Non Profit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Chadron, NE Permit No. 52 Fall 2008 1000 Main St., Chadron, NE 69337 Wood-fired system gains widespread praise As fuel and utility prices interest in the facility increases were skyrocketing this sum- along with rising fuel prices, mer, Chadron State College’s while noting a variety of other wood-fired heating and cool- “green” projects the college is ing system blazed its way into working on. the limelight. The CSC boilers, which both The attention picked up heat and cool the campus, are steam when U.S. Sen. Ben fueled by refuse from thinning Nelson visited the facility in and logging operations in the August 2008 as one of eight nearby Pine Ridge National stops on his “statewide energy Forest. During the past year, tour.” He described the system the college has burned chips as “good common sense,” and made from trees that were touted its benefits during sub- killed in fires. sequent stops and within the “This is one area of alter- text of his weekly newspaper native fuels that’s available,” column. Nelson said. “And, it’s here and Nelson and members of his now taking pressure off fossil staff toured the facility with fuels.” CSC President Dr. Janie Park, Grant said the boiler at Chadron State College President Janie Park tells about a wind-measuring device south of the CSC campus members of the media, and CSC saves the college about while U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, at left, and CSC Vice President Randy Rhine listen. others who were interested $365,000 per year, which in the unique system. Dale amounts to about 50 percent oil overcharge refund from the being added each year. material that would otherwise Grant, CSC vice president for of its heating budget. The col- Exxon Corp. Although the system requires be considered waste, and the finance and administration, led lege heats its 21 major build- A $1.4 million absorption round-the-clock staffing, CSC system must meet strict pollu- the group. ings with the system. chiller was added to the facil- officials say the benefits far ex- tion control requirements to Nelson said CSC’s system The boiler plant was com- ity in 2005. That feature has ceed the cost. Grant said not pass Environmental Protection serves as an excellent example pleted in the summer of 1991. allowed the college to cool the only is the wood-fueled system Agency standards. of what can be done to combat The initial cost of the facility campus by burning wood chips more economical than those Nelson said he also was im- the energy crisis and should be was $1 million, most of which year-around. Eight buildings that require other sources, it pressed that the system gener- brought to everyone’s atten- was awarded by the State of have been connected to the also is better for the environ- ates almost $1 million to the tion. Park told the senator that Nebraska after it received an cooling system and more are ment. The chips are made from local economy each year. Chairman of mathematics department dies at 69 Dr. Monty Fickel, the pro- tors to the classroom during his professor in 1993, was named the globe have enrolled in the fessor who guided Chadron first years on the faculty and chairman of the mathematics courses. State College’s mathematics later directed CSC’s efforts to department in 1997. He also In 2005, Fickel was present- department during a period make all courses of the math- served as dean of mathematics ed the Award for Innovative of tremendous growth, died ematics program available on- and science from July 1998 to Excellence in Teaching, Thursday, Oct. 2, at Chadron line. As a pioneer of online in- July 2002. His primary teach- Learning and Technology at the Community Hospital. He had struction, he secured the funds ing areas were statistics and International Conference on been experiencing health prob- for a server and offered a course data analysis, applied mathe- College Teaching and Learning lems in the weeks leading up to over the Internet in 1997. At matics, and mathematics cours- in Jacksonville, Fla. He also his death. the time of his death, he was es for teachers. received the Donald W. Miller Fickel, 69, learned his profes- digitally recording lectures and Since the early 2000s, the Distinguished Service Award sion by using a slide rule and using an electronic marker number of graduates from the from the Nebraska Association embraced the many technolog- board to make his classroom math department has more of Teachers of Mathematics in ical advancements of his trade instruction available over the than doubled and enrollment 1993. since coming to CSC as an in- Internet. in the math master’s degree Fickel, who was raised on structor in 1981. He helped Fickel, who was promoted program has increased five- a farm near Belmont and Monty Fickel lead the integration of calcula- twice before becoming a full fold. Students from around continued on next page Fall 2008 CSC Alumni News 2 Letter from the President Dr. Monty Fickel _______ Dear Alumni, (continued from page 1) As another year draws to a close, we at Chadron State College reflect on many achievements from the past 12 months that are graduated from Crawford High lurgical engineering from the sources of pride. School, obtained a doctorate in University of Oklahoma. The past year marked the third consecutive year of enrollment mathematics education from Survivors include his wife, increases, our third consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic the University of Nebraska at Geraldine, and children Terye Conference football championship and national recognition for Lincoln in 1986. Felz of Chadron, Mark Fickel being kind to the environment. He also served many years of Virginia Beach, Va., and CSC also is celebrating the completion of the renovation of the in the U.S. Navy and earned Sherri Fickel of Berryville, Va. Administration Building that will transform it into a modern, high- a master’s degree in mechani- A scholarship endowment tech learning facility on campus. cal engineering from the has been created in Fickel’s One of the largest projects at CSC this year is one that may not be Naval Postgraduate School name. Those who would like to noticed by those who are not directly involved. We have embarked at Monterey, Calif. He had contribute to the fund are en- on the conversion to new software for managing our administration Janie Park bachelor’s degrees in math- couraged to contact the CSC and finance operations and our student information systems. In ematics from CSC and metal- Foundation at 308-432-6366. September 2007, Oracle USA was chosen as provider of the new $29.8 million system that will serve the four University of Nebraska campuses and the three Nebraska CSC nationally ranked in magazine State College System institutions. The purchase became necessary as support and maintenance U.S. News & World Report baccalaureate colleges as those capabilities diminished for our current student information and finance systems, which have been has placed Chadron State focusing on undergraduate ed- in place for more than two decades. The transition to the new software is the result of more than College on its list of best bac- ucation and offering a range of two years of study, review and negotiations. The implementation is expected to take up to two years. calaureate colleges in the degree programs in the liberal During that period, an extensive amount of training will be required. CSC employees began attending Midwest. arts -- which account for fewer training sessions in Omaha in November. While the training time will cause a strain on our staffing, I CSC was the only public than half of their bachelor’s look forward to the capabilities of the new systems and am excited about its implementation. institution in Nebraska to be degrees -- and in professional At a recent meeting of CSC employees, I reflected upon the great number of innovative projects named among the nationally fields such as business, nursing that have come to fruition because of an internal funding allocation program called Vision 2011. The circulated publication’s top 68 and education. project, which began in 2004, encourages faculty and staff to apply for funding for innovative projects baccalaureate institutions in the CSC has more than 50 un- that help the institution stay true to its mission and attain its goals. Since its inception, more than 100 Midwest region, an area that dergraduate programs of study, projects have been funded, including student study trips, additional student support services, special encompasses 12 states. master’s degree programs and events and upgrades to facilities and information infrastructure. The initiative and hard work on the “We are very pleased to be a specialist in education de- part of current and past faculty, staff and students ensures we will bring to a close our first 100 years of nationally recognized for the gree. Chadron State also boasts service as an excellent institution of higher education. quality of our programs,” said numerous pre-professional As we celebrate another new year, anticipation continues to grow for our centennial in 2011. As the CSC President Dr. Janie Park. programs, particularly in the time draws closer you will receive information about special events that will be taking place as part of “Our students, alumni and health sciences. our centennial celebration year. Please mark your calendars to return to Chadron State in the fall of friends know Chadron State is Highlights of the college 2011 and take part in the celebratory events of our 100th anniversary. You are an important part of the one of the best colleges in the rankings were published in the history of CSC and your presence here at this very special time is important to us.