill for our family when, later in life, she empowering themselves, doesn’t it?” After completing her UNL BS in married Governor Dwight Burney with By the time she arrived on the UNL 1967, Hahn went on to obtain her OSU whom she shared political interests and campus as a freshman in 1963, Natalie master’s degree in journalism and a travel.” was already a fiercely energetic student doctorate in education at Harvard. By filled with a burning curiosity about

Gunfire in Malawi, and Six Bouts of Malaria

What’s it like to live for years at a time in under-developed African flying thick and fast. countries frequently troubled by poverty, disease and political “The head of the [Malawi] violence? military was living next Ask that question of Natalie Hahn, and the veteran UNICEF door to me,” she recalled, executive will surprise you by pointing out that her life in Africa was “and they came to take him actually quite tranquil, for the most part. away. And there was a lot of “Most of the time, I found the people in places like Malawi and shooting. rural Nigeria to be warm and friendly,” she said, while looking “I remember crawling back on her 35 years as a UN officer with the Food and Agriculture under my bed and calling Organization (FAO), The International Fund for Agricultural the New York offices [of the Development (IFAD) and UNICEF who was often posted to Africa. UN] and saying: ‘I may be in “It’s certainly true that in some African countries, people struggle trouble – my house is caught with a lack of resources at times. Women sometimes have to walk for in the crossfire!’” an hour or more each day, simply to provide drinking water for their She was also alarmed families. And adequate medical care is sometimes difficult to obtain, when she came down with especially out in the countryside. malaria – and then wound “And yet the people in these regions are so often hopeful and joyful up fighting six different bouts with the chronic disease. “First you get – and grateful for so little – that you soon begin to admire their spirit. very hot,” she said, “and then you get very cold. And the fever can last And you feel very much at home. Most of the time, I felt no fear at all a week or more. I remember during one really severe attack Catholic while living in Africa.” sisters at the Chedzi Rehabilitation Center took me into a clinic they On a few occasions, however, the former UNL undergrad did were running in Malawi. experience some anxiety. One of those scary moments came during “They kept me there for two weeks, and they put me on an IV for her five-year UN tour of duty in Malawi in the mid-1990s, when she several days running. It was very difficult, but they were very good at got caught up in an attempted military coup in which the bullets were treating malaria, and I’m sure they saved my life.”

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 31 and commitment, along Nebraska schools and universities, so with the incredible array that students can learn more about life of experiences she’s in other countries, just as I did through had while working with international 4-H programs and Rotary assistance programs in Club scholarships that allowed me to live Africa and elsewhere,” overseas, starting more than 50 years ago. said Ambassador Also, the Malaika goal is to appreciate Quinn. Nebraska heritage and history and learn “I think she’s truly from the cultures and contributions of been a pioneer on both immigrants – the ‘New Nebraskans’.” food and gender issues, The Malaika Foundation currently 2017 DREAM BOOK and her contributions to includes among its board members the ‘Green Revolution’ Marjorie J. Kostelnik – the interim in Africa – which has senior vice chancellor for academic also been one of our affairs at UNL. In honor of her former own major initiatives dean, Virginia Trotter, Hahn has given here at the World Food a large collection of African Art to the Prize Foundation – college. She also is contributing art to speak loudly and clearly Nebraska Wesleyan University to honor Hahn established a trust fund for the six Ralph Sauti for themselves.” her family (11 family members studied or children in 1996 and has continued to care for them After more than three were graduated from Wesleyan) and to and their 11 children. The father was a colleague of and a half decades on Hastings College for the Morrison Board Hahn’s in Nigeria and Malawi. the job, Natalie Hahn Room (Ken Morrison was the founding said she has no intention and major Malaika donor). 1970, she was also working on her first to retire anytime soon ... Said the “Can Do” scientist- United Nations assignment and headed and has recently become “more involved administrator from Polk, while summing toward a 35-year career ... during which than ever” in a Nebraska-based global up her remarkable career as a global she served as a key administrator in UN- education program operated by the ambassador who’s still determined to linked assistance programs in Europe, the Malaika Foundation – which she founded make the world a better place: “In many U.S. and Africa. in 1997 and still leads today as president. ways, I think my life has been a story “The two things that really stand out “I feel very privileged to have grown about the joys of growing up in Nebraska about Natalie are her kindness to people up in Nebraska,” she said with a cheerful – where learning to care deeply about and her elegance,” said Carole Hyatt, smile, “and the Malaika Foundation is your neighbors and their well-being can the founder and CEO of the New York my way of giving back. That [education] inspire you to reach out and embrace the v City-based MISSION: GETTING TO program is designed to introduce the entire world.” NEXT, a highly successful coaching-and- world beyond the United States to education consulting service for retired senior military women and also longtime friend of her UN colleague. A Big “Howdy” ... from Charlton Heston! “Natalie is an accomplished international development It was a moment that star-struck Natalie Hahn has never forgotten. professional, of course,” added The year was 1965, and the farm girl from Polk, Nebraska, was in the middle of a summertime Hyatt, “but what really stands journalism fellowship at NEBRASKAland magazine. out for me is the ‘extra touch’ of A high-spirited journalism and home economics major at UNL, Hahn was spending her summer beauty and elegance she brings copy-editing stories and cropping photos for the popular magazine, which has been publishing articles to everything she does. When about life in the Cornhusker State for the past 90 years. she visits your home for dinner, Imagine Hahn’s reaction when she learned that she’d been tapped to help conduct an interview with she’s the kind of guest who a visiting superstar, on that long-ago morning in Lincoln. brings you a beautiful flower to The superstar was the late Charlton Heston ... and he was at the height of his fame, after winning an put on the table.” Oscar as the leading actor in the 1959 blockbuster movie hit, “Ben-Hur.” “He was a big, tall, handsome Former U.S. Ambassador individual, and he was one of the most famous actors in the world,” Hahn said while recalling the to Cambodia Kenneth M. moment when the rangy Heston first strode into view. “I was feeling pretty nervous, of course, but I had a job to do, so I stepped right up and said to him: Quinn, who has worked with ‘Well, howdy to you, Mr. Heston!’ Hahn on several agriculture- “He laughed and said: ‘And a big howdy to you, my little girl!’ Oh boy, was I ever in love with him. I related projects at the Iowa- just thought he was terrific.” based World Food Prize Although she would spend another UNL summer as an intern working in the Washington, D.C., Foundation (where he serves as offices of former Nebraska Republican Senator Roman Hruska (he served from 1954-76) and would president and CEO), echoed learn “a great deal about how government works” in the process, nothing could match the encounter Hyatt’s praise for the veteran with Charlton Heston for sheer excitement. UNICEF and UN development “UNL taught me a lot about both home economics and journalism,” Hahn remembered. “And that administrator. “Like a lot of summer at Nebraskaland taught me that the world was full of exciting opportunities for a farm kid other people, I’ve always been from Polk who was eager to see the world and meet interesting people.” impressed by Natalie’s passion

32 SUMMER 2016 2017 DREAM BOOK Dear Nebraska Alumni and Friends:

Dazzle your senses, inspire new perspectives and forge memories and friendships that will last a lifetime on one of our 2017 Alumni Adventure trips. We’re excited to share our destinations and help you plan the trip of a lifetime, as well as connect you with Huskers who share your passion for travel.

We partner with the most trusted names in alumni travel to ensure you’ll enjoy the vacation you’ve dreamt about. Whether your goal is to explore, learn, relax or all of the above, we have a destination for you. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with fellow Huskers.

Read on for details about our trip offerings, and good luck narrowing it down to only one! Also, don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Cheers to your 2017 travels,

Sarah Haskell & Derek Engelbart [email protected] [email protected] NAA Travel Team

Alumni Adventure Facts and Tips

• Friends and family are welcome! You don’t have to be an alum to travel with the NAA. • Be our guest. You will always have a tour agency host on your trip – and if enough Nebraska travelers join the group, one of our NAA staff members will host, as well. • Forge new friendships. Our adventure trips give you the unique opportunity to connect with fellow Huskers, as well as travelers from other universities and groups. • Book early. Save big. Be picky. Booking early allows you to take advantage of significant discounts and receive first priority when making room selections. Visit huskeralum.org/adventures for all early-bird deadlines. • Did you find your dream trip, but the dates don’t work? Contact us and we’ll help create your customized adventure! • Take delight in the details. Each of our travel partners has different benefits. Some trips offer free airfare, two-for-one pricing or extra excursions. Read the fine print or ask us for clarification. We want to ensure you take advantage of all available perks! *The following dates and prices are subject to change. Please visit huskeralum.org/adventures for the most up-to-date information, including trip brochures, full details and bookings.

1 2

1 Sparkling South Pacific grand churches. Encounter Santiago de ’s 4 Immersion thriving musical heritage, and stroll cobbled Prices: From $4,299/person; airfare included from streets framed by pastel mansions in Trinidad. Prices: From $3,295/person if booked by Oct. 29, select cities Take in the surreal scenery of the lush Viñales 2016; airfare not included JANUARY 25-FEBRUARY 4, 2017 Valley, and discover the small-town flavor of APRIL 15-23, 2017 Tahiti, Bora Bora, Raiatea and Huahine Caibarién and Matanzas, Cuba’s lesser-known Paris coastal gems. Highlighting UNESCO World From dreamy white-sand beaches fringed by Heritage Sites, pristine national parks, Paris earned its nickname, the City of Light, sweet-scented vanilla groves and gently swaying atmospheric towns, and magnetic cities, this because it embraced education and the palms, to velvety emerald mountains towering remarkable itinerary celebrates the cultural and exploration of new ideas during the over translucent lagoons that dazzle in every hue natural treasures of a long-forbidden nation. Enlightenment. Today, Paris is still unparalleled in of electric blue, awaken your senses with the its cultural wealth. Experience living in Paris for wonders of French Polynesia on this 10-night seven nights like a local Parisian in this immersive 3 luxury cruise. Snorkel in Bora Bora’s postcard- Ancient Legends experience. Explore the city and its neighborhoods perfect lagoon, a wonderland filled with colorful Prices: From $4,799/person; airfare included from at an unhurried pace, visit boutiques and take coral and tropical fish, and take in ancient temples select cities in iconic art, plus enjoy plenty of independent set amid gorgeous scenery on Raiatea. MARCH 28-APRIL 14, 2017 exploration. Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, 2 Grand Cuban Voyage Guatemala, Belize and 5 Southern Grandeur Prices: From $8,999/person; airfare not included Encounter the mesmerizing tropical scenery and Prices: From $1,699/person; airfare not included MARCH 13-27, 2017 ancient legends of Central and South America APRIL 30-MAY 8, 2017 Miami to Cuba to Miami as you weave your way from to Miami on this 16-night luxury cruise. Take in Salaverry’s New Orleans to Memphis Experience one of the most alluring cruise archaeological excavations, stroll along Begin your adventure in New Orleans, where destinations, the Caribbean’s largest island – a Guayaquil’s revitalized riverfront promenade and the well-preserved French Quarter offers an country of majestic colonial architecture and laze on Manta’s urban beaches. Then experience a enchanting backdrop. Then, cruise to picturesque eclectic cities, of rolling green hills and centuries- crossing of the legendary Panama Canal en route cities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and old tobacco farms. From the plush comfort and to Puerto Limon, a gateway to Costa Rica’s idyllic Tennessee. Admire the elegant Greek Revival-style refined elegance of the M/V Victory I, watch rainforests. Relax on Roatan’s glittering beaches, mansion at Oak Alley Plantation, explore the Cuba’s ever-changing landscapes unfold on this view intriguing Mayan ruins near Costa Maya and lovely town of St. Francisville and visit the oldest extraordinary voyage. Explore , a bustling Santo Tomas, and explore the coral reefs and lush settlement on the Mississippi, Natchez, graced capital where jewel-toned vintage cars roll past landscapes of Harvest Caye, Belize. (continued)

3 4 5 6

with stunning gardens and palatial mansions. 7 Sicily art galleries and picturesque harbor sprinkled Browse Vicksburg’s delightful antique shops and with multicolored fishing boats. Or laze on the Prices: From $2,995/person if booked by Oct. 29, intriguing museums before your seven-night sandy beaches of Biarritz, a former fishing village cruise concludes in Memphis, home to rich blues 2016; airfare not included turned glitzy resort on ’s Basque coastline. music and culture. MAY 16-25, 2017 Before concluding your adventure in , Palermo, Caltagirone, Syracuse stroll graceful boulevards edged by 18th-century 6 architecture in Bordeaux, or sample the region’s Salute to Delve into Sicily’s epic past while staying in culinary and wine delights. Prices: From $3,499/person; airfare included from western, central and eastern areas of the island. select cities Walk in the footsteps of ancient Greeks and Romans as you discover the well-preserved 9 Coastal Mediterranean MAY 15-24, 2017 remnants of their civilizations. Admire the Prices: From $2,699/person; airfare included from Barcelona to Lisbon architectural legacy of Gothic, Moorish and select cities Norman conquerors. Savor the flavors of Sicily Spain evokes a collection of mesmerizing images: JUNE 13 – 21, 2017 towering Moorish palaces, colorful flamenco at a family farm where award-winning olive oil Rome to Monte Carlo dancers, glittering beaches and lively plazas. is produced. This small-group program features Depart Barcelona for Valencia, renowned for its engaging excursions, expert guides and an Take in the Mediterranean’s enchanting coastal impressive art. Continue on to sun-kissed Ibiza, a extensive meal plan, plus wine with dinner. towns as you cruise from Rome to Monte Carlo holiday hotspot with glorious beaches. Marvel at aboard Oceania Cruises’ luxurious Riviera. Set the grand Castillo de Santa Bárbara in Alicante, 8 Vineyards & Vignettes sail for Amalfi, a colorful resort town bordering and then stand in awe before Málaga’s 11th- sapphire seas. Explore Sardinia’s capital, Prices: From $3,499/person; airfare included from century Gibralfaro castle. Cap off your voyage in Cagliari, featuring an alluring mix of Roman select cities Lisbon, home to the Jerónimos Monastery, ruins and lovely botanical gardens. Admire Portugal’s gem of Manueline architecture. MAY 23 – JUNE 1, 2017 Palma’s breathtaking Gothic-style cathedral, or Lisbon to London venture north to the idyllic mountain village of Valldemossa. Then continue to France’s Colorful tiled churches, marvelous architecture historic port city of Marseille, a gateway to the and cuisine and sun-dappled vineyards await you postcard-worthy landscapes and medieval towns on this eight-night luxury cruise. From Lisbon of Provence. Sail east along the French Riviera to London, encounter intriguing cities nestled to Antibes, a classic Mediterranean getaway on the coast of Portugal, northern Spain and romanticized by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Cap off your France. Soak up the charming atmosphere of voyage in glamorous Monte Carlo, home to the Saint-Jean-de-Luz with its shop-lined streets,

7 8 9 10

impressive Prince’s Palace and the world’s most Seattle to Alaska and and land travel includes three nights in Prague prestigious casino. Join the NAA and special Big Ten guests and and a five-night cruise on the legendary Blue dignitaries, including Husker Heisman winner Danube from Passau, Germany, to , 10 The Great Journey through Eric Crouch and celebrity lecturer Verne , aboard the deluxe M.S. Amadeus Lundquist, aboard Oceana Cruises’ Regatta. Brilliant. The itinerary has been carefully Europe From unspoiled forests and majestic waterfalls orchestrated to include private classical music Prices: From $4,395/person; airfare not included to silver-blue glaciers and spectacular wildlife, performances and a comprehensive schedule of guided excursions featuring magnificent Melk JUNE 15 – 25, 2017 discover Alaska’s natural wonders while mingling with other Big Ten travelers. Depart from Abbey, the storybook village of Dürnstein, Switzerland, Interlaken, France, Germany, Seattle and sail to one of Alaska’s oldest towns, imperial Vienna and medieval Bratislava. Berlin Cologne, Amsterdam Wrangell, renowned for its unique Petroglyph pre-program and Budapest post-program options This extraordinary 11-day grand tour of Europe Beach. Admire authentic totems at Juneau, or are offered. features an incredible combination of river, rail, perhaps experience nearby attractions, such as lake and mountain travel including five nights the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier. Continue 13 Cruise the Rhine River aboard the deluxe M.S. Amadeus Silver II. to Skagway and Icy Strait Point before taking in Prices: From $2,745/person if booked by Oct. 29, Journey through Switzerland, France, Germany the glory of Hubbard Glacier, Alaska’s longest 2016; airfare not included and The Netherlands, cruising the most scenic tidewater glacier. Cap off your voyage with visits sections of the Rhine River. Spend two nights to the scenic treasures of Sitka and the world-class JULY 10 – 18, 2017 each in Zermatt and Lucerne, ride aboard three museums of Victoria. Amsterdam to Basel legendary railways – the Gornergrat Bahn for Share your love of travel with the children in your breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, the Glacier 12 Symphony on the life and cruise through the heartland of Europe on Express from Zermatt to Lucerne and the Pilatus a journey designed with families in mind. Settle Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway; Blue Danube in onboard the elegant, new Amadeus Silver III and enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Lucerne. Prices: From $3,695/person; airfare not included and enjoy a choice of excursions and activities that JUNE 22 – JULY 1, 2017 showcase the highlights of Holland, Germany and 11 Big Ten Cruise: Alaskan Falls Prague, Austria, Vienna, Budapest France. In Amsterdam, explore charming canals and sail by historic sites like the Anne Frank & Frontiers Visit five countries and up to five UNESCO House. Marvel at the famed Gothic cathedral Prices: From $3,099/person; airfare included from World Heritage sites on this exclusive journey to in Cologne, sail through the Rhine Gorge and select cities the cultural centers that inspired classical music’s see fairytale castles overlooking the river. Visit JUNE 20 – 30, 2017 great masters. This unique combination of river lovely river towns and explore Strasbourg, (continued)

11 12 13 14

France. Expert guides and lecturers provide 15 British Isles Legends Embark on an odyssey to northern Europe, fascinating narrative during shore excursions and where beautiful medieval buildings reflect upon Prices: From $5,999/person; airfare included from educational programs. This family program is tranquil canals, fairy-tale turrets rise above open to passengers ages 7 and up and features select cities marvelous cities and quaint cobbled lanes lead onboard children’s activities coordinated by an JULY 31 – AUGUST 13, 2017 to ornate cathedrals. Depart Southampton for energetic youth director. Enjoy first-class ship London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Northern Ireland, Le Havre, a gateway to the iconic sights of Paris. accommodations, including some cabins with Dublin, Wales and Cork Delight in the fairy-tale atmosphere of Bruges, see connecting doors, an extensive meal plan and Antwerp’s richly decorated guild houses and take wine with lunch and dinner for the adults. From storybook castles and elegant Georgian in Amsterdam’s world-class museums. Stroll past mansions to inviting pubs and rugged coastal wooden houses in Kristiansand’s old quarter and scenery, take in the legendary sights of the British 14 admire the towering Akershus Fortress in Oslo. The Open Championship Isles aboard Oceania Cruises’ majestic Marina. Before your voyage concludes in Copenhagen, Prices: From $3,977/person; airfare not included Marvel at Edinburgh’s hilltop castle, the city’s explore the charming boutiques of Gothenburg. crown jewel, and head ashore at Invergordon JULY 19 – 24, 2017 to immerse yourself in the wild beauty of the Liverpool Scottish Highlands. Experience Glasgow’s thriving 17 Capitals & Coastlines of Experience England’s world-renowned “Golf gastronomic scene, admire Liverpool’s striking Canada & New England Coast,” where some of the most revered golfers avant-garde cathedral and encounter iconic Prices: From $3,999/person; airfare included from in history have played, while also exploring the monuments in Dublin, home to Trinity College. select cities historic and popular Liverpool waterfront. Take Before returning to Southampton, discover the advantage of the opportunity to play on two charms of Portland, with its dramatic cliffs and SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 10, 2017 exceptional courses before attending the Open beautifully preserved Tudor fortress. Montreal to New York Championship on Saturday and Sunday to see From regal mansions perched on craggy coasts who will hoist the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale! 16 Regal Routes of to historic lighthouses set against the season’s This British Open adventure is available to be rich medley of gold, amber and crimson foliage, customized in several respects, whether you’d like Northern Europe experience beautiful sights in Canada and New to play additional golf, add (or remove) days at Prices: From $4,299/person; airfare included from England on this luxury cruise aboard Oceania The Open, or simply spend your time visiting the select cities Cruises’ Insignia. Depart Montreal and sail to local boutiques, museums, galleries and historic AUGUST 12 – 23, 2017 Quebec City, where cobbled streets twist past architecture. All that Liverpool has to offer will be mansard-roofed houses and magnificent churches. within walking distance from your Hilton hotel. London to Copenhagen Watch postcard-worthy scenery unfold at

15 16 17 18

Saguenay, home to museums and artisan City,” explore the artistic treasures and culinary 20 Holiday Markets* workshops. Browse St. Patrick’s Church Museum delights of Naples. Prices: From $2,795/person if booked by May 14, in Sydney, stroll the lively waterfront at Halifax 2017; airfare not included and admire Saint John’s Reversing Falls. Delight 19 in Bar Harbor’s stunning backdrop of sparkling South African Explorer DECEMBER 11 – 22, 2017 blue waters and towering granite cliffs, or perhaps Prices: From $5,699/person; airfare included from Cologne, Rothenburg, Munich explore Acadia National Park. Before your odyssey select cities The holiday season provides a wonderful concludes in New York, visit mansion-studded DECEMBER 5 – 21, 2017 opportunity to get away and relax on an Newport, a charming resort city, and delve into Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Mozambique, Durban, unhurried cruise through the heart of Europe that the colonial history and architectural splendors of Nambia showcases delightful holiday traditions. Enjoy Boston. Explore the dazzling golden beaches and the start of the festive season as towns along the multifaceted cultures of southern Africa as Rhine prepare for the holidays and open their 18 Medieval Masterpiece Oceania Cruises’ well-appointed Nautica takes charming Christkindlmarkts. Spend three nights Prices: From $2,799/person; airfare included from you on a spectacular 15-night voyage. With Table in Munich and make your own plans to explore select cities Mountain as a dramatic backdrop, begin your its outstanding art museums, churches and parks. This program features fascinating excursions, NOVEMBER 5 – 14, 2017 luxury cruise in Cape Town, a cosmopolitan gem boasting magnificent beaches, up-and-coming first-class ship and hotel accommodations and an Venice to Rome art galleries and Victorian and Cape Dutch extensive meal plan including wine with lunch Incredible medieval monuments and spellbinding architecture. Delve into the rich maritime heritage and dinner. scenery intertwine on this Mediterranean luxury of sun-kissed Mossel Bay, and then behold *No Single Supplement cruise aboard Riviera, Oceania Cruises’ elegant gorgeous panoramas at Richards Bay’s Lookout masterpiece. Begin your adventure in Venice, a Point. Sail to Mozambique, where Maputo fairy-tale city laced with canals and bridges, and beckons with a lively waterfront, admire Durban’s set sail for Zadar, a lovely Croatian city featuring colonial architecture and popular Golden Mile marble streets framed by Romanesque structures. Beach, wander the unspoiled beaches of East Experience Montenegro’s crown jewel, Kotor, London and stroll past Port Elizabeth’s well- admire Corfu’s lush scenery and marvel at St. preserved historic buildings. Before returning to John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta. Cruise to Cape Town, discover the scenic splendor of Walvis Sicily’s second-largest city, vibrant Catania, graced Bay, Namibia, a bird-watcher’s paradise with an with a glorious 18th-century cathedral. Before impressive natural lagoon. capping off your voyage in Rome, the “Eternal

19 20 Cheer on the Huskers on the road or at home!

Join the alumni association on the official 2016 Nebraska football tours. All away-game packages include game tickets, ground transportation on game day, souvenirs and a traveler reception or pre-game event.

Northwestern, Sept. 23-25, 2016 Land-only package includes a hotel stay at theWit hotel, located in the heart of downtown Chicago.

Ohio State, Nov. 4-6, 2016 Land-only package includes two or three night’s accommodation at the Hyatt Regency, located in Columbus’ Arena District.

Ohio State, Nov. 5, 2016 Experience game day like never before on this roundtrip, same-day charter plane to and from Columbus. Tailgate on the plane, cheer on the team and return home the same evening after the game.

VIP Home Game Packages If you live outside Lincoln but want to return for a Husker home game, let us plan a stress-free trip for you! Packages include downtown Lincoln accommodations, game tickets, Nebraska Champions Club passes, a stadium tour and more! Trips are open to all alumni and fans.

Visit huskeralum.org/athletic-travel for more details. When Angela (“Angie”) Klein (BA & BS ’01) was less than three years into her career at Verizon Communications, she was presented with a high- stakes challenge that would launch the trajectory of her career, and change the face of the telecom industry in the U.S. It was the kind of all-or-nothing opportunity that might have left a 26-year-old corporate marketing tyro from small-town Nebraska trembling in her cubicle. But not Klein. This Woman Means The challenge: Be part of a team of entrepreneurial hotshots from all across the company in an enormously complex effort to successfully build and market a brand-new 100 percent fiber-optic network that would bring telephone and ultra-high Internet service to millions of homes and small busi- nesses. This wasn’t just a bet – it was a >$20B capital investment bet that would be harshly criticized by Wall Street and would quickly require Verizon Business to break into an established television industry and disrupt it to its core. ! Klein didn’t think twice about the career hazards that might be in- By Tom Nugent volved. Instead, she jumped at the chance to shine as an unstoppable marketer who could deliver the goods, regardless of the obstacles the team might face. What followed was a perilous journey through the wilds of corporate telecommunications – and a marketing struggle in which Klein’s business savvy and determination were tested to the max.

In the latter part of his Ph.D. Deyle primarily worked on the PR2, a Kleinquasi-commercial visits with a Verizon robot developedemployee byin MassachusettsWillow Garage. Courtesyin April. photo

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 41 This Woman Means Business!

A Shocking Moment in the Conference Room

ngie Klein said she will never forget the silence that fell over the Verizon Communications conference room in ANew York City that day, as the realization slowly set in. We need to do ... what? Launch not only fiber-based voice and Internet, but become a TV provider? Build a full cable network, and design the systems, ordering, customer service and billing platforms – all better than the cable guys? And launch a test market by the end of the year? Are we being serious? It happened on a career-changing afternoon in March of 2004, when the youthful Klein – who’d graduated from UNL with degrees in business and journalism less than three years before – was in a readiness planning meeting in NYC for the Klein and Samantha Bee, comedian, correspondent and TV host, summer launch of the planned fiber network launch in Keller, attend an event at the Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York. Texas, for Internet and Voice services. And the addition of TV to the start-up style team’s objectives initially shocked everyone in the room. in our wheelhouse. Building networks and delivering a better But that initial shock turned quickly to a thrilling realization experience were grounded in our history as a company. But TV? of the potential ahead. That was a new world, and many of us didn’t even know where The conclave on an upper floor of the Verizon high-rise in to start. Manhattan was destined to launch Klein’s career as a successful “So we just looked at each other and we said: ‘Okay, we’ve marketing manager ... but the small-town Nebraska native got to do this. Let’s get started.’ And that’s what we did. We just didn’t know it then. All she knew was that the highest-ranking started. I’ll never forget that moment in that room in New York executives at the communications behemoth were challenging City ... and from then on, I don’t think I slept much.” them to transform the mostly copper landline division of What happened next, said Klein, was the most intense period their enterprise into a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art fiber-optic she can recall, with every aspect of building the team working in company that almost overnight would become a major player a start-up style culture, all committed to getting to beta launches in a cable-dominated television industry, and would change the for Internet in June and TV in late December. “We were pretty landscape of broadband in the U.S. for the next decade. much heads-down for weeks at a time,” she remembered. The team had been heads-down working at what they thought “Every single day was a challenge. We had to figure out a was full tilt for nearly three months designing the fiber-optic thousand different things. The network engineers defining the network and every aspect of the differentiated customer architecture. The procurement teams defining the suppliers. experience (from marketing to sales, provisioning to repair, The branding teams defining how we’d market the products billing to customer service) in preparation for a targeted trial differently. The content teams defining how to structure content launch to enable Internet and Voice services in June – and every deals. The IT and business teams defining order, support bit of the time left was needed. And now, a second and more and provisioning systems. And my team responsible for the ambitious project of launching TV by the end of the year had overarching customer experience, feeding into all of those been added to their overflowing plates. decisions. It was very much a start-up style environment for With Klein still in the early years of her career, she knew culture – but with the added benefit of lots of resources. there was some luck involved to be part of this story from day “The marketing and experience decisions were off the charts,” one. But it was what she did from there that would impact the Klein said. Every day was an endless series of flow charts and way Verizon Fios, as it was later named, would be experienced power-point presentations. Of course we had been a telephone by customers and would define the increasingly larger role she network company [Verizon was a merger of Bell Atlantic and played in its success in the market. GTE in 2000], and we were great network operators, but Klein and her amazed colleagues stared at each other. entering an entirely new space like TV was a different level. Say what, again? And we didn’t want to replicate cable. We wanted to turn the “As we listened to what was being asked of us in the industry on its head with a superior customer experience across conference room that day,” Klein remembered during a recent every aspect of the service.” interview with Nebraska Magazine, “the magnitude of it was Ironically enough, said Klein, the Fios Team was protected immediately understood. Our plans for Internet and Voice were from needless anxiety during the early months of its herculean

42 SUMMER 2016 assignment by sheer ignorance. “One of the things that was other to keep our eyes on the target.” so great about that experience was that we didn’t know what And they did. In the end, the multi-year challenge to build we didn’t know,” she laughed at one point. “We were utterly Fios has been an unqualified success. Starting with almost oblivious to the fact that it was going to be so complicated.” nothing in 2004, Verizon Fios now stands as the sixth-largest A former all-star shooting guard in basketball (“I like TV provider in the U.S. and astonishingly has nearly 50 percent winning!” she will tell you with a hoot of laughter), Klein often market share in the footprints it services. And Fios wins nearly uses sports terminology while describing how she and her Fios every industry accolade and third-party ranking against their colleagues pulled it off. “Really, it came down to blocking and cable competitors – like JD Powers, Consumer Reports, or the tackling and everyone playing their position,” she explained. American Consumer Satisfaction Index. “We took it one day at a time and we just kept telling each

The Importance of ‘Giving Back’

When Angie Klein isn’t busy master- Girl!”), the LESGC was launched back in the NYC community and supporting minding a strategy to convert more 1996 ... to help “break the cycle of local women overall. customers to Fios at Verizon’s offices poverty by training the next genera- “This is an organization I’m very in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, or in tion of ethical, entrepreneurial and passionate about,” Klein said. “The downtown Manhattan, she can often environmental leaders,” and they do Girls Club is really committed to the be found hanging out at a remark- that through innovative programming, young women of the Lower East Side, able community organization located experiential learning, employment providing opportunities and programs on Avenue D in one of the city’s most training and mentorships. that can spark their interest beyond economically challenged and diverse For Klein, who has helped to raise what they have exposure to at school areas. hundreds of thousands of dollars to or at home. That experiential learning That organization is known as the finance a broad array of educational can forever change the course of their “Lower Eastside Girls Club” – and Klein programs at the club (including com- lives and the community as a whole. is an ardent supporter who for the puter learning, science labs, a music From STEM programs, like teaching past several years has served on its recording studio and even an in-house girls how to code, to art programs and board of directors. planetarium, along with nutrition, college prep, the work the staff and Armed with a knockout motto dance and exercise classes and sum- the volunteers of the Girls Club do (“Opening Doors, Empowering Wom- mer camp programs), serving on the every day is nothing short of extraor- en, and Building Community Girl by LESGC board is part of “giving back” to dinary. “When I look at the challenges these girls have to overcome, with 95 per- cent of them living below the poverty level, 45 percent with an incarcer- ated family member, and statistically the majority at risk to complete high school, there is a sense of obligation to help them see their potential. These are amazing girls who have very few of the advantages of middle- and upper- class families, but as a member of the board, I’ve learned there are many things we can do to help these kids overcome the obstacles in their lives and reach for the stars ... and I feel Members of the Lower Eastside Girl’s Club. very privileged to be able to help out in that effort.”

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 43 This Woman Means Business!

“Our parents were amazingly supportive,” said Klein, “and we were given the ‘opportunity to fail’ – at everything from playing high school basketball and volleyball to studying law, which Courtney did brilliantly (and earned a law degree from George Washington University). “I’m still very grateful to both dad and mom for their parenting approach,” added Klein, “which I believe gave us the confidence to go out there in the world and take on big challenges without being stymied by fear of failure.” A gifted high school athlete who helped lead the Battle Creek Bravettes basketball team to an undefeated regular season in 1996, Klein enjoyed a whirlwind undergrad career at UNL With their union on strike, Klein and other Verizon executives went ... where she majored in both journalism and business and into the field to talk with managers in Lowell, Massachusetts. participated in a myriad of different extracurricular activities, including serving as president of Alpha Phi sorority and as a member of the Innocents Society, along with being elected “With Fios, we became a major player in the TV business Homecoming Queen by the student body during the fall of her almost overnight,” said Klein with a note of amazement still in senior year. her voice. “We changed the industry, really. We were bold and “I think I was very lucky to major in both business and we changed the customer’s experience with television with our journalism,” she said, “because that gave me a very helpful look advanced Interactive Media Guide, and we continue to lead the at the links between business and traditional marketing and nation in delivering the best and fastest Internet in the country. advertising/public relations. When you deliver the best products and the best service, things “And I was also very fortunate to be part of the Cather Circle tend to take off.” [today the Nebraska Women’s Leadership Network] ... where I One of those “things,” of course, was Angie Klein’s own was able to meet a number of successful businesswomen such as career at Verizon. With the huge success of Fios, her future at [Walmart Senior Vice President] Celia Swanson, who came back the $131-billion-a-year (in gross revenues) telecommunications to campus while I was still at UNL. colossus was assured ... and it’s no surprise to find her perched “I gave Celia and a number of other distinguished women more than nine-tenths of the way up the corporate ladder (as alumnae a tour of the campus, and she saw something in me in vice president for consumer sales strategy and distribution) at the that short interaction that led her to offer me an internship at industry giant in 2016. SAM’S Club in her organization. And I embraced every bit of “There’s no doubt that I’ve worked hard during my 15 years the opportunity in Arkansas that next summer. It was women at Verizon,” she said with a note of quiet pride in her voice. “But like Celia who opened my eyes during my UNL years to my I also credit my Nebraska upbringing for giving me the tools I potential out there in the business world.” needed to get here. The competitiveness, the willingness to work After graduating from UNL in 2001 and moving to Dallas hard, the ability to cooperate with others and the integrity I to launch her extraordinary marketing career at Verizon, Klein learned while growing up in Battle Creek and attending UNL ... spent two years in a development program with the first year “Those things were absolutely crucial to any success I’ve had in Dallas, and the second year in southern California, and then at Verizon – and those are the same values that in my opinion she relocated to the Washington, D.C., area where she was define what it means to be a Nebraskan.” soon tapped to help architect the Fios launch. In 2005 she was promoted to the executive level, and once again relocated, this Managing Thousands of Employees – time to New Jersey/New York. And Millions of Dollars – Each Day During the 11 years since she and Fios first hit the ground running, Klein has worked in a variety of consumer marketing Born in tiny Battle Creek, Nebraska, (population 1,207) positions for the telecommunications corporation. En route as the daughter of Lee Klein, an area farmer and later a to her current starring role as marketing and distribution vice Nebraska state senator, chairman of the National Corn Growers president at the company’s Consumer and Mass Business (CMB) Association and Madison County Commissioner, and Sharon division, she has more than once managed several thousand Klein, a high-school English teacher and later US Postal Service employees and billions in annual revenue accountability. employee, the telecom champ said she grew up in a household In recognition of her extraordinary achievements as a where she and her sister (now Courtney Dentlinger) “were told marketer, the national “Marketing to Women Conference” (aka that we could do whatever we wanted to do. “M2W”) in 2014 presented Klein with its prestigious “This

44 SUMMER 2016 Woman Means Business Award” during ceremonies in Chicago. persona” and the 38-year-old marketing whiz will send up a Said M2W producer Nan McCann after announcing the award: cheerful laugh, while noting that “I guess I would say that I’m “Angie Klein in style and substance has demonstrated that she is very engaged in whatever I do. I’m interested! I love a challenge, a woman who means business and has the results to prove it... any kind of challenge, and I really enjoy sitting down with my Plus, she has given back by mentoring through the Nebraska team at Verizon and figuring out how in the world we’re going to Women’s Leadership Network in her home state.” accomplish our next impossible assignment.” v High praise, indeed. Ask Klein to define her “corporate

UNL “Do It Downtown!” Ad Campaign Provided Key Lesson on Road to Marketing Career When Verizon marketing wizard Professor James – the UNL team of UNL students – remembers Angie Klein as Angie Klein was studying journalism and “Madmen” (and “Madwomen”) finally began a remarkable undergraduate who jumped advertising at UNL a few years back, she to click. feet-first into the Downtown Lincoln got what she later realized was a very lucky “We brainstormed for hours on end,” campaign and never looked back. break. Klein remembered, “and weren’t getting “That campaign won a lot of awards, The break’s name was Stacy James – and to that idea we could all align around. But and it gives me goosebumps to remember she specialized in teaching UNL undergrads one night two members of the team – Kelly the work they did,” said James. “You how to design and implement successful Leahy and Matt Decker – stuck around and usually don’t see that kind of work advertising campaigns. came up with the [campaign] idea ‘Do It coming out of 20- and 21-year-olds. That A former advertising executive herself, Downtown.’ That idea we all rallied behind, course [‘Advertising and Public Relations Professor James (now Emeritus Professor from the creative execution elements like of Practice in the UNL College of Journalism ‘Tap into the Talent,’ to the pre-printed ‘To and Mass Communications) was a Do’ lists that included some fun and unique demanding mentor who challenged her downtown experiences, and the campaign advertising students to push themselves was off and running.” to the limit in creating ad campaigns that In the end, the “Do It Downtown!” ad would light up the Nebraska sky and leave campaign turned out to be a hit ... and clients speechless with delight. even went on to win a prized American “In my senior year [2000-2001], I wound Advertising Award or ‘ADDY’ at the ninth up working with [an undergraduate] team Annual Nebraska ADDYs in 2002 in the that included eight other advertising student category. students,” Klein recalled during a recent But the story doesn’t end there. interview. “Our assignment was to create In a final, glorious twist ... the Downtown an ad campaign for the Downtown Lincoln Association actually adopted the Lincoln Association, and the purpose of campaign and put it into play via billboards, the campaign was to help get people to radio spots and newspaper ads throughout really brand downtown and stimulate the city. city residents to go downtown vs. the “I went back to UNL [for an alumni more strip mall and chain locations that award] a handful of years ago,” Angie Klein were building out in other areas of the said gleefully, “and the creative executions city for dining out, shopping and other we developed were still visible here and entertainment activities.” there in Lincoln. That campaign taught After an initial meeting or two with their all of us a great deal about creativity and no-nonsense professor, the Klein team imagination in advertising. But it also Klein went straight to work. taught me a key lesson that’s helped me And they pretty much got nowhere. throughout my career at Verizon. “We had a lot of trouble getting off the “Professor James talked to us a lot about dime,” said Klein with a gleam of nostalgia, the importance of having a sharp focus – “and you better believe Professor James and about making sure your message is Campaigns’] was the capstone senior was not happy. She clamped down on crystal-clear to everyone, from beginning to course for advertising students and Angie us and insisted that we start getting very end. She was right, of course, and I’m still was really driven and determined to help specific with our ideas and concepts for the grateful for the way she taught us that.” her group get it right. campaign.” For her part, Emeritus Professor James “And then to watch her progress in her After several weeks of painful struggle – – who retired in 2014 after 26 years of career at Verizon has just been amazing.” under the stern tutelage of the demanding teaching advertising and public relations to

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 45 150 Years of Carry On the cartel ObamaCare A Novel A Novel Johns Hopkins University Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015, Alfred A. Knopf, 2015, (cloth), 2016, (cloth), $26.95 (cloth), $19.99 $27.95 www.press.jhu.edu www.stmartins.com www.aaknopf.com

An instrumental player Another New York Times From the internationally Daniel in a large coalition Rainbow bestseller from the pen Don best-selling author of Dawes of organizations Rowell of Rainbow Rowell, Winslow the acclaimed novel ’06 that helped shape ’95 author of “Eleanor& ’58, ’60 “The Power of the ObamaCare, health- Park” and “Fangirl,” Dog” comes “The care attorney Daniel E. “Carry On” is a ghost Cartel,” a gripping, Dawes tells the story of the Affordable story, a love story and a mystery. Simon true-to-life, ripped-from-the-headlines Care Act with urgency and intimate detail. Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever epic story of power, corruption, revenge, He reveals what went on behind the been chosen – at least according to his and justice spanning the past decade scenes by including copies of letters and roommate, Baz. Half the time, Simon of the Mexican-American drug wars. It’s emails written by the people and groups can’t even make his wand work, and the 2004. DEA agent Art Keller has been who worked to craft and pass the law. other half, he starts something on fire. His fighting the war on drugs for 30 years Dawes explains the law through a health mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke in a blood feud against Adán Barrera, equity lens, focusing on what it is meant up with him, and there’s a magic-eating the head of El Federación, the world’s to do and how it affects various groups. monster running around, wearing Simon’s most powerful cartel, and the man who Ultimately, he argues that ObamaCare is face. Baz would be having a field day with brutally murdered Keller’s partner. Finally much more comprehensive in the context all this, if he were here – it’s their last year putting Barrera away cost Keller dearly, of previous reform efforts than is typically at the Watford School of Magicks, and and now Barrera’s back out on the streets, understood. He writes: “This is the story Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even determined to rebuild the empire that of the competing advocacy groups that bother to show up. Keller shattered. “The Cartel” is a story united in 2010 to achieve comprehensive of revenge, honor, and sacrifice, as one health reform after trying to achieve their man tries to face down the devil without own piecemeal reforms for more than 150 losing his soul. It is the story of the war years without much success.” on drugs and the men – and women – who wage it.

ALUMNI AUTHORS

46 SUMMER 2016 Lord of the Family Huskers Ralphs Resemblances A Novel Lacewing Books, 2015, Poems SparkPress, 2015, (paper), $14.95 (paper) $17 University of New Mexico lacewingbooks.org gosparkpress.com Press, 2016, (paper), $17.95 Two boys, Hank www.umpress.com “Huskers” is about John and Ralph, create Carrie Exploring the concept Strat an introspective and McNally moments of outrageous Shipers of family from multiple Warden resourceful young ’90 transcendence in this ’10 angles, “Family ’72, ’76 boy who becomes a comic novel about Resemblances” reluctant leader when adolescence in the unfolds in a series of six of his friends, losers 1970s – a time, like today, when adults overlapping narratives in which characters all, choose to follow him on a journey. couldn’t be trusted and just getting by struggle with injury and healing, violence It is about their desire and their need to was hard work. Amid the clatter of Cheap and fear, courage and forgiveness. Many become more than the little boys they Trick and Styx, CB radios and “Creature of the poems are centered on a family perceive themselves to be. Huskers is an Features,” this novel belts out timeless whose members reappear through the account of their quest and how, together, truths about boyhood, friendship and book: a man – whose adolescence and they learn to accept and overcome their redemption. “Lord of the Ralphs” is a early 20s are marked by minor outlawry individual flaws, struggle with their reincarnation of the author’s beloved and anger – gradually transforms into growing awareness of girls, and confront novel for adults, “The Book of Ralph,” a tender father; his wife, accustomed and conquer their personal demons. revised and expanded specifically for YA to dealing with her household’s minor Along the broken and rocky climb, each readers. disasters, discovers that working as an finds inner strength and, as a team, emergency responder gives her power and they discover their character and realize a sense of purpose; the couple’s daughter the true value of sport. Seen through tries to understand which parent she most the clarity of a simpler time and place resembles and which parts of her nature – rural Nebraska in 1960, Huskers is are wholly her own. a testimony to the true values children should be learning through participation in youth sports.

Show US YOUR TALENT Featured books are not sold or distributed through the Nebraska Alumni Association. Publishing information is provided to help consumers locate the title through local booksellers or online retailers unless otherwise noted. To be considered for inclusion in Alumni Authors, send a complimentary copy of a book published in the last year and a description of its contents to: Alumni Authors Editor, 1520 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-1651

Please include the author’s full name, class year, current mailing and email addresses and telephone number. The author must have attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 47 Nebraska Magazine Editor Named

Kirstin Wilder will join the alumni teacher. association team August 8 as director Kirstin’s of publications, replacing Andrea husband, Cranford, senior director of publica- David, tions, who retired June 30. shares her Wilder has been international editor Midwestern of Variety, the entertainment publica- roots having tion where she started in 1992 as a grown up in NEWS copy and layout editor and later served southwest as managing editor for five years. Michigan. Variety magazine started publishing They met at Hollywood Presbyte- in 1905 covering the business of the rian Church in 2002 and married the entertainment industry. following year at a vineyard near Santa As international editor, Wilder Barbara. In true Hollywood fashion, managed a team of reporters around their wedding was an episode of the the world, paying close attention to Lifetime reality show “Merge,” hosted breaking news stories and putting by Lisa Rinna. those into context for the entertain- Kirstin Wilder David is a photographer and gaffer ment industry. She also headed up the on motion picture sets, although his publishing of daily editions of Variety at Wilder holds a journalism degree from most important job is caring for their film festivals in Cannes, Berlin, , UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass two daughters. Eden, 10, and Sophie, Venice and South Korea. In 2010, she Communications, which named her as 9, are excited to move to Lincoln where traveled to Macedonia at the request one of its outstanding alumni in 2015. they look forward to seeing their grand- of the United States State Department Closer to home she sits on the board mother, aunt, uncle and cousins on a to teach journalism workshops to of directors for the March of Dimes daily basis, as well as enjoying snow.v university students attending the Greater chapter, and is a Manaki Bros. Film Festival. Girl Scout leader and Sunday School

Members of the 2016-17 Scarlet Guard Board of Directors are: Front row (left-right) – Jazmin Castillo, Kelsey Koski, Michaela Niemeyer, Kelsey Moss, Chyann Smith, Kylie Gunderson, Carmen Ruiz-Palacios, Rachel Kleist, Bailie Saathoff; Back row (left-right) – Carina Arriaga, Kelli Griffin, Ryan Evers, Shayne Arriola, Dillon Thoman, Kyle Sramek, Collin Peterson, Gustavo Reyes, Dakota Staggs, Mohammed Hussain, Michael Eesley, Zach Ostravich, Alex Fernando, Katelyn Dickes, Taylor Gehring and Laura Springer.

48 SUMMER 2016 NEWS

The Alumni Association was on hand to greet new grads and their families as they streamed out of Pinnacle Bank Arena following May graduation ceremonies.

Sixteen Earn Scarlet Get Ready for Football Fridays Guard OTK Status and Homecoming Congratulations to the 16 SG members who earned the Official The Wick Alumni Center, 1520 R Street, will host three family friendly Tradition Keeper home-game Football Fridays this fall. The events, which run from 5 to 7 designation and p.m., will be held Sept. 2 (before the home opener with Fresno State), were honored at the Sept. 16 (before the Oregon game) and Sept. 30 (before the homecoming NAA’s annual Alumni game with Illinois). Entertainment includes the pep band and cheerleaders, Awards Banquet the , children’s games, pregame insights from former Huskers night before seniors and local media, giveaways and food and beverages for purchase, wore their medallions The Sept. 30 event also features the homecoming parade at 6 p.m., to commencement followed by the homecoming pep rally and jester competition later that ceremonies. evening. The new OTKers are: Football Friday will also be held on the road for the Northwestern, Aakriti Agrawal, Laura Wisconsin and Ohio State games. The Northwestern event will be held Brown, Jennifer Carlson, Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Old Crow Smokehouse, 149 W. Kinzie Katy Carver, Jazmin St., in Chicago. Football Friday for the Wisconsin game is Oct. 28 from Castillo, Paige DeDecker, Betsy Hardin, 6 to 8 p.m. at The Great Dane – Downtown Madison, 123 E. Doty Street Samantha Hogan, McKenna Kerr, in Madison, Wisconsin. On Nov. 4, Husker fans can gather at Miller’s Ashley McConnell, Brittney Merritt, Ale House, 1201 Olentangy River Road in Columbus, Ohio, from 6 to 8 Erica Nett, Kassandra Nolasco, Kylie p.m. for Football Friday. There will also be a Husker Huddle at 5 p.m. the Scheetz, Elizabeth Simoneau, Larissa next day at the Fawcett Event Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road. Check Wach and Becca Wolf.v huskeralum.org this fall for more details. v

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 49 2016 Writing Contest Winners Announced

Congratulations to the successful entrants in the 2016 place; Christa Britton, ’99, Kearney, Nebraska Magazine Writing Contest. The winners ranged second place; Bruce Woody, ’70, Dallas, from a member of the class of 1945 to the class of 2000. third place; and Betty Schlautman Three award winners and an honorable mention were Ruegge, ’00, Pawnee City, honorable NEWS selected in each of two categories: profiles and nostalgia. mention. This year’s winners in the profile category are: Brian Their award-winning work will appear Pomplun, Omaha, first place; Kristine Jacobson, ’94, in upcoming issues of the magazine. Holdrege, second place; Darrell Anderson, Detroit Lakes, Third-place winners’ entries will be published in the fall Minnesota, third place; and Jim Schaffer, ’71, Lincoln, issue of Nebraska Magazine; second place in the winter honorable mention. issue, first place in the spring issue and honorable mention Those earning honors in the nostalgia category are: in next summer’s magazine. v Dorothy Heuermann Nelson, ’45, Fresno, California, first

Fall 2016 NAA Events

AUGUST OCTOBER 6 Husker Night at the Kansas City Royals 1 Honors Program Reunion 22-31 Adventure Tour, The Magnificent Great Lakes 1 NCC Game Day, Illinois 25 Scarlet Guard Meet and Greet 4-15 Adventure Tour, Iberian Inspiration 14-22 Adventure Tour, European Empires of Artistry SEPTEMBER 20-21 Nebraska Women’s Leadership Network Fall 2 Football Friday, Wick Alumni Center Conference 3 NCC Game Day, Fresno State 22 NCC Game Day, Purdue 10 NCC Game Day, Wyoming 28 Football Friday at Wisconsin 16 Football Friday, Wick Alumni Center 16-17 College of Law Reunion Weekend NOVEMBER 17 NCC Game Day, Oregon 1 Alumni Award Nominations due 20-28 Adventure Tour, Italy’s Magnificent Lake District 3-8 Adventure Tour, Polar Bears of Churchill 22 SG Backpacks and Briefcases 4-6 NAA Athletic Tour to Ohio State 23-25 NAA Athletic Tour to Northwestern 4 Football Friday at Ohio State 23 Football Friday at Northwestern 5 Husker Huddle at Ohio State 30 Alumni Volunteer Weekend 8-22 Adventure Tour, Cruise the Caribbean 30 Football Friday, Wick Alumni Center 9-12 Alumni Masters Week Homecoming Parade, Campus 12 NCC Game Day, Minnesota Homecoming Pep Rally and Jester Competition, 19 NCC Game Day, Maryland Union Plaza 30-Oct. 1 Raikes School Reunion

50 SUMMER 2016 NEWS

During spring break a group of Scarlet Guard students gathered at the Texas home of David and Mary Mendoza (parents of SG member Matthew Mendoza), who hosted a Texas T-bone lunch and gave out “Texas Husker” towels. The group also participated in an Easter egg hunt (with a $50 prize). Pictured left to right: Paris Gunderson, Andy Fanning, Josh Thomas, Zach Homolka, Jared Mikuis, Laurel Lund, Rachel Kleist and Matthew Mendoza.

Spring 2016 graduates of the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program bid farewell to UNL during a dinner at the Wick Alumni Center.

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 51 Apply Now for the Young Alumni Academy NEWS

Applications are now open for the 2016-17 class of the Young Alumni Academy. Apply at huskeralum.org/yaa by Aug. 1. The selection process occurs in August and September each year, and the class runs from September through May. Now in its fifth year, the Nebraska Memories and laughs were shared while reviewing Alumni Association created YAA to Cornhusker Yearbooks at the 1960s Home Ec Reunion, held May 27 at the International Quilt Study Center & Museum. bring recent graduates back to campus for behind-the-scenes tours of the university’s exciting progress. The 2016-17 program topics include: September Orientation night with Chancellor Ronnie Green October IANR and CASNR night on East campus November Student Affairs and Campus Recreation December Student Athlete Success Program and speed mentoring with students January Night at the State Museum Alumni, family and friends gathered at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center to honor 19 alumni, eight students, a retired faculty member and an alumni February Nebraska Innovation family at the 2016 Alumni Awards Banquet. NAA staff member Derek Engelbart visited with Early Achiever Award winner Amanda Valentine during the May 5 event. Campus March Research night at the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior and the Athletic Performance Lab Schedule a Campus Tour

April Nebraska Alumni If you haven’t seen the campus recently, and have wondered about all the Association mission changes and updates, here’s an opportunity to satisfy your curiosity. and NU Foundation The Nebraska Alumni Association invites you to come “home” and tour the presentation campus with us. Take a walking tour with an NAA host, or better yet, take a riding May End of year event tour in our red golf cart. A tour can be tailored to your specific areas of interest or generalized so you can see the bigger picture. All tours begin and end at the Wick CONNECTION BOX Alumni Center, 1520 R St. To schedule a tour, visit huskeralum.org/campus-tours or call 402-472-2841 or huskeralum.org/yaa 888-353-1874. Please give us at least 24 hours advance notice for your tour. v

52 SUMMER 2016 ALUMNI CHAPTERS & AFFILIATES OLLI to Celebrate Nebraska’s 150th

Nebraska turns 150 years old next 2016. Many of the geographical year. The Osher Lifelong Learning features of the area, such as Wildcat Institute at the University of Nebraska- Hills State Recreation Area and Lincoln, better known as OLLI, will join Nature Center, Scottsbluff National with other state groups in celebrating Monument, Ash Hollow State Historical Nebraska’s 150 years of statehood. Park and Toadstool Park will be In addition, OLLI has been included. Agate Fossil Beds National approved as an official program Monument near Harrison, Nebraska, partner by the Nebraska 150 is also on the itinerary. Commission. Planning is underway The tour will go further to include for a year and a half of classes, water issues important to the area and trips and events tied to Nebraska’s visits to the Mitchell-Gering Canal and compelling history. OLLI is for all the Whalen Dam in Wyoming. who enjoy learning, but is specifically There will be stops at some of the designed for adult-learners age 50 museums that highlight the area’s plus. the history of transportation in Lincoln, development, as well as a visit to the Although the official Nebraska agriculture in our state, taxation in Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage sesquicentennial celebration doesn’t Nebraska, pioneer-era photographer Center, dedicated to the life and work begin until March of 2017, OLLI is Solomon Butcher, Nebraska authors, of this Nebraska author. getting a head start. OLLI’s theme for the contributions of immigrants to Additional tours are scheduled for the fall of 2016 through 2017 is “Out our state and Native American culture. 2017. “Currently, plans are to visit the of Many, One Nebraska.” This theme, Another course, for example, would Sandhills in the spring and Northeast reflecting America’s motto, “E pluribus be Nebraska’s role in World War II, Nebraska in fall of 2017,” said unum,” or “Out of many, one,” is a including its agricultural, cultural Rockwell. “We want to time this trip natural extension of OLLI’s 2015-2016 changes and its military involvement. to take full advantage of the beauty theme on diversity. David Dyke and Lois Pasco, of the Sandhills in the spring,” he OLLI will be collaborating and curriculum committee co-chairs, stated said. “Likewise, our trip to Northeast coordinating with other organizations that OLLI must coordinate its efforts Nebraska will give us an opportunity to to spotlight all things that are uniquely with the multiple organizations who are enjoy the fall colors of the region.” Nebraska. While not all of OLLI’s also involved in the sesquicentennial “There is no place like Nebraska, activities will center on the birthday planning. and its 150 birthday deserves to be theme, OLLI’s curriculum, special “We will focus on the ‘big idea,’ first, celebrated,” said Dee Aguilar, OLLI events and travel committees are then design specific classes in our coordinator. “Through OLLI’s activities planning to feature the state’s people, multiple subcommittees,” Dyke said. in the months ahead, we hope to history and heritage. Sesquicentennial- “There may be additional symposia showcase Nebraska, from its rich themed classes and events will be between terms, and multiple historical history, beauty and ruggedness, tough sprinkled throughout the coming travels into greater Nebraska will times and shining moments,” she said. academic year. enhance the curriculum programming,” “We invite Nebraskans, wherever they “If you think about it, there’s history he said. may be, to celebrate with us.” in everything. If you love this state, Lee Rockwell with Valden Tours, – Lucy Lien, ’75, and Patricia you can learn a lot about it and savor OLLI’s travel partner, is organizing Saldaña, ’99 v it,” said De Tonack, OLLI member and three special tours centered on the theme committee chair. Nebraska’s sesquicentennial. OLLI Still in the planning stage, some of members will tour the Nebraska the classes being considered include Panhandle region from Aug. 22 to 27,

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 53 ALUMNI CHAPTERS & AFFILIATES

Honors Program, Raikes School to Hold Reunion

Alumni of the UNL Honors Program and the Jeffrey S. cocktails, will be held from noon to 2 p.m. in room 212 of Raikes School of Computer Science will hold a joint reunion the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, 1505 “S” Street prior to the Nebraska vs. Illinois homecoming football game on campus. To RSVP, visit go.unl.edu/HonorsAlumni. on Saturday, Oct. 1. The group will also celebrate the 30th The Raikes School also has tentatively planned a Friday anniversary of the Honors Program. evening dinner and reception. Contact Anna Pressler with The event, featuring complimentary hors d’oeuvres and questions at 402-472-9097 or [email protected]. v

Chapters: Update Your TV Watch Sites

Football season is rapidly approaching, and alumni across the country will be searching for watch sites to view their favorite collegiate team in action. CONNECTION BOX Make sure your huskeralum.org/watch-sites alumni chapter’s watch site(s) are up to date on the Nebraska Alumni website. And if you’re looking for a place to join fellow Huskers in cheering for the Big Red, check the web page to Northern Nevadans for Nebraska 2016 Golf Tournament winners find a location closest to you. v were Wayne Esposito, Bill Glaser and John Hasselquist.

54 SUMMER 2016 ALUMNI CHAPTERS & AFFILIATES

Houstonians Host Men’s Basketball Staff

The Husker Athletics Department at 3rd Floor Houston, meeting the and the Nebraska Alumni Association’s men’s coaches and enjoying appetizers Houstonians spirit group teamed up and Husker giveaways. Edward Kaplan,

Bill Glaser, president of Northern Nevadans for a special event in Houston during a 1956 graduate and student manager for Nebraska, presented the Nebraska Book the NCAA Basketball Tournament for the 1955-56 Husker men’s Award (a copy of “My Antonia” by Willa Cather) for the outstanding student in English to Final Four on Saturday, April 2. basketball team, was on hand to greet Lauren Larson of Archbishop Manogue Approximately 75 to 80 Nebraska the coaches and share a team photo High School in Reno, . alumni and friends attended the event from his collegiate days. v

The Alabama Nebraskans held their 23rd annual picnic in the Natural Trail Pavillion on Green Mountain, Huntsville, Alabama. Twenty-six attended.

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 55 CLASSNOTES News/Weddings/Births/Deaths

1943 Presbyterian minister the Latino community in 2016 Nebraska Retail Champi- n Marjorie Neill of Lincoln (PCUSA), she will attend Lincoln. on program, which recognizes turned 95 on May 7. an executive certificate in brick-and-mortar merchants religious fundraising course in David M. Woodke of the and their contributions to local July at McCormick Theological Omaha law office of Woodke communities. 1949 Seminary in Chicago. & Gibbons PC LLO is now Melvin and Helen Allen, ’50, of concentrating on his mediation n Arthur H. Wolf of , Omaha celebrated their 65th n Dave and n Linda Rickertsen practice full time. Nevada, was appointed to the wedding anniversary May 20. Hirschfeld, ’66, of Lincoln initial advisory council for celebrated their 50th wedding the Tule Springs Fossil Beds Frank Bruning of Bruning 1974 anniversary May 22. Ron Brodersen is the past presi- National Monument by U.S. celebrated his 90th birthday Secretary of the Interior Sally April 21. dent of the American Associa- 1966 tion of Swine Veterinarians and Jewel. Lynn and Carol Doolittle of Roca has a practice in Hartington. 1950 celebrated a half century of 1976 n Lloyd McBeth marked his marriage on April 9. Michael P. McMeekin is the Franklin T. Thompson, an as- 90th birthday on April 18 with 2016 recipient of the Charles sociate professor of teacher family and friends in Santa n John Turnbull, York, retired Durham Achievement Award, education at the University of Clara, California. Upper Big Blue Natural denoting his leadership in Nebraska Omaha, received a Resources District general engineering and commu- 2016 Outstanding Teaching 1959 manager, was inducted into nity and civic involvement in Award from UNO at a ceremo- n Louis “Lou” Schultz, Park the Nebraska Natural Resourc- Omaha. McMeekin is president ny in April. Rapids, Minnesota, has been a es Districts Hall of Fame for of the engineering firm Lamp volunteer for SCORE (Service significant contributions over Rynearson. 1978 Corps of Retired Executives) 40 years of conservation and Jim Burford of Woodcliff was for nearly a decade. natural resources management n Harold A. Melser was rec- part of the first Nebraska Viet- on the local and state levels, ognized as Volunteer of the nam Veteran Combat Veterans 1962 particularly groundwater man- Month (March 2016) by the Flight by Patriotic Productions. agement and regulation. St. Louis (Missouri) Conven- Participants toured memorial LaVerne and Shirley Wasser- tion and Visitors Commission. burger Stetson of Lincoln cel- monuments in Washington, 1967 This recognition was primar- D.C., and Arlington National ebrated wedding anniversary ily for his volunteer work as a number 60 on March 3. Frank Partsch, retired edito- Cemetery. rial page editor of The Omaha destination specialist at the World-Herald, was inducted Visitors Center at Forest Park Michael Dooley has joined The 1963 into the 2016 Omaha Press as well as his work greeting Strawhecker Group (TSG) of n Tom Osborne, Lincoln, ap- Club Journalists of Excellence visitors at conferences and Omaha as director of business peared at a book signing in Hall of Fame. conventions at America’s development. his hometown of Hastings in Center. conjunction with his latest n Leta Powell Drake of Lincoln n Jim Masters, Papillion, was offering, “Mentoring Matters: was the recipient of the 2016 Kathleen Schmidt, a private- the recipient of the 2016 What Every Mentor Needs to Alumni Award of Merit from practice attorney in the Omaha Campbell Fraser Award for Know.” the Hixson-Lied College of area, has been honored as a Coaching Excellence at the Fine and Performing Arts at Top Ten Attorney for the state annual FocalPoint Business 1964 the University of Nebraska- of Nebraska by the National Coaching International Confer- n Charlotte Perry of La Jolla, Lincoln. Academy of Family Law At- ence. California, was one of 14 torneys. community volunteers honored 1970 ■ Richard Svoboda, principal with the Women of Dedication William Bosch of Spear- 1975 bassoonist of the Boston Award for 2016. fish, South Dakota, made a Dennis Allen, manager for Symphony Orchestra since presentation, “The Germans Urethane Contracting Service 1989, professor of bassoon 1965 from Russia,” to the Tri-State LLC, was designated the 2016 and Woodwind Department Al Crook of Fremont was part Museum and Visitor Center in Nebraska Premier Roofing chair at New England Conser- of the first Nebraska Vietnam Belle Fourche in April. Contractor by Heartland In- vatory of Music, has released a Veteran Combat Veterans ternational Inc., a nationwide solo CD entitled “Le Phénix,” Flight by Patriotic Productions. distributor of Conklin Commer- 18th-century French music for 1971 cial Roofing Systems. bassoon. With assistance from Participants toured memorial n Virgil and n Linda Berney of monuments in Washington, Boston Symphony bassoon Plattsmouth celebrated their n Larry Mares celebrated his colleagues and John Gibbons, D.C., and Arlington National 50th wedding anniversary Cemetery. 40th service anniversary with harpsichord, the disc presents March 12. RVW Inc. Architects & Engi- music spanning the Baroque ■ Susan Ayres Herman is a part- neers located in Columbus. and Classical eras from French time chaplain at Northwestern 1972 masters. Lake Forest Hospital, Lake Romeo Guerra was selected as Mike Moser, co-owner of Co- Forest, Illinois. A retired executive director of El Centro lumbus Music along with his de las Americas, which serves wife, Jan, are finalists in the

■ Indicates Alumni Association Life Member ■ Indicates Alumni Association Annual Member 56 SUMMER 2016 BY CHARLYNE BERENS, ’95, ’00

Alumni Profile ’79 and ’82 Science, Food and Agriculture Converge Nancy Eicher

Nancy Eicher’s food science roots the basic science run deep, way back to her great- classes she took. grandfather who homesteaded just But toward the end west of Milford and from there through of her sophomore two food science degrees at UNL. year, she realized Those roots were nurtured by work that a medical career with some of the giants of the food wasn’t going to be a industry and nurtured her growth right good fit. into her current position as owner of Stan Matzke, Food Perspectives Inc., a consumer a close friend of research and consulting company in Robert Eicher, Minneapolis. Nancy’s father, was Nancy Eicher The work she does reflects her assistant director of heritage and her interests in science, resident instruction food and agriculture, Eicher said. Food at UNL’s College of General Mills when it bought Pillsbury Perspectives practices consumer and Agriculture at the time, and he had a in June 2003. She was a director of sensory science, advising its clients suggestion: a major in food science. innovation in the merged company. about how consumers are likely to “When you see quality individuals like ConAgra Foods lured Eicher back to perceive a specific product and how to Nancy, you want to help point them in Nebraska in 2003 to create a compa- refine the product to meet consumers’ the right direction,” Matzke said. ny-wide sensory and product-testing needs. So he pointed her toward Roy program and to manage research “I’m part psychologist, part trained Arnold, then chair of the food science and development for the firm’s new product evaluator, part food scientist department. The encouragement she product/innovation project portfolio. and part storyteller,” Eicher said. got from Matzke and Arnold plus the She was happy to be back in her home Lisa Moceri said it’s the “combina- fact that all her science credits fit state, and she liked her work. tion of endless energy and undying into the food science major meant she But then came a “once-in-a-lifetime curiosity” that makes Eicher good at could slip right in. opportunity to own my own company,” what she does. Moceri is senior vice “Once I started, I saw this met all Eicher said. Food Perspectives’ president for administration and opera- my interests,” Eicher said: “in sci- founder was looking for someone to tions at FPI. “She’s always driven to ence, in food, in working with people. join the 15-year-old company and, get an answer and help clients make It was science applied to humans. It eventually, to buy it. “I’m always decisions, but she is creative about captured my attention and hit on all looking for the next mountain to applying rigorous scientific standards cylinders.” climb,” Eicher said, so back she went to this ‘soft’ science.” After earning the B.S. in 1979, to Minneapolis in 2005. Eicher attended elementary school Eicher went right on for the M.S. in “It was a perfect fit,” Eicher said. in Milford but graduated from Lincoln food science in 1982. Those degrees Food Perspectives’ philosophy and East High School. Enrolling at UNL led to a job with General Mills in the her personal philosophy are a match: seemed natural; her maternal grand- Twin Cities, and Eicher stayed with the “We’re all about making sure our parents and her mother were UNL company until 1994, doing sensory clients get the very best information” grads. Her father earned three degrees evaluation, research and development and are fully committed to the clients’ from the university. and quality control. She moved on to success. Backed by solid research, the When she started college, she had Pillsbury where she managed sensory FPI team “has to be good at creating med school in mind and loved all and product testing, then returned to Continued on Page 58

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 57 CLASSNOTES

1979 1982 science, Food and n David Eberhart is the state Norma Elia Cantu has been bridge engineer for the Arizona appointed the Murchison Pro- agriculture converge Department of Transportation, fessor in Humanities at Trinity and serves as chairman of University in San Antonio, Continued from Page 57 the board of directors of the Texas, and will join the faculty Arizona Sports and Tourism in August. She is a nationally a story that’s clear and that can be applied.” Authority, which is responsible recognized Latina scholar and “So many aspects have to come together to make for operating the University of author. a successful product,” Eicher said. “It takes lots of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, n science and lots of art to make a final proposition that Arizona, home of the NFL Ari- Rich Claussen is the new zona Cardinals and the Fiesta ambassador of innovation and hits all the needs consumers have.” Bowl. entrepreneurship for Prosper When she bought FPI, “it was clear to me that the Lincoln, a coalition of com- finance/administrative side of things was not where I n Kendra Eberhart is presi- munity groups and businesses could bring the most value to the company,” she said. dent and CEO of Royal Oaks dedicated to improving areas So she put together a team of executives who “anchor Lifecare Community in Sun of concern in Lincoln. critical areas so I can be free to work with clients and City, Arizona, an upscale not- for-profit life care facility. She Todd Finkle is the Pigott Profes- design research,” she said. “I have my face to the is completing her 30th year of sor of Entrepreneurship at outside.” service with the community. Gonzaga University in Spo- Her “team of equals has let me bring in some really kane, Washington. talented folks,” she said. The firm employs a total of Randy Kraft was promoted about 100 people, and Moceri said Eicher’s manage- to vice president of termi- Michelle Suarez has joined the ment approach has helped it thrive. nal management at Werner team at Prosper Lincoln and “Nancy finds ways to incorporate standard operating Enterprises, the Omaha-based will develop strategies for early freight carrier and transporta- childhood education. procedures and efficiency and yet pulls elements of re- tion company. search together that most people wouldn’t think about doing,” Moceri said. “She’s also generous,” both with 1983 n Margaret Ludemann, a realtor Alyson Dickinson is the prin- financial rewards for employees and also with the time affiliated with Coldwell Banker cipal of Friend (Nebraska) she spends “trying to help everybody learn as much as in Glenview, Illinois, was Public School and has been they can all of the time.” awarded membership in the part of the teaching profession Eicher has great memories of her days at UNL where company’s International Presi- for 33 years. dent’s Elite Club. she was a member of Delta Delta Delta, Innocents and Mortar Board and, as president of the East Union Mark Poeschl has been named Doug Zalesky was named the chief executive officer for both Program Council, was part of student government. 2016 Distinguished Alumni the National Future Farmers Joe Nigro, now the public defender in Lancaster Award recipient at Eastern of America Organization and County, remembers Eicher as a true leader on campus. Wyoming College. Zalesky is the National Future Farmers of Nigro and Eicher became close friends and have the assistant resident scientist America Foundation. Poeschl and director of the Laramie lives in Brookville, Ohio. stayed in touch. He believes Eicher has been so Research and Extension Center successful because of who she is: “incredibly bright, at the University of Wyoming. articulate, talented and outgoing.” ■ Albert Sims was selected the new director of operations for Nigro remembers, too, how committed Eicher was 1981 The Southwest Research & to the Cornhusker Marching Band. Eicher said some Willow Holoubek received the Outreach Center (SWROC) in of her best college memories are connected to four Outstanding Woman in Agricul- Crookston, Minnesota. SWROC years playing the piccolo in the band. “It really taught ture Award from the Columbus is a crop research facility me how to work as part of a large team to accomplish Area Chamber of Commerce under the direction of the Uni- something new every single week,” she said. Agribusiness Committee in versity of Minnesota. March. She and her husband, The band demonstrated what Eicher said she thinks Mark, farm near David City. n Kimberly Wanker, Pahrump, is one of Nebraska’s strongest values: “We’re all about Nevada, is a traveling circuit helping each other.” Ray Kucera and his family, judge in the Fifth Judicial She has traveled all over the United States and Cedar Bluffs, were honored by District Court in Nevada. much of the world and believes that caring spirit is the Fremont Area Chamber of unique to the Midwest and, especially, Nebraska. Commerce as the Farm Family 1984 “There’s something about the state and the way of the Year. Todd Kirshenbaum has joined the Seward County (Nebraska) people are raised that lends itself to this helpfulness,” Neil Stanley is president of she said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without that Chamber & Development Part- community banking at TS nership as vice president. foundation.” Banking Group in Omaha.

58 SUMMER 2016 Barbara and Ralph Fox, 1943. Ralph C. and Barbara Rehberg BY KYLIE KINLEY Fox Collection (NSHS RG4701-2-116)

Alumni Profile ’44 and ’47 Nebraska History Museum Exhibits Showcase Alumni Barbara and Ralph Fox

Several new exhibits at the newly American life renovated Nebraska History Museum with the skill display the work and passions of UNL of professional alumni. photographers and was part of the team that won a Four exhibits made their debut and the soul of philanthropists. Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the April 1 after an 18-month, $8 million Barbara Rehberg and Ralph C. Fox 1948 Nebraska presidential primary. renovation of the building at 131 met on their first day of college at Ralph’s wartime experience contrib- Centennial Mall North in Lincoln. the University of Nebraska in 1940. uted to alcoholism. In 1955, he lost The renovation included upgrades to She came to Lincoln from a remote his job at the newspaper due to his comply with the with Dis- ranch in Antelope County. He was from drinking. Barbara started a business, abilities Act, replacement of outdated Logan, Iowa. Fox Foto, to keep their family afloat. heating, air conditioning and plumbing They married on May 8, 1943, just In 1957 Ralph embraced recovery elements, and new lighting and carpet before Ralph left for army boot camp and Alcoholics Anonymous with the in the exhibit spaces. during World War II. While Ralph same enthusiasm he had applied to In addition, the renovation moved trained with the army, Barbara finished his military service and his journalism the entrance from the northeast corner college, graduating in 1944. Through- career. of the building to In the 1950s, Barbara defied the center. One of society’s expectations and raised two the most notice- children while working outside the able changes is home. She often brought her children, the Nebraska 1% Paige and Kevin, along on photo for Art program assignments. She photographed ev- project on the erything from the Nebraska State Fair front of the to the detonation of the atomic bomb building facing nicknamed “Annie” at the Nevada Centennial Test Site on March 17, 1953. None of Mall. Created by the witnesses were tested for radiation UrbanRock Design following the blast, and Barbara later of Los Angeles, developed lung problems that she “Inside Outside” attributed to radiation exposure from uses brightly- Man Riding a Bucking Horse in a Rodeo in Wahoo, 1948. Ralph the event. Her photos of the event are colored aluminum C. and Barbara Rehberg Fox Collection (NSHS RG4107-2-75) part of the exhibit. banners to depict By the end of the 1960s, Barbara a selection of and Ralph Fox shifted their focus artifacts from the museum. out her life, she lived by the principles and dedicated themselves to help- One exhibit called “American she learned in journalism classes: ing people. The Foxes founded the Dreams in the Cold War: Photos by “You have to tell the truth, even if it Houses of Hope alcohol and drug Barbara and Ralph Fox” is dedicated means risking your life.” rehabilitation center in Lincoln and entirely to the photography work of When Ralph Fox came home from helped thousands of people conquer UNL alumni Barbara and Ralph Fox. the battlefields of Europe, he finished addiction. This husband-and-wife photography his degree in photojournalism. He Barbara’s memory lives on through team documented Cold War-era worked for the Lincoln Evening Journal numerous agencies that she helped Continued on Page 60 NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 59 CLASSNOTES

Chris Knust, branch man- will also hold the title of pro- nebraska history museum ager and vice president at the fessor of management. Ameriprise Financial office in Omaha, has qualified for the Gail Winter completed the exhibits showcase alumni company’s 2016 Circle of Suc- 2016 Lincoln half-marathon Continued from Page 59 cess recognition program. race despite battling double pneumonia and a MRSA Steven Peterson of Lincoln infection earlier in the spring. received the 2016 Ichiban Winter teaches second grade at Award from Yaskawa Motoman Martin Grade School in Martin, Robotics. This annual honor is South Dakota. presented to the top salesper- son throughout all of North 1988 America and Brazil. Jared Gerber has been elected president of the 2016 Omaha 1985 chapter of the American Lori Buchanan of Signature Institute of Architects. Gerber Electric LLC in Omaha was is the owner of Gerber Archi- installed as a member of the tecture. 2016 Associated Builders and Contractors board of directors. Mike Losee was selected as marketing development direc- n Theresa Klein of Wahoo is tor for Caldwell Group, an Kevin Fox with bakery case, 1955. Ralph C. and Barbara executive associate at the advertising agency located in Rehberg Fox Collection (NSHS RG4107-2-43) Rural Futures Institute at the Winter Park, Florida. University of Nebraska. 1989 start: Houses of Hope, Antler Center, St. Monica’s, John H. Marsh was appointed Michelle Penn, owner of the district court judge for the Lincoln Action Program, and Lincoln Council on Lincoln architecture company Ninth Judicial District Court Authenticity LLC, received the Alcoholism and Drugs. Ralph died in 1998 and of Nebraska by Gov. Pete Barbara passed away in 2009. 2015 Architectural People’s Ricketts. Choice Award bestowed by the But the Fox exhibit is not the only exhibit connected American Institute of Archi- with UNL alumni. A second new exhibit with UNL ties n Curt Mann retired after 38 tects Nebraska. is “Nebraska’s Enduring Quilt Heritage: New Acquisi- years of teaching in Lincoln tions.” It showcases quilts that tell stories of migra- Public Schools (Zeman and Joel Scherling of the Nebraska Meadow Lane). tion, politics, and other memorable events in Nebraska Department of Education, is president of the 2016 Lincoln history. It also tells the story of UNL alum Ernest Bruce Petersen of the Elec- Haight, who started quilting in 1934. He earned an Human Resources Manage- tronic Contracting Corp. in ment Association board of engineering degree from the University of Nebraska Lincoln is the past chair of the directors. and valued efficiency and mathematical precision in 2016 Associated Builders and quilts, so he developed a faster method for machine Contractors board of directors. Sean Patrick Suiter is the quilting and self-published a booklet in 1974 called founder of the Omaha intel- James Pfeffer has rejoined the “Practical Machine-Quilting for the Homemaker.” lectual property law firm Suiter Omaha law firm of Abrahams Swantz IP. “Nebraska Unwrapped: Selections from the Col- Kaslow & Cassman LLP as an lections,” the third exhibit, displays a wide range of associate. materials from the museum’s collections. The artifact 1991 with the most obvious UNL ties is a Cornhusker Rocky Weber of Lincoln has Jeff Beals of Omaha has joined NAI NP Dodge Commercial Marching Band uniform worn by Jack Snider, the become the president and gen- eral counsel for the Nebraska Real Estate as executive vice band’s assistant director (1951-60) and director Cooperative Council, which is president of marketing and (1961-75). In addition to the marching band, Snider the state’s major trade associa- community relations. conducted concert bands and small ensembles, and tion representing agricultural taught brass instruments and conducting. cooperatives. Jim Hanna, a Los Angeles-based The final exhibit, “Photographers and the Plains actor, was the recipient of the Indian,” explores how photographs influence Ameri- 2016 Alumni Achievement 1987 Award from the Hixson-Lied cans’ perceptions of Plains tribal people and how both n Sheila O’Connor has been College of Fine and Perform- photographers and their native subjects used early named vice president for the ing Arts at the University of photographs to convey particular meanings. Nebraska Trucking Association Nebraska-Lincoln. in Lincoln. Collette Kaster of Kearney, Mis- EDITOR’S NOTE: Kylie Kinley is assistant editor n William N. Ruud was named for the publications division of the Nebraska State souri, has been named execu- the 19th president of Marietta tive director of the Professional Historical Society. College in Marietta, Ohio, and

60 SUMMER 2016 BY JANE EPLEY, ’77

Alumni Profiles ’90, ’94 and ’94 Specialty Coffee for Huskers by Huskers Jon and Marianella Jost

Jon Jost grew up in Seward, International Nebraska. During his sophomore year business degree. at UNL he began volunteering with They married the Nebraska Athletic Department’s and have lived in Jon and Marianella stand amid the aromatic coffee blooms strength and conditioning staff. He Massachusetts, at Café con Amor. Each flower, which only blooms became a part-time assistant and Texas and Florida for about two days, becomes a coffee bean. then was hired as a full-time strength before their latest coach when he graduated in 1990. move to Costa the coffee. The beans are removed Four and a half years later the College Rica, to become coffee farmers. from the pulp, separated by weight, of the Holy Cross lured him away as Coffee farmers? Disbelief, washed and then dried in the sun their head Strength Coach. skepticism and awe were the reactions for eight to 10 days. Now the coffee Marianella Baez grew up in Costa of family and friends when they is referred to as “green.” There is a Rica. In 1986 she competed against revealed their plan. The two weren’t 45-day resting period of the “green 500 applicants and won one of 40 avid gardeners. They didn’t grow up beans” before they are sorted and scholarships to come to the United on farms. The closest connection graded to meet certain standards set States as an exchange student. She to farming was Jon’s maternal by the Specialty Coffee Association of had never been to the USA before. grandfather who owned a small America. Green coffee is what makes When she landed in Omaha on a farm in Bennett, Nebraska. So why the journey to the roaster. Here, again, September Saturday, she noticed buy a farm in Costa Rica to grow the beans can be enhanced or not. everyone in the airport was wearing coffee? And not just any coffee, but Jon described the final step – the red. She feared she had been placed “Specialty Coffee”? cupping score. “Cupping the coffee where there was some kind of Jon explained: “We wanted to take provides a quantitative evaluation of religious cult or dominant government. the road less traveled and start a the quality of the coffee. The coffee She read the welcome sign held by new challenging project that involved is rated on notes of flavor, aroma, her host family, but was hesitant to physical work and the outdoors. texture, aftertaste, sweetness, acidity, meet them because they, too, were Coffee is a thriving industry and Costa body, balance and uniformity on a wearing red. Rica produces some of the highest 100-point scale. A coffee scoring Her first wish upon arriving in quality coffee in the world.” Moving more than 80 points is considered a the U.S. was to buy a pair of Nike back to Costa Rica, and closer to specialty coffee.” tennis shoes. Aiming to please, Marianella’s family, was a bonus. Café con Amor, Jon and Marianella’s her host family stopped at Gateway There are important criteria and farm, is 5.5 hectares or about 14 Mall in Lincoln to fulfill that wish. steps to follow in growing specialty acres. Located at an altitude of 1,300 More people in red were glued to TV coffee. The right variety of bean must meters above sea level, the average monitors in the stores and restaurants, be planted. The land must be at least temperature is 72 degrees F. The soil watching a football game. One team 1,200 meters above sea level. The is right for growing Arabica beans, wore red. Suddenly she understood seedlings must be watered frequently more specifically the Caturra and Villa and was relieved. Little did she know and cared for with the right amount of Sarchi varieties of specialty coffee. in a few years she would graduate shade and sun. Coffee is considered This region of Costa Rica is very well from the University of Nebraska and a fruit and is harvested once a year known for the quality of coffee it wear red as a faithful Husker alum. when the cherries are picked by hand produces. Marianella added, “In fact, Jon and Marianella met while at the peak of ripeness. the winner of the “Cup of Excellence,” students at UNL. Jon was completing The next step is processing. The the most prestigious award given to his master’s in exercise science wet milling can be very complex and a coffee farmer, has his farm 6 miles and Marianella was finishing up her different methods can enhance or ruin from ours, and we are processing our Continued on Page 62

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 61 CLASSNOTES

Animal Auditor Certification works as vice president of specialty coffee for Organization. mortgage loans for Union Bank & Trust. huskers by huskers Carol Kirchner was announced as the associate vice chancel- Linda Sackschewsky, Seward, Continued from Page 61 lor for business and finance has joined Garner Industries as at the University of Nebraska chief financial officer for the coffee at his micromill.” Omaha in April. Lincoln-based manufacturer. With so much to learn, Jon and Marianella have hired expert help. Chevo, their full-time worker, is n Michael T. Miller has been 1994 58 years old and has worked with coffee for more named dean of the College of Terry Connealy has been named Education and Health Pro- president of the newly formed than 40 years. “His wisdom and experience as a fessions at the University of farmer are priceless to us,” Jon said. They also Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Arkansas in Fayetteville for a a joint venture of Mutual of hired a coffee engineer, Adrian. Jon compared their two-year term, beginning Omaha Bank and Dallas-based working relationship to his job as the head strength July 1. residential mortgage lender coach under Bobby Bowden at Florida State. “We PrimeLending. all work together to enhance each person’s strengths Stacie Neussendorfer has at- tained the Chartered Advisor in and minimize weaknesses – just like strength and Robert A. Mooney was added to Philanthropy designation from the legal team of Sodoro, Daly, conditioning programs do for athletes.” the Richard D. Irwin Graduate Their harvest this past season started in mid- Shomaker & Selde PC LLO School of the American Col- in Omaha, where his primary December and finished at the end of February. The lege, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. practice area is defending farm hired nine workers to hand pick the beans. “In Neussendorfer is an adviser in physicians and hospitals in order to obtain specialty coffee, we must pick only the the Omaha office of Westwood negligence actions. deep red beans,” Jon explained. They call the color Trust, a national wealth man- agement company. “Sangre de Toro,” which translates to “Bull’s Blood.” 1995 The hours of picking are long and hard but their Kerry L. Beldin was presented efforts are paying off. The yield was bigger and better 1992 a 2016 Outstanding Teach- Jason Dworak was recognized ing Award from the University than the previous year and the demand is exceeding as one of Barron’s “Top 1,200 their supply. of Nebraska Omaha in April. Financial Advisors.” Dworak Beldin is an assistant profes- Along with learning the farming routine, the couple works in the private wealth sor in the UNO College of have researched and studied how to get the coffee management office of UBS Public Affairs and Community directly to their customer, ensuring 100 percent Financial Services Inc. in Service. traceability to the farm. They have partnered with Lincoln. an importer in Kansas City. The first shipment Doris Robertson has been n James D. Murray, Littleton, named president of Farmers was scheduled to arrive late Massachusetts, was named this spring. Various roasters & Merchants Inc., the hold- to the board of advisers of ing company of Union Bank & throughout the Midwest are ClearDATA, a healthcare cloud Trust of Lincoln. interested in the coffee and the computing company. story of its unique growers. The 1996 beans are coming to coffee shops Amy Ryan has been appointed officer audit leader for the Michael Quinn, chartered in Lincoln, Omaha and Seward. Omaha market of Deloitte LLP, retirement planning coun- It’s been an exciting adventure the international auditing firm. selor, managing director and for the couple. private wealth adviser at the “Our goal is to split time ■ William Thorell was awarded Ameriprise Financial office in between Nebraska and Costa the Lyal G. Leibrock M.D. Omaha, has qualified for the company’s 2016 Circle of Suc- Rica,” Jon said. “The coffee Chair of Neurosurgery at the cess recognition program. farming cycle will allow us University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he is to spend the summers in Nebraska to meet with an associate professor. Chad W. Swantz is a co-owner customers and tend to that side of the business. of the Omaha intellectual prop- We hope to build a small cabin in Bennett on my 1993 erty law firm Suiter Swantz IP. grandparent’s land. Our long term project is to partner Krista Newkirk has been se- with neighboring coffee farmers in Costa Rica and lected as the tenth president 1997 together connect with roasters and customers that of Converse College in Char- Douglas M. Peters, an architect appreciate quality beans and are willing to pay a fair lotte, North Carolina. in the Omaha firm of Leo A price. Daly, has been appointed a se- nior associate of that company. “Bringing our coffee to the Midwest is a dream Kelly Novotny of Denton was recognized by Scotsman Guide come true. We are proud to produce great coffee for as the top mortgage loan of- Huskers – by Huskers.” ficer in Lincoln and second in the state of Nebraska. She

62 SUMMER 2016 BY RUTH RAYMOND THONE, ’53

Alumni Profile ’83, ’86 Anchoring NU in the Panhandle Sandy Massey

An outstanding family with deep that Scottsbluff has provided the roots in Scottsbluff and across village to help raise Megan and John’s decades of public service has for boys. Sandy said, with deep convic- generations represented the University tion, “Jack and Jacob are life’s biggest of Nebraska in Nebraska’s Panhandle. treasures. They have taught many Scion of this well-known and many people some important lessons respected family, Sandy Massey is the in life.” She added, with the same granddaughter of former NU Regent pride, “My brother Jim’s children are Jack Elliott who began the devotion Trevor and Ryan and they are life’s of his family to the university. She is greatest joys, too. They are very close thrilled to be the heir of his Steinway in age to Jack and Jacob and have piano – and surely of his rich deep been very supportive cousins.” voice, too; Sandy is a mezzo soprano. Sandy described the family’s deep Sandy’s grandfather served as a and broad connections with the of the Panhandle Nebraska Alumni university regent for two terms. He university, starting with her grandpar- Chapter’s Alumni of the Year award in died in 1974 while serving his second ents’ service on the Board of Regents. 2014 and continues her leadership in term and was replaced by his widow, Uncle Roy Yaley (married to one of NU’s affairs in western Nebraska. She Camille Leyda Elliott, first woman on Jack and Camille’s daughters) was a currently serves on the UNMC Board the Board of Regents. She and her past president of the Nebraska Alumni of Counselors and is a Foundation twin sister, Lucille, were both NU Association, and her dad (Jim Massey) Trustee. Marking her family’s com- graduates and Cornhusker beauty was on the executive committee of the mitment to serving their community queens. Sandy Massey treasures the alumni association. He and his wife, and the university, Sandy remembered 1916 Cornhusker yearbook in which Dodie, (Sandy’s mother) also currently “as a child I painted a small piece of her grandmother and great aunt are serve on the NU Foundation board. plywood with the words ‘another board featured. Her cousin, Linda Yaley Bowden, for you to serve on’ and gave it to my Typical of her enduring spirit for was a member of the alumni associa- dad for Christmas.” life, Sandy said: “My favorite thing tion board when Sandy served on the This aunt, sister, daughter and about my life is that I have four really board; and her brother John currently friend with the great heart didn’t set super nephews and families that live serves on the executive committee out to live in Scottsbluff. “My work in Scottsbluff that I get to spend time of the Foundation Board of Trustees. took me to other locations where I with, and that I get the honor and John is a lawyer and graduate of loved living; yet somehow moving privilege of knowing and being with the NU College of Law, and he runs back to Scottsbluff always seemed my parents as they grow old.” the J.G. Elliott Insurance Company to be in the cards ... I was tugged to Two of those nephews are special (founded by the Elliott grandfather). come home.” Her journeys took her to needs young men, born with Fragile X. Her brother Jim is an accomplished Boise, Idaho, and Steamboat Springs, Sandy’s sister-in-law, Megan Hamsa otolaryngologist and a graduate of the Colorado. Massey, originally from Omaha and UNMC College of Medicine. Sandy continues her love of music married to her brother, John Massey, Jack and Camille Elliott, who and sings with her church choir and co-wrote “Dear Megan, Letters on graduated in 1917, raised four other ensembles. In Scottsbluff her Life, Love and Fragile X,” with Mary daughters and all graduated from the leadership jobs fill an entire page Beth Busby of Washington, D.C., University – Betty Elliott Metcalf, of her resume, single-spaced, and also a mother of two Fragile X young Catherine Elliott Yaley, Dorothy Elliott emphasize both her musical gifts men. Both women have been in the Massey and Jeanne Elliott Westervelt. and her natural management skills: forefront of work to fund investigation Ten of eleven grandchildren attended chair of countless organizations, past into this chromosomal disorder and the University of Nebraska. and present. Her talents led Sandy to publicize it and help other parents Sandy Massey, holder of both an to a business career as senior vice raise such children. undergraduate degree and a master’s president and director of human The Masseys are especially grateful degree from UNL, was the recipient resources for Platte Valley Companies, Continued on Page 64 NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 63 CLASSNOTES

1998 where she was a first-team All- Anchoring nu in n Cristy Joy of Archi & Etc. LLC American three times. is past president of the Lincoln chapter of the 2016 American Adam Wiekamp, a realtor in the the panhandle Cotner office of HOME Real Continued from Page 63 Institute of Architects board of directors. Estate in Lincoln, has been awarded the Graduate, Realtor a consortium of insurance and financial businesses. Institute designation. “I’m not very good about providing information 1999 Jared L. Clinger, stationed at that pertains to me,” said the Scottsbluff native. “The Peterson Air Force Base in 2002 world certainly isn’t about me. “ Colorado, was promoted to the Shawn Ballarin, a multimedia Citing the NU nursing program and the Panhandle rank of lieutenant colonel in artist in Lincoln, was the sub- station as important to both the health care facilities the U.S. Army. ject of the exhibition “Horizons and the agriculture community, Sandy is proud of the and Patterns” held at Gallery 72 in Omaha. university’s presence in her homeland and like a true 2000 child of western Nebraska adds, “Of course we would Jason Minchow was promoted Victoria Collier, founder of The always love to have more.” to vice president, procurement, Elder & Disability Law Firm When pushed to talk about herself and her life, at the American National Bank of Victoria L. Collier PC, will Sandy said she thinks her laugh, her singing voice in Omaha. co-author a forthcoming book, and “maybe my dimples” are her most marked “The Road to Success: Today’s Matthew A. Poulsen is a co- Leading Entrepreneurs and characteristics. She is grateful for every journey owner of the Omaha intellec- Professionals Reveal Their her 54 years of life has provided “the opportunity tual property law firm Suiter Step-by-Step Systems to to take.” Her life’s motto centers in these carefully Swantz IP. Help You Achieve the Health, chosen words: “Everywhere you go, there you are, Wealth and Lifestyle You De- or maybe life is like a piano, what you get out of it Jennifer Rathman has joined the serve.” Collier is a resident of Nebraska Hospital Association depends upon how you play it.” Decatur, Georgia. in Lincoln as the director of When this community-dedicated family gathers on communications. Todd Jedrzejczyk is a mechani- major holidays, Sandy explained “one of my favorite cal engineer in the Lincoln parts is that we welcome all kinds of people,” such n Ryan Stowe is general man- office of the architecture/en- as nephew Jacob’s construction company boss and ager of imports for Interna- gineering firm The Schemmer his wife, the Western Nebraska Community College tional Logistics Inc. of Omaha, Associates Inc. softball coach and her husband, the Episcopal priest a global supply chain solution provider. U.S. Secretary of and his family – the Masseys are all Methodists. Derek Kotschwar has been Commerce Penny Pritzker pre- promoted to principal in the Appearing to live without regret, Sandy gently offers sented the company with the Lincoln office of Engineering “that I would do so many things differently if I could President’s “E” Star Award for Technologies Inc., where he is have a ‘do-over,’ but life is what you make of it.” Export Service, which recog- a mechanical engineer. Raised in a family that “feels a responsibility to nizes U.S. entities that make the world around us, and certainly public education significant contributions in David Lockwood was selected and the university system are an important part of expanding American exports. as chief investment officer at that,” Sandy Massey could not be a more joyous and Assurity Life Insurance Co. in Donna Woudenberg is the proj- Lincoln. dedicated representative of the people of western ects and operations manager Nebraska and its support of the University of Ne- for the Joslyn Institute for Sus- braska. She is deeply rooted in the life of Nebraska’s tainable Community Lincoln 2003 office. Kurt Cisar is a partner in the Panhandle and elegantly blooming where she is Omaha architectural firm Hol- planted. 2001 land Basham Architects. EDITOR’S NOTE: Writer Ruth Raymond Thone also Eileen Dakan was named ex- Todd DeFreece is vice president ecutive director of the United grew up in Scottsbluff where she called Sandy’s of operations at the new CHI Way of the Kearney area. mother, Dorothy (Dodie) Elliott, her best childhood Health Creighton University Medical Center located at 24th friend. Thone remembers joining the Elliott family for Jason R. Griess of Lincoln has and Cuming in Omaha. their big meal at noon, “Jack Elliott telling us that been appointed president of carrots made our hair blue and our eyes curly,” and Nebraska Land Title and Ab- Matt Glawatz of The Clark excited as a teen-ager to hang out and dance in their stract office in Omaha. Enersen Partners has been basement. She may be reached at ruththone@ elected president of the Nancy Meendering Metcalf of Lincoln chapter of the 2016 hotmail.com.) Lincoln has been inducted American Institute of Archi- into the University of Nebraska tects board of directors. Athletics Hall of Fame. Met- calf starred in volleyball,

64 SUMMER 2016 CLASSNOTES

Patrick Hastings, is vice presi- 2004 manager for The Kroger Co. in Shawn Toovey, Gretna, is the dent of International Logistics Lincoln Arneal has been ap- Phoenix. Omaha Children’s Museum Inc. of Omaha, a global supply pointed the inaugural foun- director of guest experience. chain solution provider. dation executive director of 2005 Toovey was a cast member in Launch Leadership, which Julie Iromuanya of Tucson, the 1990s TV show “Dr. Quinn, Shane Hoss, an architectural provides financial support to Arizona, was a finalist for the Medicine Woman.” engineer-electrical in the Oma- leadership programs and stu- 2016 PEN/Faulkner Award for ha office of engineering firm dent leaders in Nebraska. Fiction, which honors the best Mark A. Turner, president and Engineering Technologies Inc., published works of fiction by CEO of WSFS Financial Corp. was promoted to principal. Taylor Ashburn was promoted American citizens. Iromuanya and WSFS Bank in Wilmington, to vice president and manager is an assistant professor of Delaware, has been appointed Zach Kassebaum is the new of residential construction English and Africana literature to represent the Third Federal superintendent for Lincoln lending at West Gate Bank in in the University of Arizona Reserve District on the Federal Christian, a private K-12 Lincoln. creative writing MFA program. Advisory Council for 2016. school in Lincoln. Tafe Sup Bergo is a realtor with Katie Johnson is the vice presi- Natalia Wiita was selected one Scott Koethe, a realtor with the Woods Bros. Realty in Lincoln. dent of Marketing and Client of Editor & Publisher’s annual Omaha commercial real estate Services for Awareity, a Lincoln- “25 Under 35 – Publisher firm Cushman & Wakefield, Justin Hesser was promoted to based company that provides Leaders.” She is the advertising has earned the Certified Com- assistant vice president at the threat-assessment and security director for the Lincoln Journal mercial Investment Member South Street branch of - information for various public Star. designation by the CCIM nacle Bank in Lincoln. and private clients. Institute. 2006 Jon Rehm has become a share- Lindsay Selig of Complete Chil- Austin Chambers has taken the Ryan Watson of Nebraska ANG holder in the Lincoln office of dren’s Health, is president-elect position of Gulfstream/Em- is a director on the Lincoln the law firm Rehm, Bennett & and governmental affairs chair braer Airframe Service sales chapter of the 2016 American Moore PC LLO. of the Lincoln Human Resourc- representative in Battle Creek, Institute of Architects board of es Management Association Michigan. directors. ■ Luke Stokebrand is the divi- board of directors. sion customer communications DRC + CobrandDRC + Cobrand URL URL

CountCount on Team on Team Liberty. Liberty.

Save HundredsSave Hundreds o n insurance on insurance as an alumas of an the alum Nebraska of the NebraskaAlumni Associatio Alumni Association n

JOIN TEAMJOIN LIBERTY. TEAM LIBERTY. Get a free Get quo a tfreee on quo homtee o innsu horanceme in asundrance see howand semuce howh yo um cucanh syoave.u can save.

For your For freeyour quote, free quote, call call 778 - 774 778 - - 774 2434 - . 2434 . 317 eilC l i ne t C # l i : ne 76 t 1 # 3 : 76 1 3

This organizationThis receives organization financial receives support financial for allowing support Liberty for allowing Mutual Libertyto offer Mutual this home to offer insurance this home program. insurance program. *Average annual*Average savings annualbased savingson countrywide based on survey countrywide of new surveycustomers of new from customers 01/27/2014 from to 01/27/201401/16/2015 whoto 01/16/2015 reported theirwho priorreported insurers’ their premiumsprior insurers’ when premiums they switched when theyto Liberty switched to Liberty Mutual’s groupMutual’s home program. group home Savings program. do not Savings apply in do MA. not apply in MA. Coverage providedCoverage and underwritten provided and by underwritten Liberty Mutual by LibertyInsurance Mutual Company Insurance and itsCompany affiliates, and 175 its Berkeley affiliates, Street, 175 Berkeley Boston, Street,MA 02116. Boston, Liberty MA Mutual 02116. LibertyInsurance Mutual is licensed Insurance in all is 50 licensed states in all 50 states and the Districtand of Columbia.the District 36 of USC Columbia. 220506 36 USC 220506 © 2016 Liberty ©Mutual 2016 LibertyInsurance. Mutual Insurance. Valid through NovemberValid through 9, 2016. November 9, 2016.

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 65 CLASSNOTES

Carrie Colburn was named pub- Jeffrey Wyatt was a recipient of ■ Mat Habrock, Lincoln, was 2011 lisher of the York (Nebraska) a 2015 CoStar Power Broker named as the assistant direc- Dee Aguilar, coordinator of News-Times. Award, an honor given to the tor for the Nebraska Depart- the Osher Lifelong Learning “best of the best” in com- ment of Agriculture. Institute at the University of Adam Hoebelheinrich is regional mercial real estate brokerage Jan Rodgers of Mars, Penn- Nebraska-Lincoln, was a recipi- vice president of the Midwest business. Wyatt is a broker in sylvania, served as a quilt ent of the 2016 CPCAS Alumni Region for Project Control, the Omaha office of Colliers appraiser for the Three Rivers Award for Excellence in Public a Texas-based construction International, a global real Quilters 2016 Quilt Show. Service, presented by the project management firm. estate company. gerontology department at the Kimberly Russo has been se- University of Nebraska Omaha. Tonya Jolley has been named 2008 lected CEO for George Wash- principal of Kloefkorn Elemen- Joe DiCostanzo, a freshman ington University Hospital in Jordan Burroughs hosted a wres- tary School in Lincoln. history instructor at Omaha Washington, D.C. tling clinic at Bergen Catholic Benson High School, was the High School in Oradell, New Dan Perry, a shop techni- recipient of the Christa McAu- David von Kampen, a lecturer in Jersey, in April. The gold cian and instructor in the art liffe Award, given to recognize composition in the Glenn Korff medalist lives in Lincoln and department of the University excellence in teaching. School of Music at the Univer- is training for the upcoming of Northern Iowa in Waterloo, sity of Nebraska-Lincoln, has Olympics in Brazil. presented his varied creations Melissa Dohmen of Lincoln and been selected the 2015 Music in an exhibition, “Fabricated her boyfriend are exploring Teacher National Association Caitlin C. Cedfeldt has joined Facades,” at the Forsberg Riv- America in their tiny house on Distinguished Composer of the the Omaha law firm Dvorak erside Galleries in the Waterloo wheels, one state at a time. Year. & Donovan Law Group LLC, Center. They were the subjects of a where she specializes in real segment on HGTV (home, gar- 2010 estate and corporate counsel- of Sinclair Michael Sinclair dening and design network) last ■ John Coburn, a member of ing. Hille Architects has been November. Olsson Associates transpor- chosen president-elect of the tation team in Lincoln, has Michael Corrigan has been Lincoln chapter of the 2016 Andy Pettit is assistant project been promoted to professional hired by ACCESSbank in American Institute of Archi- manager for Archer Western engineer. Omaha as a commercial bank- tects board of directors. Contractors and is currently ing officer, working from the working on a water treatment Chris Corr, a civil engineer with Midtown branch. 2007 plant project in Livingston, Olsson Associates in Lincoln, Ana Delavic has been promoted Texas. has been promoted to associ- Kellen Heideman, a civil engi- to residential mortgage lender ate engineer. neer with Olsson Associates in at Union Bank & Trust in Scott Piper is a senior graphic Lincoln, has been promoted to Lincoln. designer in the Lincoln office of ■ Jordan Kaiser is a user experi- associate engineer. marketing communications firm ence designer in the Lincoln John Hathaway of Architectural Swanson Russell. office of marketing communi- Kelsey Patton is the owner of Design Associates is a director cations firm Swanson Russell. Spindle, Shuttle and Needle in on the Lincoln chapter of the Katie Scherer is an account Stromsburg, a shop that sells 2016 American Institute of manager in the Omaha office Marie Knedler has been named spindles, knitting needles, Architects board of directors. of marketing communications president of the current CHI looms and high-quality yarn. agency Swanson Russell. Health Creighton Univer- Brian Lehmann, a photojour- sity Medical Center, and will Scott Shiffermiller of DLR Group nalist from Lincoln, provided 2009 continue as president of CHI is a director on the Lincoln images for a story in the 2016 Greg Berndt, an information Health Bergan Mercy and CHI chapter of the 2016 American April edition of National Geo- technology teacher at Hastings Health Mercy-Council Bluffs. Institute of Architects board of graphic magazine. The feature St. Cecilia High School, has The new medical center is un- directors. covered the unusual death been chosen as head coach for der construction and will open rituals in Toraja, a remote area the girls’ basketball program in June 2017. Justin Veik, an architectural of Indonesia. there. engineer-mechanical in the Niles Paul was inducted into Omaha office of Engineering James Mowitz is an assistant Jennifer Fiedler has joined the the 2016 Vikings of Distinc- Technologies Inc., has been vice president in the downtown architecture/engineering firm tion Hall of Fame at the North promoted to senior associate. Lincoln office of Pinnacle The Schemmer Associates Inc. High Magnet School Alumni Bank as the result of a recent as an architectural designer in Association ceremony in May. 2012 promotion. the Omaha office. Paul was a standout football Lance Atwater was part of the player at the Omaha high Nebraska LEAD Program travel Justin Shaw, a professor in the Ben Grone, a civil engineer with school and for the Nebraska seminar that visited Hungary, art design department of the Olsson Associates in Lincoln, Cornhuskers. Romania and Moldova in University of Central Missouri has been promoted to associ- March. Nebraska LEAD is a in Warrensburg, was part of ate engineer. Nick Whitney is a credit analyst two-year leadership develop- an exhibit titled “Handymen” in the Midtown branch of AC- ment program for ag produc- that featured several of his CESSbank in Omaha. ers and agribusiness workers sculpted works. directed by the Nebraska

66 SUMMER 2016 CLASSNOTES

Haley Mendlik has joined the staff of Archbishop Bergan High School in Fremont and oversees the world languages program teaching Spanish 1, 2, 3 and 4 courses.

Amy Pettit is a centralized re- ceiving associate at Borsheim’s Jewelry in Omaha.

Michaela Willis has been cho- sen as vice president of student affairs at South Dakota State University in Brookings. 2015 ■ Masayoshi Ishikawa of Lin- coln was a finalist in the 2016 Jacksonville (Florida) Jazz Piano Competition.

Max Maguire has rejoined the Lincoln office of marketing communications agency Swan- son Russell as an associate digital producer. Joseph Curiale (right), a 2009 UNL graduate with a master’s degree in music composition, conducted the Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague, April 19, in the world premiere of his master’s thesis, Brittany Pettit is an account a symphonic composition entitled “The Great Plains.” He currently is a lecturer at LaSalle College of the Arts in executive at Fisher Investments Singapore where he teaches pop music history, music production, music business, and popular performance. A three-time CNN Hero nominee, and an Emmy Award-nominated composer, arranger and producer of in Vancouver, Washington. music for film, TV and audio recordings, with 26 years of experience in Hollywood, Joseph has worked with more than 100 well-known artists. WEDDINGS Dennis Morrison, ’69, and Kristi Dingwell Davis, ’69, Dec. 31, Agricultural Leadership Coun- Ryan Pettit is in management Hannah Huston, a teacher at 2013. The couple lives in Mor- cil. Atwater, of Hastings, farms at Noodles and Company in Arnold Elementary School in ristown, New Jersey. with his father raising popcorn, Vancouver, Washington. Lincoln, was a finalist on “The corn, soybeans, wheat and Voice,” NBC’s singing contest. Alex Beckman and Jennifer Coe, cattle. Morgan Rolfes, Le Mars, Iowa, ’03, Oct. 2, 2015. The couple is a missionary for Focus, a Taylor Price was promoted to lives in Des Moines, Iowa. Sam Cunningham has been se- Catholic outreach mission for senior credit analyst loan repre- lected as department manager college students. sentative at West Gate Bank in Callan Wayman, ’07, and Sarah for the production coating Lincoln. Spencer, July 25, 2015. The teams at Lincoln Industries, 2013 couple lives in Scottsbluff. a metal finishing company in Stuart Bernstein was a recipient Kirby Reardon has been pro- Lincoln. moted to senior loan analyst Ryan Pettit, ’12, and Brittany of a 2016 Outstanding Teach- Schave, ’15, Sept. 6, 2015. ing Award from the University manager at West Gate Bank in Justin Hagedorn has joined Lincoln. The couple lives in Vancouver, of Nebraska Omaha. Bernstein Washington. Lincoln-based architecture, is an associate professor in engineering and interior design UNO’s College of Engineering. Greg Stevens, Lincoln, was company Davis Design as a welcomed to the staff of South Jack Arterburn, ’14, and Emily construction administrator. Lincoln Dermatology Clinic as Steffen, ’15, Jan. 3. The couple Megan Conway is co-anchor lives in Lincoln. at KLKN-TV, the Lincoln ABC a physician assistant; he was Keri Hagemann was promoted affiliate. certified earlier this year. to loan officer in the south Lin- coln branch of Pinnacle Bank. Ryan Farnum, a civil engineer 2014 with Olsson Associates in ■ Haley Ostergard Kruse is an Amanda Kermoade has joined Lincoln, has been promoted to attorney with the Lincoln law ACCESSbank as a portfo- associate engineer. firm of Rembolt Ludtke LLP. lio manager in the Midtown branch in Omaha.

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 67 CLASSNOTES

BIRTHS Cleve K. Genzlinger, ’47, La Erich A. Von Fange, ’49, Adrian, Dorothy Gartrell Van Dyck, ’52, n Ryan, ’00, and n Olivia Clark Mesa, California, Sept. 24, Michigan, Sept. 15, 2015. Denton, Texas, Jan. 24. Gottsch, ’99, their sixth child, 2015. a son, Joshua Allen, Jan. 18. William K. Brinkman, ’50, Donald E. Werner, ’52, Omaha, The family lives in Omaha. Ann Jennings Walters, ’47, Strang, Jan. 4. April 23. Council Bluffs, Iowa, n Michael, ’06, and n Haley March 17. Alan L. Clem, ’50, Vermillion, Ruth Sorensen Wilson, ’52, Nelson Armstrong, ’06, their South Dakota, April 11. Rochester, Minnesota, second child, second son, Con- Glenn E. Clark, ’48, Corvallis, March 11. nor Philip, April 25. The family Oregon, March 9. Doris Heller Fischer, ’50, lives in Elkhorn. Lincoln, April 17. Lois D. Johnson, ’53, Jeanne Secord Dillman, ’48, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Oct. n Clay Stevens, ’06, and Kansas City, Missouri, Feb. 19. Paul J. Fridrich, ’50, Coralville, 18, 2015. n Shannon Cummins, ’05, ’07, Iowa, April 19. ’12, their second child, second Helen Pretzer Dvorak, ’48, Churley Jones, ’53, Mission son, Wren Hamilton, April 21. Lincoln, March 8. Wallace J. Kruger, ’50, Lincoln, Viejo, California, Dec. 18, The family lives in Madison, March 11. 2015. Wisconsin. Robert W. Havens, ’48, Tallahassee, Florida, May 3. Harry A. Larson, ’50, Lincoln, Otto L. Apfelbeck, ’54, Lima, April 16. Ohio, Feb. 24. Donald F. Huffman, ’48, Phoenix, DEATHS May 1. Harold B. Myers, ’50, Ventura, Charles W. Beam, ’54, Osseo, Marie Fricke Knox, ’36, California, Sept. 24, 2015. Minnesota, June 24, 2015. Skaneateles, New York, Feb. Eugene R. Johnson, ’48, Pueblo, 15, 2015. Colorado, Jan. 3. Irving L. Reis, ’50, Helena, Thomas E. Johnson, ’54, Saint Montana, June 24, 2015. Paul, Minnesota, April 2. Richard O. Fischer, ’37, Harry E. Knudsen, ’48, Fort Colorado Springs, Colorado, Worth, Texas, Dec. 2, 2015. Vondalie Endres Robertson, ’50, Arthur C. Schmieding, ’54, Third March 13. Laramie, Wyoming, Oct. 8, Lake, Illinois, March 1. Robert C. Trenchard, ’48, Blue 2015. Phyllis Baker Lundstrom, ’39, Hill, Sept. 29, 2015. Jean Davis Wirsig, ’54, Saint Sun City, Arizona, Jan. 30. J. Richard R. Spellman, ’50, Paul, Minnesota, June 25, Joann Kelly Alexander, ’49, Lincoln, March 27. 2015. Donald V. Helgeson, ’41, Cocoa Canon City, Colorado, Jan. 24. Beach, Florida, Jan. 11. Marilyn Cropper Asprooth, ’51, Edwin R. Lewis, ’55, Falls Charles L. Braucher, ’49, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 19. Church, Virginia, Jan. 20. James L. Jezl, ’41, Saint Athens, Georgia, March 5. Charles, Illinois, Nov. 13, Eugene B. Berman, ’51, Enfield, John T. Anderson, ’56, Ontario, 2015. Carl W. Dantzler, ’49, Lincoln, Connecticut, Sept. 14, 2015. Oregon, Feb. 11. April 14. Doris Hallsted Rawalt, ’41, Harry F. Kenyon, ’51, Mitchell, Paul D. Dunlap, ’56, Des Chadron, April 5. Gail Jackson Fullerton, ’49, Coos Jan. 7. Moines, Iowa, Feb. 17. Bay, Oregon, Jan. 1. Alan H. Andrew, ’42, Portola Norman P. Nelson, ’51, Lincoln, Richard R. Merritt, ’56, Cedar Valley, California, Feb. 7. Charles W. Mohrman, ’49, March 16. Rapids, Iowa, April 12. Fargo, North Dakota, April 6. Richard D. Earl, ’43, Lincoln, Ruth Purney Anderson, ’52, Robert N. Blomstrand, ’57, April 23. Elaine Sabatka Montgomery, ’49, Ontario, Oregon, Feb. 26. Sierra Vista, Arizona, April 19. Northridge, California, March Adeline Brunken Mallett, ’45, 30, 2015. John F. Kucera, ’52, Omaha, James M. Harvey, ’57, Golden, Vancouver, Washington, July 8, March 20. Colorado, June 9, 2015. 2015. Karl S. Quisenberry, ’49, Asheville, North Carolina, Herman R. Kurth, ’52, Carlsbad, James O. Leslie, ’57, Lincoln, N. Blair Munhofen, ’45, Feb. 18. California, April 11. March 27. Williamsburg, Virginia, Feb. 14. George A. Shaw, ’49, Hot Rex G. Messersmith, ’52, Daryl E. Carroll, ’58, Littleton, Julianne Gustafson Carlson, ’46, Springs National Park, Lincoln, April 15. Colorado, March 24. Axtell, April 19. Arkansas, Feb. 23. Don W. Petersen, ’52, Akron, Robert A. Christiansen, ’58, Mary Hinman Winchell, ’46, Lois Cook Stanton, ’49, Ohio, April 29. Lincoln, April 26. Beatrice, March 4. Greenville, Michigan, Jan. 9. Richard G. Tomlinson, ’52, Melvin F. Earnest, ’58, Wichita Carroll D. Erickson, ’47, Omaha, Gladys Gustafson Thompson, ’49, Portage, Michigan, Jan. 16. Falls, Texas, May 5. July 1, 2015. Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Feb. 21. Shirley Miles Umberger, ’52, J.C.O. Graver, ’58, Omaha, Omaha, Feb. 18. Feb. 19.

68 SUMMER 2016 CLASSNOTES

Leonard C. Lindgren, ’58, Avon, Richard J. McKee, ’59, George G. Rothwell, ’61, George E. Uhlig, ’63, Daphne, Indiana, April 30. Longmont, Colorado, Dec. 26, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Alabama, March 14. 2015. May 16, 2015. Richard L. Nelson, ’58, Lincoln, Donald C. Casey, ’64, Buxton, May 10. Ralph M. Olson, ’59, Lincoln, Wilma Nichols Sandifer, ’61, North Carolina, Jan. 29. March 4. Monroe Township, New Jersey, Lamoyne J. Post, ’58, Oklahoma March 31. J. William J. Henry, ’64, Omaha, City, Oklahoma, Feb. 14. Wilfred M. Schutz, ’59, Lincoln, March 8. April 25. John R. Allington, ’62, Lincoln, Robert R. Wilson, ’58, Lincoln, Feb. 27. David B. Lederer, ’64, Chapel April 29. Dewain C. Cisney, ’60, Tempe, Hill, North Carolina, March 5. Arizona, April 7. William E. Bonnstetter, ’62, Gary L. Bannister, ’59, Boerne, Paola, Kansas, Feb. 6. Robert E. Wright, ’64, Lincoln, Texas, March 5. Frank D. Haack, ’60, Grand April 16. Island, May 4. Roy E. Cook, ’62, East Granby, Roderick E. Blakeney, ’59, Fort Connecticut, Feb. 15. Stephen L. Adams, ’65, S. Sioux Mohave, Arizona, July 25, Robert W. Hansen, ’60, Denton, City, April 30. 2015. May 9. Richard J. Stacy, ’62, Kearney, March 17. Krishna A. Birusingh, ’65, Richard H. Burton, ’59, Lincoln, Harvey O. Heimer, ’60, El Paso, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Feb. 20. March 3. Texas, Dec. 4, 2015. Gary A. Greder, ’63, North Platte, March 5. Elsie Huebert Epp, ’65, Ralph L. Delimont, ’59, Valjean Bednar McKeever, ’60, Henderson, April 15. Thousand Oaks, California, Oct. Wymore, March 2. James E. Nickel, ’63, Helena, 4, 2015. Montana, Sept. 19, 2015. John W. O’Brien, ’65, Osceola, Duane F. Neuman, ’60, Raleigh, March 20. Earl E. Eno, ’59, Ballwin, North Carolina, Oct. 6, 2015. Raymond L. Peterson, ’63, Missouri, Feb. 27. Tucson, Arizona, April 1. Mearle Shoebotham Rush, ’65, Ann M. Christy, ’61, Phoenix, Lincoln, March 18. Robert L. Lueking, ’59, April 1. Lauma Deksnis Sautins, ’63, Holdrege, April 21. Centennial, Colorado, Aug. 24, Leon E. Scott, ’65, Le Mars, 2015. Iowa, March 25.

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 69 CLASSNOTES

Lela Bachle Blas, ’66, Beatrice, Robert D. Mack, ’68, Omaha, Gerry L. Tice, ’71, Lincoln, John P. Shaw, ’75, Lincoln, April 1. March 18. April 9. March 9.

Jon H. Bohlke, ’66, Hastings, Billene Zinsmaster Nemec, ’68, Kamlesh Nijhawan Verma, ’71, Dale O. Simonson, ’75, Saint April 19. Lincoln, Feb. 18. San Jose, California, Dec. 17, Paul, April 4. 2015. Alan J. Booth, ’66, State Virginia Bauer Norsworthy, ’68, Robert C. Steinmeier, ’75, Little College, Pennsylvania, Dec. 23, Lincoln, Feb. 19. Aloah Richters Welch, ’71, Rock, Arkansas, April 12. 2015. Elkhorn, March 8. Mance R. Williams, ’68, Robert F. Holbert, ’76, Lincoln, Kenneth L. Bouc, ’66, Omaha, Houston, July 5, 2015. Kenneth S. Cada, ’72, Feb. 27. April 8. Westerville, Ohio, March 30. Joseph F. Chytil, ’69, Omaha, Jon R. Kreimer, ’77, Lincoln, Roger A. Burke, ’66, Alvin, April 25. Robert D. Glaesemann, ’72, April 5. Texas, April 15. Fairbury, March 24, 2015. Van L. Hesselgesser, ’69, James G. Patterson, ’77, Thomas A. Ernst, ’66, Lincoln, Scottsdale, Arizona, March 9. Larry M. Hammer, ’72, Omaha, Rockwall, Texas, Dec. 23, April 1. April 10. 2015. Richard L. Holman, ’69, New Erich E. Helge, ’66, York City, March 7. Duane L. Hartman, ’72, Lincoln, Dominic J. Zangari, ’77, Lincoln, Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 14. March 31. Feb. 18. M. A. Glasgow Leininger, ’69, Lincoln, April 12. George R. Hoag, ’72, Eagle, Ernest A. Berry, ’78, Fairbanks, Charles R. Kleveland, ’66, March 30. Alaska, March 23, 2015. Chester, Feb. 26. Byron L. Boslau, ’70, Lincoln, May 10. Anne Wellensiek Johnson, ’72, Mark A. Fouts, ’78, Divide, Linda K. Leners, ’66, Stockton, Lincoln, Dec. 14, 2015. Montana, Feb. 24. California, March 18, 2015. Larry D. Dankenbring, ’70, Hebron, March 31. Jerry J. McDole, ’72, Red Cloud, Christy Opland Hammer, ’78, Karen Lanning Longstein, ’66, March 16. Omaha, April 10. Omaha, April 10. Ronald G. Drakulich, ’70, Shawnee, Kansas, April 30. Debra Hulbert Turner, ’72, Werner E. Kitzler, ’78, James D. Ochsner, ’66, Omaha, Lincoln, Jan. 31. Vermillion, South Dakota, Oct. April 3. Judith Wasson Emert, ’70, 29, 2015. Phoenix, March 29. Michael B. Grear, ’73, Omaha, Adele Eye Petracek, ’66, March 6. Susan Pearman Fernandez, ’79, Lincoln, March 10. Richard E. Griffin, ’70, Rosharon, Texas, Feb. 28, Snowmass Village, Colorado, W. Peter Guthmann, ’73, 2015. Mabel Whittaker Stansbury, ’66, Feb. 26. Morrisville, Vermont, March 29. Lincoln, March 29. David L. Peterson, ’79, Grand Gale L. Krause, ’70, Forest Carolyn S. Mountjoy, ’73, Island, April 3. Lyle L. Babka, ’67, Port Saint Grove, Oregon, April 18. Norfolk, Oct. 18, 2015. Lucie, Florida, May 31, 2015. Lynn Williams Schlater, ’79, Roy E. Mehmken, ’70, Lincoln, William H. Rose, ’73, Citrus Lincoln, March 9. Charles M. Godwin, ’67, April 1. Heights, California, April 11. Lincoln, May 9. Dallas C. Schnabel, ’79, Omaha, Lynn E. Moore, ’70, Long Pine, John H. Baldus, ’74, Lincoln, March 2. Genevieve Vossler Hogg, ’67, April 8. May 4. Lincoln, April 18. Sally Bokemper Hakel, ’80, Virginia M. Schulte, ’70, Steven M. Meyers, ’74, Ballwin, Lincoln, April 18. Barbara Bitner Leslie, ’67, Lincoln, May 3. Missouri, March 11. Kennewick, Washington, Maureen Scanlon Kirk, ’80, Feb. 9. Catherine Cronin Davis, ’71, Robert J. Olson, ’74, Grand Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin, Centennial, Colorado, Island, April 5. March 14. Darwin C. Salestrom, ’67, March 29. Lincoln, May 1. Harold D. Terry, ’74, Peoria, Rick A. Walla, ’80, Milford, Wendy Pelisek Engles, ’71, Arizona, April 3. March 3. Gerald L. Abegg, ’68, Westford, Auburn, April 30. Massachusetts, Jan. 2. Mark S. Doak, ’75, Lincoln, Joann Bowling Fosnaugh, ’81, Keith D. Meininger, ’71, Lincoln, Feb. 29. Walton, March 19. Carroll G. French, ’68, Atkinson, April 19. Oct. 8, 2015. Leon E. Gallagher, ’75, Omaha, Daniel W. Evans, ’83, Gilbert, Karalee Shaner Schafer, ’71, Jan. 27, 2015. Arizona, March 8. Marilyn Pickett Koehn, ’68, Lone Tree, Colorado, Jan. 24. Santa Rosa, California, Nancy A. Nielsen, ’75, Marvin E. Kanne, ’84, Lincoln, March 30. Glenn L. Shaneyfelt, ’71, Plattsmouth, April 8. Feb. 25. Norfolk, April 26.

70 SUMMER 2016 CLASSNOTES

Michele Spires Woollen, ’84, Theresa Macchietto Fitzgerald, Crystal Roberson Simpson, ’10, Delwyn “Del” Lynn Harnisch, Lincoln, Feb. 12. ’89, Omaha, Feb. 24. Omaha, April 22. professor of educational psychology, May 18, Lincoln. James R. Havens, ’85, Peoria, Daniel D. Boardman, ’90, Marine Arizona, April 8. on St. Croix, Minnesota, June FACULTY DEATHS Fred Holbert, professor emeritus 18, 2015. Walter Bagley, professor of criminal justice, Feb. 27, Marguerite L. Washington, ’85, emeritus of forestry, Feb. 29, Lincoln. Omaha, Feb. 13. Gary M. Tunnison, ’91, Lincoln, Lincoln. March 16. Robert Koch, professor emeritus Carolyn Rogers Davis, ’86, John Ballard, professor emeritus of animal science and former Lincoln, March 1. Errol Hazen, ’92, Norfolk, June of engineering and former department chair, March 10, 19, 2015. associate dean of the college, Colorado Springs, Colo. Robert D. Fladby, ’86, Papillion, April 29, Lincoln. May 2. Kathleen M. Dungan, ’93, Allan McCutcheon, professor Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 20. Lawrence “Larry” Berger, emeritus of statistics John H. Harroun, ’86, Lincoln, professor emeritus of law, May and survey research and May 1. Richard D. Bernt, ’94, Lincoln, 22, Cincinnati, Ohio. methodology, May 3, Lincoln. March 7. James E. Maiefski, ’87, Phoenix, Mary Ellen Ahler Chambers April 4. Joel R. Hoerth, ’94, San Carlos, Bodman, professor emeritus California, Aug. 27, 2015. of interior design, Feb. 14, Kelly R. Outson, ’88, Doniphan, Lincoln. Dec. 18, 2015. George T. Watson, ’94, McKinney, Texas, Feb. 29. Earl F. Ellington, CASNR Paula Jaksich Robinson, ’88, associate dean emeritus and Solana Beach, California, Ladd L. Hershner, ’95, Utica, professor emeritus of animal March 20. April 9. science, Lincoln, June 14. Priscilla A. Allen, ’89, Lincoln, Marnie Simms Friel, ’96, March 6. Papillion, Feb. 29.

CLASS NOTEPAD Tell us what’s happening! Send news about yourself or fellow Nebraska alumni to: Mail: Class Notes Editor, Nebraska Magazine, Wick Alumni Center, 1520 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-1651 E-mail: [email protected] Online: huskeralum.org All notes received will be considered for publication according to the following schedule: Spring Issue: January 15 Summer Issue: April 15 Fall Issue: July 15 Winter Issue: October 15 Items submitted after these dates will be published in later issues.

NEBRASKA MAGAZINE 71 Nebraska Alumni Association Wick Alumni Center 1520 R Street Lincoln, NE 68508-1651

VIP Home Football Game Packages

Cheer on the Huskers at Memorial Stadium VIP-style! Let the NAA handle all of the details for your weekend in Lincoln. VIP Packages Include: • Game tickets and Nebraska Champions Club passes for everyone in your group • Two-night stay at the Courtyard Marriott or Embassy Suites • Memorial Stadium tour

2016 NU Home Games

Fresno State - Sept. 3 Purdue - Oct. 22

Wyoming - Sept. 10 Minnesota - Nov. 12

Oregon - Sept. 17 Maryland - Nov. 19

Illinois - Oct. 1

Visit huskeralum.org/VIP or call 888-353-1874 for questions or to schedule your weekend.