Wentworth and Reynaga to speak at commencement

Wentworth, a North Dakota native who earned her doctorate from the University of Minnesota, joined the CSC faculty in 2004. She earned a master’s degree in 1998 from Northern State University and a bachelor’s in elementary math education from Minot State University in 1972.

Wentworth has been nominated for the college’s Teaching Excellence Award five times. In a recent nomination, her colleague, Dr. Rob Stack, said Wentworth’s students receive the highest quality instruction, including technology, group work, and hands-on experience. Stack said Wentworth’s leadership in math education is unparalleled in western Nebraska. She regularly shares her expertise and passion about math education by including CSC students when she travels to state, regional, and national conferences.

Wentworth has been described as a cheerleader for her students and she embraces that portrayal. Unsurprisingly, she wants her math education students to also advocate and mentor their pupils.

In addition to being a champion for future teachers, she has served as a member of campus committees including Graduate Council, Academic Review, Faculty Development, Educational Preparation Program, and the Scholastic Contest.

Wentworth’s reputation at CSC is in part linked to the outreach programs she helped establish for elementary and middle school students. In 2010, she proposed a collaborative program with Chadron Public Schools and since then CSC students majoring in elementary and middle school math education have been helping area youth strengthen their math skills during the school day and after school.

Lorna Eliason, director of the Chadron After School Program, said the district is fortunate Wentworth’s vision brought to life the dreams of several CSC alumni and young educators. Additionally, the experience gives CSC math tutors real-world experience and an edge in the job market.

In 2013, Wentworth expanded the program to include a Family Math Night for K-6 pupils and their families in Hay Springs, Nebraska, in response to a request from Jessie Anderson, a fifth grade teacher. Anderson said she appreciates Wentworth’s dedication to the partnership and admires the CSC students for creating educational games that are accessible and age-appropriate.

CSC math education students work in groups and provide Wentworth with feedback and suggestions for the following year. Wentworth believes it is important for pre-service teachers to understand they do not simply dispense knowledge, but rather help their students solve problems and find answers.

In 2018, Wentworth’s innovative teaching techniques, devotion and commitment to her career were recognized by her peers when she received the Milton W. Beckman Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics annual conference. Deb Romanek, a math education specialist with the Nebraska Department of Education, nominated Wentworth, who was one of 12 teacher leaders in a pilot project that became the model for the statewide Nebraska Mathematics Professional Development Series. That program eventually affected thousands of K-12 math teachers, according to Romanek.

Wentworth also served two terms on the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics Executive Board as College Math Education representative.

Wentworth’s husband, John, is a retired farmer. They have been married since 1976 and have two adult children, and four grandchildren.

Reynaga is an Attorney for Legal Aid of Nebraska, a non-profit organization in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, that provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence and elder abuse.

Reynaga graduated from Chadron State College in 2014 with a Legal Studies major and a Criminal Justice minor. His extracurricular involvement included Revive Student Ministries, Legal Studies Club, Blue Key National Honor Society, Campus Activities Board, and Student Senate. He also participated in the 2013 London Study Abroad trip. During his senior year, Reynaga was appointed by the Governor to represent Chadron State College as a Student Trustee for the Nebraska State College System.

From day one, the faculty and staff reassured me that CSC was a special place and they would help me achieve my goals,” Reynaga said. “Aside from incredible opportunities, the relationships I was able to foster, both personal and professional, were something I could only get at a place like CSC. Together, these helped lay the foundation for whom I am today, both as an individual and a professional.”

As a Student Senator, Reynaga visited another state college during a board meeting and was inspired with an idea to install water bottle filling stations at CSC. He introduced the plan to Student Senate, and within a few months, the $15,000 project was approved.

“In a world where young people are often shunned from leadership roles for lack of experience, these types of opportunities can have a profound effect,” Reynaga said. “This experience with Student Senate gave me confidence to know that when the proper tools and resources are available, nothing is impossible.”

Reynaga obtained his law degree from the University of Nebraska where he worked with UNL’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, a service designed to provide free tax preparation for low- income families. This community service work was key in Reynaga earning UNL’s 2019 Spirit of Service Award, an annual honor for one University of Nebraska-Lincoln student who has shown outstanding achievement in the area of community service.

After graduating from UNL and being admitted to the Nebraska Bar, Reynaga began his career at Legal Aid as a staff attorney for Raising Effective Advocacy for Crime Victim’s Health and Safety.

Outside of his work with Legal Aid, he serves as the Vice Chair for the Nebraska Latino American Commission. As the child of two Mexican immigrants, Reynaga said he is pleased to serve on the commission that links state government and the Hispanic/Latino communities of Nebraska.

Reynaga is married to the former Stephanie Burger, a fellow 2014 CSC graduate. Both graduated from Alliance High School. The couple has three children.

—Tena L. Cook Interim Marketing Coordinator