Magazine for alumni and friends Summer 2016 Dr. Marysz P. Rames THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT OF WAYNE STATE COLLEGE Published and funded by the Wayne State Foundation semiannually for alumni and friends of Wayne State College • Summer 2016 • No. 2 in this issue 3 President's Message - Dr. Marysz Rames 4-5 Presidential Inauguration Wayne State Magazine is published semiannually for alumni and friends of Wayne State College. The 6-8 Spring 2016 Commencement magazine is funded by the Wayne State Foundation. • Gotch ‘82 Receives Alumni Achievement Award Comments and letters should be mailed to: Wayne State Foundation, Wayne State College, • Blankenau Receives Teaching Excellence Award 1111 Main Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787 • Honored Retiring Faculty Administration Dr. Marysz Rames 9 Sieh Earns 2016 Ron Holt Civic Engagement Award President Steven Elliott 10 Elliott Appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Armstrong 11 Jacobs ‘86 Leads Students on Ecuador Study Abroad Trip Chief Executive Officer, Wayne State Foundation 12-13 Project Updates Dr. Jeff Carstens Vice President and Dean of Student Life • Fundraising to Begin for Center for Applied Technology Angela Fredrickson • U.S. Conn Library Renovation Vice President for Administration & Finance Wayne State Foundation Staff • Press Box Replacement Deb Lundahl Director of Major Gifts 14-17 Graduating Student Profiles Laura Robinett 18-21 Wildcat Athletics Director of Alumni Relations Sue Jammer • Athletes Recognized at Honors Banquet Controller Janel Kramer • Softball Records 10th Straight Winning Season Foundation Office Assistant • Spenner Wins NSIC Decathlon; Cathleen Hansen Alumni Office Assistant O’Connor NSIC Women’s Discus Champion Lori Bebee • Former WSC Baseball Coach Inducted into NSIC Hall of Fame Office Assistant Editorial Staff • Ackerman, Bussard Collect All-NSIC Honors Jay Collier Director of College Relations 22 GOLD Club News Amanda Broberg 23-27 Alumni Notes Writing Specialist Trudy Muir • Alumni Reunions Graphic Designer Angie Steffen • Buller ‘15 Reflects on Transition to WSC after Deployment Writer, Photographer • Homecoming 2016 Schedule of Events President's Message Dr. Marysz Rames position to unveil several new academic programs that, similar to the mission of the Rural Health Opportunities Program, will allow rural areas to attract and retain qualified professionals in key disciplines needed to serve their regions. A Wayne State education has long been characterized by tremendous opportunities for rigorous hands-on learning. The Wayne State Life Sciences Department has expanded A year has passed since I took the helm of Wayne the human anatomy course to include a human cadaver. This State College. To say it has been eventful would be an opportunity has enhanced the study of human anatomy and understatement. The days have been consistently marked by prepared WSC students to be successful as they tackle medical the personal milestones and challenges and opportunities school. This summer, the WSC Anatomy Lab has undergone a that come with any worthwhile enterprise. I am confident that small renovation to enhance air handling and storage capacity each of these days has moved us forward in strengthening the to allow the addition of a second donor cadaver. institution for the present and kept us focused on our future. The college is also exploring the creation of a criminal justice During my inauguration, I noted my excitement at the laboratory that will allow students to participate in many prospect of continuing to help our students reach their goal practical simulated experiences, moving their education from of earning a degree from Wayne State College. Starting from the classroom to a real world scenario. There are more than the proposition of the strength of our students, I asked each 190 students in this major and their student experience would of you to join me in pledging that we will continue to hold be enhanced with the addition of this type of facility. The them accountable to a high standard. laboratory would need to resemble a residential structure with the flexibility to accommodate various configurations to depict My inaugural address advanced the theme of working different types of criminal activity. together as a community of scholars and learners to write Wayne State’s next chapter, with a focus on advancing The criminal justice lab would provide a variety of academic our mission of learning excellence, student success, and experiences. Examples include: future law enforcement and regional service. The high standards of our mission can corrections professionals can learn how to enter a structure only be accomplished by increasing access, strengthening in hostage situations, active shooter scenarios, and building educational opportunities, enhancing student success, and searches; students can conduct a crime scene investigation rekindling regional service through partnerships. with an emphasis on evidence documentation, bloodstain spatter analysis, fingerprint acquisition, firearm trajectories, The Greater Siouxland Task Force I created last fall to study and shoeprint casings; future investigative journalists and the way Wayne State College fulfills its mission in the Greater photojournalists can learn to report on a crime scene; Siouxland area has completed its work. After sifting through emergency management students can participate in exercises more than a dozen key data sources and nearly three dozen that test their knowledge; biology students can learn about interviews with stakeholders and regional influencers, they processing a crime scene with DNA evidence; pre-law students have provided a robust set of recommendations that, as can experience how evidence can be used in a trial case; we prioritize and implement them, will enhance student theater students can participate in different scenarios playing access, student success, and economic development in certain roles; and chemistry students can conduct fluid and this important part of our region. For example, the School arson analyses. of Business and Technology is pursuing the opportunity to offer a completely online undergraduate business degree Regional service, increased access, student success, and program to serve this region. Many other exciting initiatives enhanced educational opportunities ensure that the college are underway and we look forward to the impact of our newly will meet the needs of each generation of students who trust reinvigorated relationships with our partners to the northeast. us to continue providing the education necessary to maintain “The Good Life” for all Nebraskans. As always, I thank you The college is also working hard to identify academic for your continued support of Wayne State College and for the programs that will help to fill any workforce voids that may trust you place in us as stewards of your valuable time and be present in Nebraska’s rural areas. We will soon be in the treasure. Go Cats! wayne state magazine 3 inauguration “All Is But a Beginning” The Inauguration of President Marysz P. Rames Dr. Marysz Rames was inaugurated as the 13th president of Wayne State College on April 29. The inauguration ceremony was held in Ramsey Theatre in the afternoon, followed by a reception and dinner. Chamber Coffee was held that morning in Gardner Hall in her honor, as well as a student picnic the evening before. Dr. Rames began her work as president of WSC in July 2015 after approval by the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees. She came to Wayne State from Dakota State University in Madison, S.D., where she had served as interim president since August 2014. You can view photos, read Dr. Rames’ complete speech and find more inauguration details by visiting wsc.edu/inauguration “Family and friends have taught me the importance of being gracious, thankful, ethical and committed. … My sister and I are both first generation college students, so I understand and appreciate the many obstacles a first generation student faces. Success in my career is directly linked to the encouragement and support of family, mentors, professional colleagues and close friends over the years.” Dr. Rames and her mentor, Dr. Peggy Gordon Miller. Dr. Rames delivers her inaugural address. 4 summer 2016 / wsc.edu Dr. Rames with Clara, Carolyn and Dr. Brian Hurd. Wayne Chamber Coffee honors Dr. Rames. Dr. Rames with husband, Steve, and sister, Linda Goltz. A student picnic was held in honor of Dr. Rames. “Our movement through the educational process, which Neihardt described beautifully as ‘not an end, but rather an endless process, a manner of becoming,’ is a cycle repeated thousands of times as we engage students Guitarist Craig Novotny in the transformational process of not just earning a degree but capturing the ability to learn for a lifetime, to constantly improve their understanding of the world, and, by doing so, change the world around them.” The inauguration dinner included a skit by the Wayne Community Theater. Pictured are John Dunning as James Pile and Aaron Von Wayne State Jazz Band performs during the student picnic. Seggern as John Neihardt. You can find more inauguration details by visitingwsc.edu/inauguration wayne state magazine 5 commencement Barbara Njeri Kibugi Donald E. Short III Dasirae Danielle Sieh Graduate Invocation Spring 2016 Barbara Njeri Kibugi of Nairobi, Kenya, delivered the graduate ceremony invocation. She graduated with a master of science in education degree in Clinical Mental Health Commencement