Accomplishments and Math Science renovation highlight 2019

Phi Beta Lambda students placed in national competition, and seniors majoring in Social Work hosted a major conference hosted on the topic of Hate. “The Eagle” newspaper won its eighth straight Best Overall award.

Author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka lectured and discussed his book, “Hey Kiddo,” as part of the Common Reading Experience. Other visiting experts included Practitioner-in-Residence Dr. Katherine Kral-O’Brien, who lectured and led field studies about pollinators during a Special Topics Agriculture course. Omaha area potter Wes Galusha spent several days in residence demonstrating his craft and describing his art show pieces to students and faculty. Artist-in Residence David Craven traveled from Atlanta to direct "Evil Dead: The Musical," and “Miss Julie.”  

Math Science

The $28.5 million Math Science renovation and addition has received widespread support in the region. More than 40 organizations in western Nebraska have endorsed the project.

Gabrielle Brumfield of Pendleton, Indiana, won the Outstanding Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Sciences award at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences.

Chadron State College students, Jessica Rowshandel of Encino, California, and Isaac Langan of McCook, Nebraska, completed research funded by NASA Nebraska Space Grant fellowships. Rowshandel studied analog mapping sites that mimic NASA’s Mars 2020 landing site and Langan researched nitrate, arsenic, and uranium levels in wells near Crawford, Nebraska.

Wacey Gallegos from Ainsworth, Nebraska, and Lelisse Umeta, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, presented their advanced biomedical scientific research at a state conference.

Students in the Rural Health Opportunities Program visited a May workshop at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and returned to learn more about health careers in October.

Through a National Science Foundation grant, students will digitalize the herbarium’s plant specimen collection. Faculty and students assisted with Bioblitz, a survey of insects, birds and other animals at Chadron State Park. Dr. Mat Brust wrote a tiger beetle field guide and Range Day featured a number of speakers.

Academics

In other academic news, drug and alcohol counseling courses and scholarships were approved, alumni served on a behavioral health panel discussion, and Dr. Tara Wilson was named the co-lead of BHECN Panhandle.

The Rural Business Leadership Initiative was established in response to input from regional business leaders and alumni. One Nebraska Business Development Center client, Landen Chiropractic, received the Champion of Small Business Award.

Four graduates were accepted to law schools and the inaugural class of the Rural Law Opportunities Program entered their junior year.

ROTC cadets, in addition to military leadership classes, attended international summer training and met members of the German Armed Forces who visited CSC.

The spring senior art show and fall senior art show included graphic design, ceramics, sculpture, prints, paintings, and photography by seven students. An April show included work from all art majors and a winter show featured students in Advanced Art Studio. Students who attended Aaron Draplin’s graphic design workshop near Rapid City said the experience encouraged them to think more creatively.

Service and Leadership Opportunities

Continuing the college’s tradition of service, students assisted with events such as Challenge Days, The Big Event, the Children’s Theatre Workshop, and collected donations for victims of floods in eastern Nebraska. To practice for next year’s The Big Event, students organized a Mini Big Event this fall. Students organized a Suicide Awareness art exhibit, panel discussion, and other events. Project Strive TRiO students planted trees on campus, and the Pre-Vet Club organized a pet adoption walk. Student volunteers responded to two unusually heavy snowstorms in March and April by clearing athletics fields while others made winter holiday decorations for the entrances to campus and the Student Center at the greenery swag workshop.

Opportunities for students to increase their academic skills included Rachel Mitchell’s research at the Lily Library in Indiana and her appearance at the North American Victorian Studies Association. Four students made presentations at the Sigma Tau Delta international convention.

Student Center workers in The Pit took advantage of an opportunity for leadership and involvement. Sara Flores and Kevin Coy hosted focus groups, determined what students wanted, and then worked with Student Activities Coordinator Megan Northrup to incorporate the student input.

The college also announced new and enhanced programs for students. You@CSC was established to support student success, and cultural opportunities for students will increase through an enhanced study abroad program. The Education Department expanded its school-based partnership, providing student teachers with increased experience before graduation.

Campus Events

Events hosted by various departments drew hundreds of high school students to the Health Professions Showcase, Art Day, Theatre Day, High Plains Band and Choir Festival, Summer Upward Bound, Best of the West business competition, Scholastic Contest, Western District History Day, Girl Scouts ArtVenture, and district FFA competition. Bike Ride Across Nebraska drew visitors of all ages to campus in June.

The Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center hosted exhibits from The Sand in Our Art to a retrospective featuring the Faye and Ray Graves glass negatives and related artifacts. Performing arts included an  anniversary celebration of the CSC Community Band with former music faculty members Carola and Bill Winkle and the Mari Sandoz Wacipi. Events hosting writers on campus included the Story Catcher Festival and the Sandoz Symposium. The history of CSC was depicted in the Chadron State Through the Years display.

College Relations introduced CSC Today, a weekly update of campus news. It includes links to the People of CSC, FARcast a podcast by Alex Helmbrecht and Daniel Binkard featuring interviews with CSC faculty and staff. Student workers continue to gain experience as a vital part of CSC Live, a streaming service of commencement and athletic events.

Athletics

In sports, two wrestlers won NCAA Super Region 6 championships, marking the first time since 2007 a pair of Eagles have grappled their way to regional titles in the same season. Both Chase Clasen, at 149 pounds, and Wade French, at 197, took gold at the regional tourney in Kearney, Nebraska, and went on to compete at the national championships in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Both also returned for their senior seasons in the fall, beginning a quest for additional success in 2020.

The track and field program produced several new All-Americans. Isaac Grimes won the long jump at the NCAA indoor championships and Ashton Hallsted took fifth in the weight throw. Grimes, a sophomore, went 25 feet, 8 ¾ inches (7.84 meters) on his last jump at the national meet, while junior Ashton Hallsted finished with a career-best mark of 66 feet, 5 inches (20.24 meters). The day following those two performances, Grimes also won a silver medal in the triple jump, and in May he went on to another silver in the outdoor long jump.

Second Team All-America honors went to the softball team’s freshman second baseman Haleigh Hoefs, of Lincoln, Nebraska. In her first year at CSC, Hoefs batted .447 in with 19 doubles, 12 home runs, 49 RBI, and 40 runs scored. Her slugging percentage of .837 set a new single-season school record and her doubles tied the record set by Allison Hendricksen in 2010. She is the first All-American in the CSC softball program’s history.

Steer wrestler Kalane Anders of Bayard, Nebraska, placed second in the finals of the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, to claim eighth place in the final standings.

The volleyball team won its first season since 2003, finishing with 14-12 overall and an 8-10 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) record. Senior libero Ashton Burditt was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year by the RMAC, while both she and sophomore Chandler Hageman took Second Team All-RMAC honors.

Alumni

CSC alumni were in national and state news. Tim Walz was elected the governor of Minnesota, Loni Watson was named the Nebraska Counselor of the Year, Megan Helberg was honored as the Nebraska Teacher of the Year, and Michael Sandstrom was the History Teacher of the Year. The Wyoming Teacher of the Year was also a CSC alumna. Alumnus Father James Joseph returned to campus to speak to a Psychology class, and TJ Thompson won an international research award.

Other Campus Changes

Changes on campus included the first outdoor sculpture in eight years installed near the Chicoine Center. In administrative updates, Dr. Charles Snare, vice president of Academic Affairs, announced his retirement and Dr. Jim Powell was named to fill Snare’s position.

Plans for 2020

The coming year will include many stages of plans related to relocating classrooms and labs from the Math Science building in preparation for the upcoming renovation and expansion. Dr. Kurt Kinbacher, Markus Jones, and Dr. Mary Clai Jones are planning a cross country bike ride in 2021 and will host additional informational sessions about the venture.  

—CSC College Relations