A Year of transition and achievement at Chadron State College

Administrative changes were among the most closely followed news stories in 2025.

In March, Dr. Ron K. Patterson announced his intent to resign as CSC’s President to become the next President of Murray State University. Dr. Jodi Kupper was appointed Interim President of Chadron State College in June. Kupper had served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Nebraska State College System Office for 11 years and brought 27 years of experience in higher education to CSC. In October, the Board of Trustees officially appointed Kupper as President of CSC.

Dr. Derry Ebert, a veteran administrator with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, was named CSC’s Vice President for Enrollment Management, in the spring.

Following national searches, Dr. Brittany Helmbrecht was named the Dean of the School of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences and Dr. Shaunda French-Collins was named the Dean of the School of Business, Mathematics, and Science. Helmbrecht, served in the interim role for a year, and was previously a 10-year faculty member of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. French-Collins began at CSC in 2011 and was a Professor of Communication Arts and Department Chair, as well as CSC’s Teaching Excellence Award recipient in 2021.

In related news, the Chadron State Foundation selected Scott Kruger as its Chief Executive Officer. Kruger brings two decades of experience in philanthropic leadership, securing transformational gifts, leading comprehensive fundraising campaigns, and expanding donor networks.

Student accomplishments across academic, leadership, and creative areas highlighted the depth of student engagement at CSC.

Mekenna Fisher of Hershey, Nebraska, earned second place in both the Impromptu Speaking and Job Interview contests at the FBLA-Collegiate State Leadership Conference in Kearney, Nebraska. She qualified to compete in both events at the National Leadership Conference in Dallas where she placed in the top 10 in both categories.

The 10th annual Rising Sophomore Awards Ceremony celebrated current CSC freshmen nominated by CSC faculty, staff, and student peers for their qualities and achievements throughout their first year. CSC’s Retention Committee established the awards to recognize rising sophomores who excelled in various categories during their first year.

Five students attended the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association conference with Dr. Mary Jo Carnot and Dr. Carrie Stiefel. The students gained valuable networking opportunities, career skills, and returned excited about doing research.

Twenty-four students presented their research at the 135th annual meeting of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences conference in April. The CSC contingent was the largest in several years and follows recent growth in students majoring in physical science, according to Dr. Mary Keithly, associate professor of chemistry.

Three Army ROTC cadets participated in the Ranger Challenge and Field Training Exercise, two programs designed to forge well-rounded leaders.  The War Eagles club returned to activity in conjunction with the reactivation of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program on campus.

Prints by nine students, designed during a Spring 2025 course with Art Professor Laura Bentz, were published in August in Volume 4 of the Honeycomb Project. Organizer of the project, Candace Garlock, said the series of interconnected hexagonal frames symbolizes the bonds between humans and the environment.

Two pre-health professions students had a rare opportunity during an international camp for high school students on the CSC campus this summer.

Communication Arts students won awards in three categories of the Golden Leaf Awards contest sponsored by the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association in March.

CSC announced the names of 19 students accepted into the Rural Health Opportunities Program, a vibrant and collaborative learning community, in Fall 2025.

A lifelong connection to agriculture and a passion for education led Sydney Linse to the unique 3+1 agriculture education program between CSC and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Faculty and staff achievements reflected a year of professional growth, recognition, and scholarly contribution.

The inaugural Eagle Success Summit in late August drew more than 150 attendees. Director of the Office of Academic Success Chantel Merchen said the summit was a new opportunity intended to improve communication and build relationships. Keynote speaker Dr. Laurie Schreiner said she was impressed by the event’s energy and focus.

The college recognized employees who were retiring, employees who earned years of service awards, and faculty nominated for Teaching Excellence in April. The nominees for the Teaching Excellence award were Dr. Gary Dusek, Dr. Kurt Kinbacher, Dr. Rachelle Rider, and Dr. Dawn Brammer, who received the award.

Dr. Josh Ellis, professor in Family and Consumer Sciences, earned the Certified Special Populations Specialist certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Merchen, Director of the Office of Academic Success was selected by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for its 2025-26 Emerging Leaders Program.

A poem, Between Light and Silence, written by English and Humanities Professor Dr. Deane Tucker was published this summer in The Tiger Moth Review, a biannual journal of art and literature that engages with nature, culture, the environment, and ecology.

Assistant Professor of Business Dr. Caitlin Redden presented at the Association for General and Liberal Studies. Her presentation explained how CSC distilled the essence of its general education program to create a manageable assessment framework.

Dr. Teri Marrow, Assistant Professor of Counselor Education, presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference. Her poster topic was The Ins and Outs of Clinical Supervision: Steps to an Effective Supervision Practice.

Assistant Professor of Business Dr. Nic Fisher made a presentation at the Great Plains Economics and Business Conference titled Unintended Side Effects: Regulatory Prescriptions.

Associate Professor Julian Berrian presented Cheating the Grave: Representations of Death Transcendence in the Movie Sinners, during the virtual Annual Northeast Popular Culture Association conference, marking his second appearance at the annual conference.

Community engagement and service continued to be a focus of the college’s mission throughout the year.

The college continued its second year of sponsoring an online platform, the Kindness Wall, intended for students, teachers, and staff to share encouraging comments on digital displays in their schools. CSC’s sponsorship made the service free to all public and private Nebraska schools grades K-12 during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.

CSC successfully hosted the annual Western District History Day. A variety of categories were offered for high school and middle school student competitors, including individual and group websites, documentaries, research papers, and tabletop exhibits.

The Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month committees arranged a special lighting of the Lindeken Clock Tower in teal and green to signify national awareness months for both causes.

Global learning and hands-on educational experiences remained a hallmark of the CSC student experience.

The college celebrated its 40th group of students on the Justice Studies Study Abroad Program in May.

During spring break, six student members of the Art Guild traveled to Seattle with faculty advisor and Art Professor Mary Donahue for an immersive art and cultural tour, exploring major museums, neighborhoods, and iconic landmarks.

A new club, Coddiwomplers, was approved. The club members chose the name after completing an online search for different terms meaning to travel. In June, the club toured Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

CSC’s economic impact and outreach efforts underscored its role as a regional and statewide asset.

CSC remains a key driver of economic prosperity in Nebraska, contributing to individual student success as well as the vitality and sustainability of rural communities and the state according to an economic impact study released in January by Lightcast for the Nebraska State College System.

A specialty license plate design for CSC featuring the iconic C-Hill location is in development. At least 250 Nebraska residents must commit before the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles will produce CSC’s specialty plate. CSC supporters will be able to purchase the plates for use on a wide variety of vehicles. To join the interest list or learn more, visit chadroneagles.com/licenseplate.

More than 360 Chadron State College students and employees volunteered at 60 job sites in April during The Big Event, an annual day of service that includes painting fences, stairs, and buildings for Chadron residents and businesses.

More than 58,000 specimens from the High Plains Herbarium are now available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, a Denmark-based platform that provides open access to biodiversity data from around the world.

The Nebraska State College System announced the launch of an ambitious new system-wide initiative, Reengage Nebraska. The program is designed to help thousands of students with some college credit but no degree to return to higher education and complete a degree or credential.

Academic programs were expanded to meet workforce and student needs.

Medical Nutrition was added as the 12th option in CSC’s Rural Health Opportunities Program partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Students who earn a Medical Nutrition degree will be qualified to become a Registered Dietitian.

The college announced it will offer an Education Specialist Degree in Mental Health and Addictions starting in Fall 2025. The online program will advance student opportunities, offering school counselors the chance to fulfill requirements toward becoming a Nebraska Licensed Mental Health Practitioner or a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

For education majors, the Nebraska SMART tutoring program remains a way to practice teaching, build relationships, and discover what it means to make a difference in students’ lives. The program, established in 2024, expanded this fall to offer free tutoring to all K-12 students in Nebraska.

A variety of conferences and lectures brought learners and professionals to campus.

The Graves Lecture Series resumed in the fall with three events. Kevin Coy, an Academic Advisor for the CSC TRIO Upward Bound program spoke about resilience, local sports broadcaster and voice of the CSC eagles Dave Collins described his preparation for game day broadcasts, and the student and faculty duo of Sutton Pohlman and Dr. Clint Evrard spoke about their Type II Diabetes research.

Seniors in the SW 435 class hosted the annual Social Work Conference in November based on the theme of Breaking the Silence: Healing and Prevention for Domestic Violence.

CSC hosted the 35th annual Early Childhood Conference. Erin Ramsey, an author and early childhood educator, delivered the keynote presentation about how to avoid burnout. The conference’s theme was Building Resilience in Educators and focused on topics such as early learning guidelines, active supervision and safety of children, reading for joy, and indoor and outdoor activities.

High school students from western Nebraska participated in the Eighth Annual Best of the West Competition on campus. The contest followed Future Business Leaders of America rules to prepare contestants for the State Leadership Conference in Kearney, Nebraska, in April.

Alumni made presentations on campus and received awards, continuing lifelong connections to campus.

As part of the college’s ongoing celebration of the 50^th anniversary of Title IX,  Carla Dowdy and Lyndsi Slusarski presented during the Graves Lecture Series about how their experiences at CSC influenced their careers in the healthcare industry. Continuing the series, Jamie Weingart, a professional development consultant, alum and former CSC student-athlete, presented On the Shoulders of Giants – Celebrating 50 Years of Courage and Leadership in Women’s Sports.

During Homecoming, the late Dr. Margaret Crouse was recognized posthumously with a Distinguished Service Award from Chadron State College, in honor of her career dedicated to education, service, and mentorship.

Alumni awards were presented during Friends and Family Weekend in October. Lisa Moravec received the Distinguished Alumni Award and Loni Watson and Dr. Jacob Zitterkopf each received a Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Family Tree Awards were presented to the Owens family and the Marshall family.

Alumna Cherokee Rotherham received the Nebraska State College System Counseling Excellence Award for her dedication and commitment to students at Scottsbluff High School.

In the areas of the arts, culture, and campus life, efforts of students and employees resulted in growth and vitality.

A new permanent outdoor sculpture, Field Work(s), was installed near the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning (COIL) in late July. The piece fulfills Nebraska’s requirement that one percent of state construction funding for certain capital projects be used for public art.

The CSC Bike Share program currently includes 26 bikes, including 10 purchased in October and assembled with CSC branding and baskets.

An exterior mural featuring eagle wings created by senior Angelyse Perez of Newcastle, Wyoming, came to life on the Student Center during Homecoming weekend thanks to the work of Pine Ridge Job Corps students, Chadron Area Chamber Director Gabby Kreis, community artists, and students and employees.

The Theatre Department performed Ruthless! The Musical which followed ambitious, spotlight-seeking characters on their journeys of becoming stars. The department’s second production was The Children’s Hour. The third production was Delirium, an adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, written by Assistant Professor and Director Brian Grob along with Elena Yazykova.

Nearly 100 students from the Panhandle and South Dakota attended Art Day. CSC faculty and students presented a variety of sessions about graphic design, ceramics, mural painting, photography, architecture, wire sculpture, jewelry making, painting, and even temporary tattoos.

The college hosted the 40th annual International Club Food Tasting Party in March. The evening’s activities included a trivia game, dances, musical numbers, and a fashion show representing at least 10 countries. International Club members also sold items from their countries in a marketplace.

More than 60 years of work by local artist Dave Nixon was exhibited in the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center. Nixon majored in geology with minors in anthropology, zoology, and art while attending UNL. 

Together, these accomplishments reflect a year of steady progress and a strong foundation for continued growth and innovation. Through leadership transitions, student achievement, and meaningful community engagement, the college continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education while serving the needs of the region and the state.