Chadron State College

AlumniCHADRON STATE Magazine Table of contents Dean’s Green, campus entrance . 2 Seed has been planted for Rangeland and Ag Pavilion . 4 Students get hands-on experience around the world . 6 Athletes honored . 16 Letter from the President Dear Alumni, Once again, another fall semester has come and passed at Chadron State College . With so many activities, the semesters go by quickly . Often, time goes by so quickly that I don’t get to acknowledge Chadron State’s dedicated faculty and staff as much as I’d like . At Chadron State, people go above and beyond to make it the success story that it has become . Those of us at Chadron State see it every day, and often people outside the institution recognize it, too . This fall, for example, Chadron State received special recognition from two military publications for its outstanding service to military veterans . In addition, the Higher Learning Commission gave our faculty great praise for their work in an assessment of our general studies program . The commendations came when a team of Chadron State faculty was completing the HLC’s Academy for Assessment of Student Learning, a four-year process that will improve CSC’s already strong general studies program and make the institution well-situated for its next accreditation process . On another bright note, we have had tremendous progress with Vision 2011, the multi-million- dollar fundraising campaign that will provide countless students with the resources and facilities they need during Chadron State’s second century of service . With a solid base of monetary support from alumni and other supporters, we have started asking large corporations for donations . The representa- tives of those entities have been amazed at how much progress we’ve made prior to approaching them – a true testament to the loyalty of Chadron State’s alumni and other supporters . Also this fall, Chadron State kicked off its 14-month long centennial celebration . The coming year promises to be an exciting one for Chadron State as its wide array of events will have a centennial theme . We hope you will begin making plans to attend homecoming in October, as it promises to be a monumental occasion . As we wrap up another semester at Chadron State, I hope that 2011 is as special of a time for you and yours as it is sure to be for your alma mater . Sincerely, Janie C . Park, Ph .D . President The Alumni Magazine is published twice per year by the Chadron State College Alumni Office. Magazine Staff Justin Haag Connie Rasmussen Leslie Bargen Alex Helmbrecht Karen Pope Con Marshall Dewayne Gimeson Robyn Foral Daniel Binkard Alumni Board of Directors Tom Alcorn Deb Evans Stacey McCartney Jeanine Mohr Kerry Bailey Del Hussey Ryne McClaren Kim Olson Dorine Daniels Travis Lambert Please forward address changes to: CSC Alumni Office, 1000 Main Street, Chadron, NE 69337 or E-mail [email protected] CSC is a proud member of the Nebraska State College System. Past issues of the Alumni Publications can be found at www.csc.edu/alumni Centennial Celebration Under Way By Justin Haag Chadron State College is using 14 months to recognize its first 100 years. The college began its celebration home- work from Chadron community members . coming weekend to the theme of “Building She noted that Chadron visionaries began Futures through the Decades: History in the working soon after the city’s founding in 1885 Making .” to obtain an institution of higher education in While the 14-month celebration official- their community . ly began Oct . 23, Chadron Mayor Donny “Community members spent a lot of time Grantham signed a proclamation Oct . 9 in making their vision of Chadron State College recognition of CSC’s centennial year . become reality,” said Park . “We value our Grantham proclaimed official recogni- long-time relationship with the City of Chad- tion to the year of 2011 as Chadron State ron in making our community and region a College Centennial Year, noting the impor- better place .” tance of CSC and higher education to the The proclamation was signed during a community, surrounding region, state and brunch at the college attended by representa- overall society . He also noted CSC’s record tives of the college and city government . Three of service and cooperation with the City of former mayors – Allen Alderman, 1978-1980, Chadron . Robert Harvey, 1980-1982, and Carl Larsen, “Chadron is fortunate to have Chadron 1986-1990 – attended the ceremony . State College,” Grantham said . “I can’t imag- The signing also was recognized at Elliott ine what the city would be like without it .” Field during halftime of CSC’s football game CSC President Janie Park said the college against the University of Nebraska at Kear- began classes in 1911 as the result of hard ney . Chancellor tells of Decade’s Progress By Justin Haag creasing is remarkable,” he said . ebraska State College System Carpenter said CSC and the other state col- Chancellor Stan Carpenter borrowed N leges have been recognized as a “best buy” in a well-known line from literature when higher education, and gave CSC’s online mas- delivering his annual State of the System ter of business administration program special address at Chadron State College in mention . He listed seven other Nebraska col- September. leges and universities that have an estimated “Taking a bit of artistic license and quoting annual cost of attendance from $2,300 to Charles Dickens, I would like to begin by say- $18,800 more than the system’s three col- ing, ‘It is the best of times . It is the worst of leges . times,’” Carpenter said . “It is evident that the state colleges have Carpenter outlined the past decade’s prog- been and will continue to be best buys for a ress at Chadron State, Peru State and Wayne quality education, and I wish to stress quality State colleges, contrary, he said, to the many education,” he said . Chadron State College President Janie Park, at challenges facing the nation . As an example of how the three colleges right, introduces Nebraska State College System “One thing we definitely know, some of the succeed when working together, Carpenter Chancellor Stan Carpenter. (Photo by Justin Haag) changes during the past 10 years were the re- cited the recent implementation of systems sult of challenges we faced head-on, with a for student information and financial data. ting here that can help us achieve our educa- system-wide approach,” Carpenter said . “Oth- He gave recognition to about 50 Chadron tional mission,” he said to the CSC employ- er changes came about due to the leadership State employees who have been most heavily ees . “Across the system we have lost nearly found at each of the colleges .” involved with the projects, which were col- 10 percent of our state supported positions .” Among the positives, he said, is the sys- laborative efforts with the other two NSCS He also said college employees will need to tem’s growth of enrollment, noting that the institutions and the University of Nebraska change their ways of doing business to meet headcount has increased about nine percent system . the trials of evolving expectations, student during the last 10 years . He noted that prelimi- “No one college could have taken on this mindsets and fiscal climate. nary numbers indicate Chadron State’s enroll- massive enterprise on its own,” he said . “As we are being called upon to educate ment has increased for the fifth consecutive While the speech was primarily about the more students, to higher levels of learning fall semester and that the system’s retention positives, Carpenter addressed numerous outcomes, with less money, we can’t keep do- rates for the first to second year are higher challenges . ing what we have always done and expect dif- than the national average . “With the rising costs associated with do- ferent outcomes,” he said . “Increasing enrollments during a time when ing business, sacrifices have been made. Look Carpenter’s address coincided with the the number of high school graduates is de- around the room, there are fewer people sit- Board of Trustees meetings in Chadron . 1 Construction begins on Dean’s Green, campus entrance By Justin Haag hadron State College’s scenic Dean’s Green, Cthe area north of Old Admin, will soon have a pair of new features. Fuller Construction of Chadron in November, began work on Chadron State’s new Centennial Plaza and campus entrance signage — two projects that were initiated to help the college celebrate its centennial in 2011. The circular plaza, to be located at the location of the current flag pole, will provide a gathering place at the center of the college’s Dean’s Green, said Blair Brennan, CSC facilities coordinator. The design, 42 feet in diameter, resembles the plaza that was constructed in 2009 east of Old Admin. When construction of the Centennial Plaza is complete, three new flag poles will stand near the north end of concrete slab and its benches. Flags for the State of Nebraska and CSC will flank the stars and stripes. The plans for the campus entrance, or portal, at the intersection of 10th and Main streets include a design of four semicircle structures made of bricks and decorative metal railing. In addition to featuring prominent display of the college’s name, the design allows for possible installation of digital and historical signage. Both projects will be accented with landscaping. Workers prepare the campus entrance in early December. (Photo by Daniel Binkard) A drawing which shows the location of the future Centennial Plaza and campus A drawing that shows the top and front views of the campus entrance portal, entrance portal at 10th and Main streets.

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