March 2019 Central Connection
March 1, 2019
College named Military Friendly School
By Scott Miller
Public Relations and Marketing Director
รศรรสำฦต has been named as a 2019-20 Military Friendly School and received a gold designation, which puts รศรรสำฦต atop the list of Nebraska small community colleges.
Viqtory, an organization dedicated to creating vital, civilian-produced resources for the approximately 250,000 people leaving the military each year, produces The Military Friendly list.
“รศรรสำฦต is thrilled to receive the Military Friendly Schools Gold designation,” said Travis Karr, veterans and military services director. “We take pride knowing we have honored รศรรสำฦต’s commitment to meet the needs of our students who are active-duty military, veterans, reservists or military-affiliated family members.”
รศรรสำฦต’s veteran and military resource centers (VMRC) – located at the Columbus, Grand Island and Hastings campuses and the Kearney Center – provide support to active duty, reservist and National Guard members; veterans; and their family members.
In addition to military education benefits, the VMRC assists with transferring military credit, scholarships, career planning, registration and direct access to state and national veterans and military benefits, resources and programs.
“We recognize the invaluable service veterans and service members provide for our nation,” said Karr. “We also are aware of the sacrifices military spouses and families must make. That’s why we are committed to empowering these students to achieve their academic, career and personal goals through a wide range of services.”
Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. This year, 766 schools earned a designation.
The 2019-20 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine.
New organization gets off the ground
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Criminal justice students pause for a photo on a field |
A new organization has been born at รศรรสำฦต: The Criminal Justice Student Association.
“This student association will give us more flexibility in activities that will bring the criminal justice students together,” said criminal justice instructor Michael David.
The meetings are rotated between the various รศรรสำฦต locations on a regular basis to give all members a chance to attend in person, not only via IP.
In addition to meetings, David said the organization will give members an opportunity to go on field trips, hear guest speakers, participate in campus events, and network with students and faculty.
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Competing for a good cause American Red Cross technician Lidoine Djonlidoine and Heidi Wilshusen, academic transfer specialist at รศรรสำฦต-Columbus, smile after she completes her donation at a recent blood drive sponsored on campus by the National Society of Leadership and Success. Sponsor Krynn Larsen said NSLS holds three drives each year. This one was a competition between dorms with South Hall winning, and the goal of 48 units being met. (Photo by Doug Hann) |
Partnership paves admissions pathway
By Scott Miller
Public Relations and Marketing Director
Students who want to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney but fall short of admissions requirements now will have a new option to enroll at รศรรสำฦต and also be a Loper.
A co-enrollment agreement signed Feb. 25 by รศรรสำฦต President Dr. Matt Gotschall and UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen creates a structured and supportive รศรรสำฦต-UNK Pathway that will help these students meet those admission requirements.
The one-year pathway leads to a student having the option to fully enroll at UNK to begin their second year after successful program completion.
“Part of the strong partnership between UNK and รศรรสำฦต involves our institutions looking at ways to improve service to students and the region by increasing access to higher education and creatively removing barriers to enrollment,” said Kristensen. “The goal of this program is to let students prove their ability and confidence in being successful in college, and ultimately strengthening Nebraska’s workforce.”
“UNK is an outstanding institution that has worked closely with รศรรสำฦต transfer students and faculty for decades,” said Gotschall. “This program is just another example of the progressive and collaborative nature of UNK and รศรรสำฦต in providing additional opportunities for student and community success in Central Nebraska.”
The pathway program is for first-time freshmen students under age 21 who apply to UNK but don’t meet university requirements for admission. Denial could be for a number of reasons, primarily related to academic preparation and performance, reflected in their GPA and/or ACT scores.
Performance requirements for assured admission to UNK are based on core course requirements, class rank and ACT or SAT scores.
As many as 150 students each year who are denied assured admission to UNK could take advantage of the new pathway program.
Program participants will co-enroll at รศรรสำฦต and UNK and must maintain full-time academic standing. They must take a UNK class each semester – Learning Skills 103 in the fall and a General Studies 188 Portal in the spring. At รศรรสำฦต, they will enroll in three classes in transferable courses such as speech, English and math.
During the year, students can live in UNK residence halls while taking most of their classes at รศรรสำฦต. They can use UNK services such as the library, academic and career services and campus recreation facilities; attend UNK athletic events; and join UNK student organizations. They will be advised by professional staffs at both institutions.
Historically, students transferring from รศรรสำฦต to UNK are retained and successfully graduate. Since 2013, of the average 70 students each fall who transfer from รศรรสำฦต to UNK, 89 percent are retained to their second semester, and 75 percent continue on to the next year. รศรรสำฦต transfers graduate with an average 3.32 GPA. The number of รศรรสำฦต transfers to UNK is double the size of any other Nebraska Community College.
Pathway participants must complete their รศรรสำฦต coursework with at least a C for those credits to transfer to UNK and end the spring semester with a cumulative รศรรสำฦต GPA of 2.0. UNK course credit will also be eligible for “reverse-transfer” to รศรรสำฦต. This means a student who completes enough credits for an associate degree while at UNK will be awarded that degree by รศรรสำฦต. UNK will be the awarding institution for financial aid purposes.
The program will begin this fall, with enrollment underway.
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Bringing out a smile รศรรสำฦต dental hygiene students Shelbi Strong of Wilcox (left) and Jordan Dassinger of Heartwell apply dental sealants at Dental Days on Feb. 1 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Dental School. The annual event is designed to provide dental services to low-income children. (Photo by Wanda Cloet) |
รศรรสำฦต employees begin their retirement
The following employees are retiring from Central Community at the end of the day on March 1:
Marti Honke
Marti Honke of Columbus started working as a part-time administrative assistant in the extended learning services office at the Columbus Campus in May 1989 and was promoted to full-time status on March 1, 1991.
Prior to joining the รศรรสำฦต staff, she was a stay-at-home mom who did a lot of volunteering at St. Isidore’s and Scotus Catholic Schools where her children were students. She also did some part-time work as an aide in one of the public elementary schools.
Honke graduated from North Loup-Scotia High School in 1968 as part of the first class to use the “new gym.” She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
She is a member of St. Isidore’s Catholic Church and is a 9 1/2-gallon blood donor for the American Red Cross. She was an active member of Jaycees in the past, and also devoted a lot of time to on-campus efforts. At รศรรสำฦต-Columbus, she was a building captain on the campus safety committee and was support staff leader for three years. She also served on the Christmas committee for four years.
She and her husband, Mike, have three children: Heather Schroder and Beth Babel, both of Columbus, and Matthew Honke of Roca. They also have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Deb Pedersen
Deb Pedersen of St. Paul is retiring from รศรรสำฦต-Grand Island as a custodial supervisor.
She joined the รศรรสำฦต staff in 1995 as a custodian and was promoted to her current position in 2005. She previously stayed at home to raise her children and then worked at McCain Foods USA for 13 years, first as a line worker and later as a custodian.
Pederson is a graduate of St. Paul High School and is a member of the Prairie Pioneers Quilt Guild in Grand Island and Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul.
She and her husband, Red, have four daughters: Molly Pedersen and Kirsten Sickler, both of Grand Island, and Alisa Pedersen and Liz Pedersen, both of St. Paul. They also have two grandsons.
Adult Ed offers wide range of instruction
รศรรสำฦต offers Adult Education classes at 11 locations.
The AE program includes assistance with basic reading, writing, math and spelling skills; drills and special instruction through the English as a Second Language (ESL) program; citizenship classes; and preparation for the Nebraska high school diploma (GED) exam.
All classes are open to individuals 16 years or older who have officially withdrawn from secondary school. Classes are free, but a fee is charged for each of the four GED tests.
Ann Chambers is director of the AE program and is based in Grand Island. Local coordinators are Anne Cannon, Hastings; Angela Elfgren, Lexington; Jolene Hake, Schuyler Cargill; Jessica Igo, Aurora and Grand Island; Chauncey Patton, Kearney; Crystal Ramm, Ord; Diana Watson, Holdrege; and Mary Wiegand, Columbus, Schuyler and St. Edward.
Employee news
Administrative Office
Ben Newton, environmental sustainability director, participated in a panel at the Higher Education Climate Summit Feb. 10-12 in Tempe, Ariz.
The panel focused on how colleges and universities can play a leading role in fostering resilience to climate change both on their campuses and in their communities. Panelists discussed how their schools are taking steps to convene stakeholders, address community needs and increase momentum toward climate resilience.
Columbus Campus
Henry E. Rice, 78, of Columbus, died Feb. 16 at Columbus Community Hospital. Services were Feb. 23 at Gass Haney Funeral Home with interment in the Columbus Cemetery.
He was born Oct. 7, 1940, in Powell to Joseph and Claudia (Moore) Rice. He graduated from Fairbury High School in 1957. He married Marleita “Marty” Heuckendorf on Nov. 7, 1965, in Omaha.
After serving in the U.S. Army, he attended Fairbury Junior College and finished at Kearney State College in 1971.
He was an automotive instructor at the Columbus Campus for nine years and was later elected to the Board of Governors. After leaving the college, he operated Rice Automotive until it closed in 2001.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Lynette Hutfless of Omaha; a son, Douglas Rice of Lincoln; a brother, Clyde Rice of Omaha; and three sisters, Gladys Cary of Blue Springs, Rita Hodges of Missouri and Ruth Rice of Powell.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
Gass Haney Funeral Home was in change of arrangements. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.
Grand Island Campus
Travis Karr, veterans and military services director, has been selected to serve as a member of the 2019 Military Friendly Schools Advisory Council.
The council is comprised of stakeholders in veteran service, military education and other organizations and institutions striving to be better for veterans and the military community.
Hastings Campus
Rachel Brehm is the new administrative assistant for the extended learning services department.
Roger D. Gipson, 71, of Billings, Mont., died Feb. 2 in Billings. A celebration of his life was held Feb. 8 at Lillis Chapel in Billings.
He was born June 25, 1947, in Ainsworth. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Hastings College and a master’s degree from Kearney State College.
He married Cindy Miller on June 1, 1969. They lived in Hastings until 1977, where he taught at the Hastings Campus. He then taught science at Northeast Community College for 34 years.
Survivors include two sons, Keith Gipson of Portland, Ore., and Neil Gipson of Arlington, Va.; his mother, Ruth Ewen of Billings; his father, Merl Gipson of Greybull; a sister, Mary Lynn Anderson of Billings; a grandson; and his longtime companion, Constance Colby of Cary, N.C.
He was preceded in death by wife.
Memorials may be given to the Roger and Cindy Gipson Memorial Scholarship, which is managed by the Norfolk Public Schools Foundation.
Kearney Center
Anna Payne-Polson has joined the staff as a Project HELP success coach.