Rick Koza named CSC's outstanding educator

The student who nominated Koza wrote that he is a caring, effective teacher, who has incredible knowledge about the courses he instructs. He said that Dr. Koza instructs in a clear, concise, well-organized manner, and often interjects humor to his instruction.

While Koza has earned many kudos from students for his teaching ability, his work with an extracurricular student organization has probably earned him even more recognition.

Less than a decade ago, Dr. Margaret Crouse, the school’s dean, asked Koza to look into an organization called Students in Free Enterprise to help determine if it would be a good idea to start a chapter of the group at CSC. He did, and he liked what he saw.

Since the CSC chapter organized seven years ago, it has initiated dozens of community service projects, many with area children and teenagers, to help improve knowledge of free enterprise.

And, the college students have been rewarded for their efforts. For seven consecutive years, the Chadron State group has been among the four teams at the regional competition to qualify for SIFE’s National Exposition. It has placed among the top 10 teams at nationals three of the past four years. SIFE is a worldwide organization that has a presence on more than 800 campuses in the United States.

Through SIFE’s National Expo, Koza said students are given invaluable exposure that is beneficial to their careers. Numerous students have received job offers and accepted internships from the contacts that they make there.

“It’s the largest career fair in the nation,” he said. “Thanks to SIFE, the students and I have been able to meet and build relationships with some of the top executives in the country.”

Koza also believes the SIFE team has given CSC a wealth of quality recognition. In addition to the awards received and goodwill obtained from the schools with which the group has worked, politicians and businesses have taken notice. U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson signed on as an honorary chairman, and Walgreen’s as co-sponsor, of the group’s Explorers in Free Enterprise project, in which grade-schoolers learn about free enterprise through a Web-based interface. Rep. Tom Osborne recently added CSC’s SIFE group to his “Rural Economic Handbook,” and called upon the group to help host his Ag Entrepreneurship Workshop at CSC last fall.

Koza began his association with Chadron State College as a student. Born in Virginia, he was raised as a “Navy brat,” in his words. Through middle school, he attended Florida schools where his father was stationed. As Koza was entering high school, his father retired and moved the family from the Sunshine State to Torrington, Wyo., during the cold month of January.

After buying a coat and adapting to the climate, Koza graduated from Torrington High School in 1969 and then attended Eastern Wyoming College for two years. He transferred to CSC, where he lettered in football twice and wrestled one year.

Following graduation from college, he taught high school for one year at Benkelman and four years at Ogallala. While at Ogallala, the community’s Optimist group named him the school’s outstanding young educator.

In 1978, Koza re-enrolled at Chadron State and completed a master’s degree in education.

He then decided to take a break from the classroom and began working as an insurance agent and real estate appraiser in the private sector, which helped him gain “real world” experiences that are beneficial to the courses he now teaches.

After several years, he began getting the itch to return to the classroom to pursue a second master’s degree, this time in business administration. He earned the degree from Chadron State in 1992.

“After going back to school, I realized that I really missed the classroom environment, so I decided to pursue a Ph.D., so I could teach,” he said.

He earned a doctorate from the University of Wyoming in 1995. The process was expediated because the staff at Wyoming “liked CSC” and transferred Koza’s MBA toward his doctoral studies.

He got his first taste of teaching at Chadron State in 1996-97 when he was appointed assistant professor of marketing for one year. In 1998, he was hired to a full-time position and was promoted to associate professor of management in 2002. All the while, he has cut back on his business ventures, dedicating more time to his efforts at CSC.

“I feel very honored to receive this award. There have been some great faculty members who have received this award before me,” he said.

Koza credits the award to his wife, Kris, and his children, who “let Dad study when he needed to.” The Kozas’ son, Russ, lives in San Diego with wife Wendy and two children. Daughters Kelly and Jennifer reside in Fort Collins, Colo. Rick and Kris, each of their children and their daughter-in-law are graduates of Chadron State.

“There have been great people here at CSC who have served as mentors and the administration has been extremely supportive,” he said. “It would be almost impossible to recognize everyone who has helped me through the years.”

While he notes that he’s honored to have received the award, Koza said the recognition only encourages him to continue what he’s doing and become better at it.

“I love it here. Working with young people helps keep me young,” he said. “CSC has given me some great opportunities. It’s a great town with great people and a great campus.”