Chuck Cressy has 'enjoyed every day' at Chadron State

Dr. Charles Cressy, who is a Chadron State graduate, has worked at the college the past 37 years. He said he’s “enjoyed every day of it,” and knows that, in particular, he will miss the contact with students.

“I’ve had a great time. Chadron State has been good to me,” said Cressy. “I have no complaints at all.”

During the regular school year the next three years, Cressy will serve as one of two faculty coordinators for Chadron State’s internship program, which allows upper division students to gain credit while working for businesses, organizations and governmental agencies.

It’s a program he knows well. In the early 1990s, he was among those who wrote the federal grant that initiated it. Since then, he’s remained a close adviser to the program administrators, gives his approval of the internship sites and then grades the portfolios that the students prepare at the end of the experience. Besides business majors, he has worked with students in agriculture, family and consumer science, psychology and recreation and coaching.

As a student, Cressy put himself through Chadron State by working in the produce department at the Safeway Store in Chadron 40 hours a week. He also was a student assistant in the intramurals program three of his four years at the college.

After Cressy did his student teaching at Mitchell High School and graduated from CSC in the spring of 1965, he taught business courses five years at Humboldt High School in extreme southeastern Nebraska. During this time he earned his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and married one of his students, Janice Lorenson.

He admits that teacher-student romances are not generally accepted in high school circles, but this one had everyone’s blessing, including her parents and the school board after he discussed it with the members. The couple celebrated their 40th anniversary this month.

About the same time as he was hired at CSC in 1970, he began working on his doctorate at the University of Nebraska. He spent five summers and the 1974-75 school year in Lincoln while earning the degree.

He initially taught mostly skills courses such as typing, shorthand (he knows four types of it) and office procedures at CSC. Through the years, he’s also taught education methods to business majors who are training to be teachers, accounting and many graduate courses.

He was one of the first CSC faculty members to teach distance learning courses that are beamed via interactive television to several western Nebraska sites.

Cressy has assumed many leadership roles. He was the sponsor for the CSC chapter of Phi Beta Lambda National Business Fraternity the first 20 years he was on campus, served as the state advisor for six of those years, was president of the CSC Education Association three times, headed the Faculty Senate eight times and was the college’s chief faculty negotiator with the State College System 12 years.

“I’ve kept busy, but I’ve enjoyed every day. I’ve always looked forward to going to work and being around the students. I’m going to really miss it. Working with the internship program the next three years will help keep me involved, though.”

Besides his college duties, Cressy has been extremely active in the community. He was on the Chadron Board of Education 17 years, serving as president eight years; has been president of the Chadron Crime Stoppers 20 years; was on the Chadron City Police Retirement Board 15 years; has been associate guardian of the Chadron Jobs Daughters and also a state officer in that organization; treasurer for the United Methodist Church since 1975; and was treasurer for Camp Norwesca near Chadron State Park for about 12 years.

The Cressys have two children, both Chadron State graduates. Tiara Gaswick teaches business at Hay Springs High School and Trent, who lives in Des Moines, is a regional manager for Titleist, the international golf equipment corporation.

Tiara’s two children, Kaylee, 11, and Aaron, 10, spend a lot of time with thr Cressys. Trent and his wife, Laura, have one child, Georgia, and are expecting another this fall.

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Chuck and Janice Cressy celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this past month.

Besides his college duties, Cressy was on the Chadron Board of Education 17 years, serving as president eight years; has been president of the Chadron Crime Stoppers 20 years; and treasurer for the United Methodist Church since 1975.

The Cressys have two children, both Chadron State graduates. Tiara Gaswick teaches business at Hay Springs High School and Trent, who lives in Des Moines, is a regional manager for Titleist, the international golf equipment corporation.

They also have three grandchildren and are expecting another one this fall.