Paramedic program accredited

Published by Central Community College Winter 2012

Foundation starts veterans scholarship, inducts Hall of Fame members. See pag-es 8 and 9.

Paramedic program accreditedCentral Community College recently

was notified that its paramedic program has been accredited for five years by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHAP) as recommended by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Ser-vices Professions (CoA EMSP).

Phil Allen, program direc-tor, said accreditation by CAA-HAP means program graduates are eligible to take the skills and written test required to become a nationally registered paramed-ic and assures that their educa-tion at CCC meets national stan-dards for the profession.

The paramedic certifica-tion exams are developed and administered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. The national cer-tification is part of the require-ments to get a license to practice as a paramedic in Nebraska.

CCC paramedic graduates have been eligible to take the national registry ex-ams since the program began but, starting Jan. 1, 2013, graduation from a CAAHAP accredited program will be required to take the exams, said Charlie Gregory, as-sociate dean for Extended Learning Ser-vices (ELS) at the Grand Island Campus.Gregory was instrumental in starting the paramedic program through ELS, CCC’s division that offers continuing education programs throughout CCC’s 25-county service area.

“Accreditation is a big step toward recognition of paramedics as profession-

als on a level with anyone in the various health care fields,” Gregory said.

The ELS department for decades has been the primary source of training for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in central Nebraska. In 2006 the college began offering the classes required for

EMTs to become paramedics, who have advanced life-saving skills and a broader scope of practice than EMTs.

Currently CCC offers 19 paramed-ic courses totaling 38 semester-hours of credit to prepare graduates to take the na-tional registry exam.

The program accreditation is a mile-stone in CCC’s plan to implement a paramedic associate of applied science degree, said Dr. Deb Brennan, CCC ex-ecutive vice president and chief instruc-tional officer.

(See Paramedic program, page 2)

There’s still time to sign up for a Campus Visit Day. See Page 3.

Volleyball players, coach garner honors. See page 4.

Accreditation for automotive technology program continued. See page 5.

CCC campuses celebrate 2011 Veterans Day. See page 6.

Paramedic program (Continued from page 1)

The tentative starting date is the 2012 fall semester, which begins in August, pending approval by the CCC Board of Gov-ernors and the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsec-ondary Education.

One-year diplomas and short-term certificates also would be offered as part of the program.

Allen said career opportunities for paramedics are growing and include employment with fire departments, private ambu-lance companies and hospital emergency rooms.

“Some Nebraska communities are looking for people with a paramedic degree to work with doctors, doing post-surgery checks, basic prescriptions and other functions,” Allen added.

Gregory said that as consolidation of health care services increases, many rural fire departments and rescue squads want to provide advanced life support requiring additional equipment and certified paramedics. As a result, many EMT volunteers are encouraged to take paramedic courses.

Since the program started in 2006, 80 people have taken paramedic courses and more than 185 paramedics have taken a paramedic renewal class required for remaining nationally certi-fied and licensed by the state of Nebraska, Gregory said.

For more information about the paramedic program, go to www.cccneb.edu/paramedic or call Allen at 308-398-7479.

2 Central Community College Community Connection

UNL expands agriculture transfer optionsForensic science turned out to be

only the beginning.Central Community College and the

University of Nebraska-Lincoln were working together on a transfer agreement for forensic science, a popular program that provides a well-rounded education of biolo-gy, chemistry and physics.

UNL’s bachelor’s degree is endorsed by the American Acad-emy of Forensic Sciences and prepares students for careers such as crime lab sci-entist; crime scene, fire or insurance in-vestigator; and research technician. The program also includes activities outside the classroom in forensic pathology and crime scene investigation.

“All of our focus was on forensic sci-ence,” said Dr. Dianna Parmley, dean of educational services at CCC-Columbus, but then Dr. Steven Waller, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Nat-ural Resources, stepped into the process.

Because of his interest and initiative, CCC and UNL have signed eight new transfer agreements instead of one.

“Generally, transfer agreements are initiated by the community colleges,” Par-mley said, “but in this case, UNL took the lead.”

The transfer agreements will al-low individuals to take the first two years of a four-year degree at CCC. They will earn an associate of sci-ence degree from CCC and then transfer to UNL to complete their bach-elor of science (BS) degree in one of the following areas: agronomy with a busi-ness option, agricultural education with a teaching option, applied science, fisher-ies and wildlife, forensic science, mech-anized systems management, BS degree with the major to be declared, BS degree with a general option in agriculture.

CCC offers agriculture classes through its Columbus and Hastings cam-

puses, with many courses available on-line.

More information about the new transfer agreements can be found at

www.cccneb.edu/transfer. Click on “University of Nebraska-Lin-coln.”

The agriculture science and natural resources transfer pro-gram is offered at the Columbus and Hastings campuses. Gradu-

ates receive an associate of science de-gree. The college also has transfer agree-ments in agriculture with Chadron State College, Hastings College and Wayne State College.

Go to www.cccneb.edu/agriculture for more information about the agricul-ture transfer program.

The college also offers a two-year agribusiness program. Students can earn an associate of applied science degree, a one-year diploma, or certificates in agri-business, crop production and livestock production.

Go to www.cccneb.edu/agribusiness for more information.

“Generally, transfer agreements are initiat-ed by the community colleges, but in this case, UNL took the lead.” – Dr. Dianna Parmley, CCC

dean for transfer programs

‘Web of Murder’ is fall playEccentric Minerva Osterman (Kali Hast of Columbus) has Dr. Adler (Michael Clayton of Columbus) put her into a trance. She draws the card of death and her prediction soon comes true in Jonathan Troy’s “Web of Murder,” presented by the Columbus Campus theatre department in October.

3Central Community CollegeCommunity Connection

For more information1-877-222-0780, toll-free in Nebraska

College AdministrationRegistrar Barb Larson, 308-398-7359

Veteran Student Coordinator Travis Karr, 308-398-7376

CCC-Columbus402-564-7132

Admissions Kristin Hoesing, 402-562-1296

Assessment/Special Populations Michele Lutz, 402-562-1240

Financial Aid Lisa Gdowski, 402-562-1237

Housing Andrea Hays, 402-562-1209

Records Ronda Ryan, 402-562-1278

Recruiting Erica Leffler, 402-562-1435

CCC-Grand Island 308-398-4222

Admissions Michelle Lubken, 308-398-7406

Assessment/Special Populations Kyle Sterner, 308-398-7423

Diversity Coordinator Maria Lopez, 308-398-7427

Financial Aid Steve Millnitz, 308-398-7407

Records Liz Luna, 308-398-7413

Recruiting Meghan May, 308-398-7383

CCC-Hastings 402-463-9811

Admissions Bob Glenn, 402-461-2422

Assessment Kim Schawang, 402-461-2546

Financial Aid Vicki Kucera, 402-461-2414

Housing Cindy Foxhoven, 402-461-2432

Records Sherri Portenier, 402-461-2416

Recruiting Mandie Schmidt, 402-461-2480

Special Populations Cindy Hahn, 402-461-2423

Campus Visit DaysProspective students who want to

experience Central Community College are invited to attend a Campus Visit Day on March 7 or April 11 at the Columbus, Grand Island or Hastings campus. Visit days are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon. Attendees will have a chance to tour the campus, meet faculty, and learn about fi-

nancial aid and scholarships. Lunch will be provided.

For more information or to prereg-ister for Campus Visit Day, contact the appropriate admissions office or go to www.cccneb.edu/visitdays.

Individual campus visits also are available by appointment Monday through Friday.

News briefsLuna honored for work with veteran students

Liz Luna, student records coordinator at the Grand Island Campus, received a Vet-erans Service Achievement Award from the Grand Island Campus Military Service Union Nov. 8 at the campus’ Veterans Day celebration. CCC Veteran Student Coordina-tor Travis Karr presented the award to her in recognition of the work she has done with the veteran students in her capacity as the campus’ veterans certifying official.

Hummel receives distinguished service awardLarry Hummel, a part-time mathematics and economics teacher at the Grand Island

Campus, has received the 2011 Donald W. Miller Distinguished Service Award from the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics. The award honored him for his con-tributions to improving mathematics education in the state.

Parmley gives presentation in TexasDr. Dianna Parmley, dean of educational services at the Columbus Campus, served

as chairwoman of a panel presentation at the Community College Humanities Associa-tion national meeting Oct. 29 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The panel presentation focused on the National Endowment for the Humanities Plains Native American grant the college received in 2010. With the grant, the Colum-bus Campus developed a one-week workshop that took an in-depth look at the Pawnee, Ponca and Omaha tribes from the time of Western expansion to the present. Fifty com-munity college faculty members from 26 states attended the workshop.

CCC has received a second NEH grant to offer the workshop in 2012. Two sessions are planned: June 17 to 22 and June 24 to 29. For more information about the work-shops, go to www.cccneb.edu/nativeamericans.

Janousek is ambassador for education teachers groupMel Janousek, a Columbus Campus instructor, has been selected as a regional am-

bassador for the National Association of Community College Teachers of Education Program (NACCTEP).

Janousek will represent the Central Plains Region of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

The ambassador program is designed to develop leaders who will coordinate re-gional representation, enhance communication between the NACCTEP board and mem-ber states, encourage participation in NACCTEP, recruit and retain members, and sup-port NACCTEP during the annual national conference.

Janousek also was selected to facilitate a round-table discussion at the NACCTEP national convention, which will be held in Philadelphia in March. The discussion will focus on the use of “open-source” technology in instructional technology courses.

Volleyball players and coach garner honors The American Volleyball Coach-

es Association named Columbus Cam-pus volleyball coach Mary Young as the AVCA Two-Year College West Region Coach of the Year.

The award was presented at the AVCA annual conven-tion in San An-tonio, Texas, in December. This is the third time Young has won the award, taking home the honor in 2002 and 2008.

Young completed her 17th season as head coach of the Raiders volleyball team with a 32-11 record. Included was her 500th career win against Metro at KC Longview in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament, ranking her sixth among active coaches in Division II. The Raiders ended the season ranked ninth in the national poll after winning back-to-back Nebraska Community College Ath-

letic Conference (NCCAC) champion-ships.

Volleyball players Katie Beiermann, McKenzie Leu, Maggie Hellbusch and Andrea Odbert earned Nebraska Commu-nity College Association All-Conference and NJCAA Region 9 all-region honors.

Beiermann was selected by AVCA as an All-American on the second team for two-year colleges, including all divisions of NJCAA, plus California and Washing-

ton community colleges. She also was named an NJCAA Di-

vision II First Team All-American for the second consecutive year.

Odbert was selected for NJCAA Di-vision II second team All-American hon-ors. During her two years at CCC, she tallied 1,525 digs, breaking the school re-cord for career digs set by Lisa Dvorak in 2002.

Central Community College Community Connection4

Raiders named as Academic All-American TeamThe 2010-11 Central Community College volleyball team was notified that

it had earned national honors, placing second in the nation as a National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American Team.

The Columbus Campus Raiders earned the honor with a team grade point average (GPA) of 3.53 on a 4.0 scale. Team members Kylee Braithwait of Valen-tine and Abby Houghtelling of Indianola had 4.0 GPAs, earning them the Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence.

Two other Raiders, basketball player Skyler Douglas of Lincoln and softball player Ashley Szelage of Columbus, received the Superior Academic Achievement Award for GPAs of 3.8 or higher.

More than 370 teams qualified for academic team accolades and more than 1,470 NJCAA student-athletes met the requirements for individual academic honors.

Coach Mary Young

Hastings Outstanding Service Award goes to FriesenGene Friesen of Aurora received the

28th Annual Outstanding Service Award at a recent staff recognition ceremony at the Hastings Campus.

The award is presented annually to a Hastings Campus employee who demon-strates exemplary service to the college.

Friesen, a drafting and design tech-nology instructor, was cited for having a warm and personable approach that makes him a natural at teaching, putting others in front of his own ambitions, and exemplifying the college’s mission of a student-centered approach to education.

“Gene is a dedicated individual whose exceptional vision and hard work have brought about some remarkable chang-es in his program,” said one nominator. “He was instrumental in obtaining the De-partment of Labor Community Based Job Training Advanced Manufacturing grant in the amount of $2.1 million.”

Friesen also developed the curricu-

lum for two p r o g r a m s : drafting and design tech-nology and ad-vanced man-u f a c t u r i n g design technol-ogy. Because of his effort, “stu-dents have the advantage of learning some of the latest technology of-fered in industry,” said another nominator.

Prior to joining the Hastings Cam-pus staff in 1999, he worked as a tool-maker and draftsman at Vancare Inc. in Aurora; a toolmaker at Fu-Tek Tooling in Alda; and a draftsman at Hastings Irriga-tion Pipe Co. in Hastings, Century Mfg. in Aurora and Behlen Mfg. in Columbus.

He is a graduate of Henderson High School who went on to earn an associate

of applied science degree in mechanical drafting from the Hastings Campus and a bachelor’s degree in management from Bellevue University.

While at CCC, he has been involved in a number of student organizations, in-cluding SkillsUSA and the Beta Alpha Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa inter-national honor society. In addition, he served as an adviser for students who were eager to learn more about the Pow-er Drive competition sponsored by the Omaha Public Power District and the Ne-braska Public Power District.

Friesen is a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Ne-braska Bowhunter’s Association. While attending Bellevue, he was featured in the 1995-96 edition of the National Dean’s List, and in 2009, he was nominated for the American Technical Education Asso-ciation’s Outstanding Technical Teacher Award.

Gene Friesen

Media arts students plan Kids Against Hunger campaignMedia arts students at the Hastings

campus developed a multimedia infor-mational campaign for the nonprofit or-ganization Kids Against Hunger-Hast-ings.

Media arts instructor John Brooks said the process began with a meeting be-tween his students and the Kids Against Hunger board about what the group wanted in a campaign. The students then developed several ideas and designs that they presented to Kids Against Hunger board members and representatives be-fore Thanksgiving.

After the board decided which ap-proach they wanted, the students began work on the campaign brochure, business card, flyer and videos. Kids Against Hun-ger is making arrangements to print mate-rials developed as part of the project and also will use a short video on its Web site and an eight-minute version for presen-tations to attract volunteers and raise do-nations.

Students who are working on the campaign are: Amherst: Megan Klingel-hoefer; Arnold: Natasha Wagner-Sage; Bladen: Carmi Grigg; Glenvil: Kim-berly Randolph; Grand Island: Rebecca Cummins and Grant Norman; Hastings: Zachary Andrus, Abby Gentert, Am-

ber Hoffman, Samantha Loftus, Jessica Maas, Christine McVicker and Steven Stenner; Kearney: Jared Gregg and Jas-mine Ledroit; Oxford: Kelsie Eman; Red

Cloud: Michael Rogers; Scribner: Craig Boyle; Sutton: Hannah Syms; Richmond, Ind.: Diven Ester.

Automotive program accreditation renewedThe Hastings Campus automotive technology program has

been reaccredited by the National Institute for Automotive Ser-vice Excellence (ASE).

The purpose of the accreditation process is to improve the quality of training offered at secondary and post-secondary pub-lic and proprietary schools. All aspects of CCC’s automotive program – from the facilities to the number of instructional hours – were evaluated by the National Automotive Technicians Edu-cation Foundation (NATEF).

NATEF examines the structure and resources of training programs and evaluates them against nationally accepted stan-dards of quality. NATEF’s precise national standards reflect the skills that students must master, and its evaluation process en-sures that accredited training programs meet or exceed industry-recognized, uniform standards of excellence.

Automotive instructors Rob Crumbliss and Barry Lewis are both ASE master certified automotive technicians and Lewis also is an advanced level specialist. This is the highest standard in the automotive industry, and the certification must be renewed ev-ery four years.

Options open to CCC automotive students include an associate of applied science degree, diploma and certificate in automotive technology and a Ford Maintenance and Light Repair (MLR) di-ploma or certificate. Go to www.cccneb.edu/automotive.

Date set for house auctionThe annual auction for the Hastings Campus student-built house is scheduled for

May 2, starting at 6 p.m. on the campus.The one-story ranch-style, 1,800-square-foot house includes three bedrooms, abun-

dant closet space, a full main bathroom, a ¾ bathroom off of the master bedroom and a ¾ bathroom in the laundry area.

Students from the construction technology, electrical technology, and heating, air condition and refrigeration programs are involved in the project as part of their respec-tive education programs.

Open house events are scheduled for April 1 and April 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. Condi-tions of the sale require that the house be removed from the Hastings Campus no later than Aug. 8. To see a floor plan, a brochure about the house and videos showing the con-struction in progress, go to www.ccc.cccneb.edu/house.



CCC dedicated its Hastings Campus Veterans Resource Center (VRC) and celebrated Veterans Day on Nov. 11, and cel-ebrated Veterans Day Nov. 8 at the Grand Island Campus and Nov. 9 at the Columbus Campus.

The Hastings Campus dedication included the opportuni-ty to see the Veterans Brain Injury Task Force’s NETV episode, “Traumatic Brain Injuries, Invisible Wounds.” The program aired on NETV Nov. 10 and 13.

CCC established Veterans Resource Centers at its Co-lumbus, Grand Island and Hastings campuses after receiving a $393,993 Central to Veteran Student Success Grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

The centers support veterans and active duty, reservist and National Guard members while they make the transition from the military to student life. They have access to campus tours, orientation sessions, tutoring, mentoring, and workshops and in-formation on other veteran organizations, groups and activities.

The college has been named a 2012 Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine for ranking in the top 20 percent of U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools doing the most to recruit and retain veterans as students.

For more information about the Veterans Resource Cen-ters, contact Veteran Student Coordinator Travis Karr at (308) 398-7376; toll-free at 1-877-222-0780, ext. 7376; or by e-mail at [email protected].

Members of the Nebraska National Guard’s 1075th Truck Company provided the color guard for Veterans Day ceremonies at the Columbus Campus (top left). Student and veteran Joey Ossian, chief of staff for the Columbus Veterans Association (CCC Veterans Club), spoke at the event (top center). Retired army Brig. Gen. Roma J. Amujndson was the keynote speaker at the dedication of the Hastings Campus Veterans Resource Center, (top right), which included ribbon-cutting ceremonies (bottom left). During the Grand Island Camps Veterans Day celebration, Travis Karr, veteran student coordinator, presented a Vet-eran Achievement Award to student records coordinator Liz Luna for years of dedication and support to veterans and their families (bottom right).


Dr. Eastwood presented alumni awardDr. Bart Eastwood of Spearfish, S.D.,

was awarded the 2011 Nebraska Commu-nity College Association Distinguished Alumni Award on Nov. 1 at the Nebraska Community College Association’s annual conference in Grand Island.

Presenting the award was Dr. Wal-ter Bumphus, president and chief execu-tive officer of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Eastwood is a 1996 graduate of the Hastings Campus, where he received an associate of applied science degree in biotechnology.

He went on to earn a bachelor’s de-gree in biology from Nebraska Wesley-an University and a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Des Moines Uni-versity’s College of Osteopathic Medi-cine and Surgery. He was accepted into the orthopedic surgical residency pro-gram at Ohio University and Affinity

Medical Center. While in the program, he was recognized as the chief intern in 2002-03 and as the chief resident in 2006-07. He completed his rotation at hospitals in Massillon/Canton, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio, as well as in Den-ver, Colo. He completed his board certifi-cation in orthopedic surgery in 2007.

Eastwood currently is employed by Regional Orthopedics in Spearfish, S.D., where his duties include serving as sports medicine director. He also is the team physician at Black Hills State University.

“When I look back on my time at Central Community College, what stands out is the quality opportunity I was pre-sented with right here. I was given a high-level education right in my own back yard without ever taking a loan out,” Eastwood said.

Eastwood and his wife, Shannon, have two children: Cole and Allie.

CCC instructor wins Nebraska faculty awardMarcene Wurdeman, an accounting

instructor at Central Community College-Columbus, has received the 2011 Nebras-ka Community College Association Dis-

tinguished Faculty Member Award.The award was presented Nov. 1 at

the NCCA’s annual conference in Grand Island. Wurdeman was cited for her com-mitment, dedication and innovation as a teacher. She strives to stay current and of-ten ahead of the curve in the accounting and teaching fields, thrives on coaching and mentoring students, and takes pride in watching students advance in their ed-ucation and careers.

She also has taken the lead in the college’s efforts to provide educational opportunities to students throughout its 25-county service area. In 1994, she was named an area instructional design coor-dinator and was responsible for designing courses and training other faculty mem-bers to deliver classes on the interactive satellite system. She holds a lifetime high school teaching certificate, so high school students can earn dual credit when they enroll in her classes.

She is a member and past officer of the National and Nebraska state educa-tional associations, National and Nebras-ka state business education associations, Delta Pi Epsilon business honorary and

Delta Kappa Gamma honorary for wom-en in education.

She has served for seven years as financial auditor of the Association of Career Technical Education of Nebras-ka. Until last year, she served on Girls Scouts-Prairie Hills Council as treasurer and as an endowment committee mem-ber.

Wurdeman was named the 2006 Co-lumbus Campus Faculty Member of the Year, the 1993 CCC-Columbus Phi Theta Kappa Faculty Member of the Year and the 1987 Business Teacher of the Year by the Mountain Plains Business Education Association. The Nebraska State Busi-ness Education Association recognized her in 1987 for making outstanding con-tributions to business education by a post-secondary teacher.

Prior to joining the CCC-Columbus staff in 1978, she was a business and ac-counting instructor at Columbus High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebras-ka-Kearney and a master’s degree in edu-cation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Dr. Walter Bumphus, president and chief executive officer of the American Asso-ciation of Community Colleges, presents a Nebraska Community College Distin-guished Alumni Award to Dr. Bart East-wood, a Hastings Campus graduate who currently is employed at Regional Ortho-pedics in Spearfish, S.D.

The Nebraska Community College Dis-tinguished Faculty Member Award was presented to Columbus Campus math and accounting instructor Marcene Wur-deman at the NCCA annual conference, hosted by Central Community College in November. Presenting the award is Dr. Walter Bumphus, president and chief ex-ecutive officer of the American Associa-tion of Community Colleges.

8 Central Community College Community Connection8 Central Community College Community Connection

Foundation update: new veterans scholarshipBy Dean Moors, executive director, Central Community College Foundation

In October of 2011, the CCC Foundation held its second annual Appreciation Luncheon with over 160 in attendance, including businesses, organizations, community leaders, em-ployees, and approximately 25 CCC students.

The luncheon was supported by a combination of 19 un-derwriting and table sponsors. It was highlighted by Grand Island Campus President Dr. Lynn Black’s, “Did You Know” facts, Grand Island Campus instructor Maureen Eggert’s in-spiring testimonial and a testimonial from a scholarship re-cipient, Tyler Zoucha.

It concluded with S.N. (Bud) and Gloria Wolbach be-ing inducted into the Central Community College Foundation Hall of Fame. They were honored for demonstrating excep-tional support for CCC and its mission over the years through their commitment to philanthropy, service to CCC, and com-munity service. (See story on page 9.)

The foundation welcomed two new board members: Lynne Werner, a senior trust officer for Platte Valley State Bank and Trust Co. in Grand Island, and Kara Ritterbush, the resource development director for Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village. (See story on page 12.)

The new Central Community College Foundation Veter-ans Appreciation Scholarship was created to express gratitude to the men and women who have served our country honorably. The fund offers multiple scholarships up to $500 awarded to CCC stu-dents to help offset the costs of higher education and make college accessible for hardworking, talent-ed individuals who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. This will also be available for their depen-dents. Criteria has been estab-lished for scholarship eligibility. The foundation is accepting dona-tions to help build this scholarship.

Planned giving efforts, in fiscal 2012, have been success-ful to date with bequests received in excess of $300,000. In addition, several new restricted and endowed funds have been established since July 1, 2011.

The CCC Foundation continues to receive solid support for its mission to help Central Community College students through the funding of scholarships and programs.

Dean Moors

Planned giving – leaving a legacyBy Chip Essex, planned giving coordinator, Central Community College Foundation

Our last two issues reviewed charitable remainder uni-trusts and charitable gift annuities. These planned giving tools require transfers during the donor’s lifetime to a charity. In consideration for this gift, the CCC Foundation agrees to pay a fixed percentage annual return to the donor for his or her lifetime. These lifetime transfers result in a charitable income tax deduction, depending on the donor’s age and other factors.

In the event a donor is not comfortable with a large com-pleted gift during lifetime, a gift at the end of life to benefit students or programs at Central Community College may be appropriate. These end-of-life gifts may come in the form of a bequest under your will or a beneficiary designation naming the CCC Foundation under your personal trust, life insurance policy or an individual retirement account.

A simple bequest in your will may name the foundation as recipient of a specific dollar amount at death or as a per-centage of your residuary estate. A bequest to the foundation will remove or exempt the assets from federal estate taxes, eliminate capital gains taxes and allow the donor to make a substantial gift after they no longer need the assets.

Life insurance is another excellent tool for benefiting students and programs after death. You can name the CCC Foundation as the beneficiary or owner of an old or new pol-icy. Perhaps you have a life insurance policy that is no longer needed for the original intended purpose? You can donate the policy to the foundation or simply name the foundation as the beneficiary. You may also name the foundation as a benefi-ciary for a percentage of a policy along with other charities or individual beneficiaries.

Lastly, the rapid increase of individual retirement account assets has created charitable gift opportunities over the last several decades. Similar to life insurance, the account owner may designate the Central Commu-nity College Foundation as a com-plete or partial beneficiary of their IRA. By naming a charity as a ben-eficiary, the owner may be able give tax advantaged assets to his heirs and avoid potential double taxation of IRA assets at death. A charitable beneficiary designation under your IRA will not affect your ability to take withdrawals from the plan dur-ing your lifetime.

The deferred gifts under your will or designations under your IRA or a life insurance policy qualify donors for membership in the Central Community Col-lege Foundation Legacy Society. Names of current members are listed on page 6 of the 2010-11 foundation annual report.

The comments above are merely a brief summary of sev-eral potential benefits of deferred gifts under your will, trust, life insurance or IRA. As always, consult your professional advisers as you plan your charitable gifts.

Please contact the Central Community College Founda-tion at 402-460-2153 to learn more about deferred gifts or to request one of our many brochures on the subject of planned giving. You may also confidentially review these and many other ways to benefit the students and programs of Central Community College on the CCC Foundation Web site at www.cccneb.edu/giftplanning.

Chip Essex

9Central Community CollegeCommunity Connection 9Central Community CollegeCommunity Connection

Wolbachs inducted into foundation Hall of FameS.N. “Bud” and Gloria Wol-

bach were inducted into the Cen-tral Community College Foundation Hall of Fame Oct. 27 at the foundation’s annual appreciation luncheon.

Inductees are selected on the basis of their philanthropy, service to CCC and/or the CCC Foundation, and community service.

The Wolbachs have been generous donors and supporters of the CCC Foun-dation and the college, with Bud serving on the CCC Foundation Board of Direc-tors from 1990 to 2006.

Bud was involved in numerous oth-er organizations, serving as president of Stuhr Museum for 40 years, trustee of the University of Nebraska Foundation, past director of the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation, trustee of the Over-land Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, member of St. Francis Medi-cal Center Foundation, president of the Grand Island Industrial Foundation, member of the Greater Grand Island De-velopment Corporation, member of the Nebraska 4-H board, and president of the Nebraska Diplomats.

He was named the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Boss of the Year,

Rotarian of the Year, Nebraska Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, National Society of Fund Raising Ex-ecutives Philanthropist of the Year and the Lincoln Rotary Club Nebraskan of the Year. He also received the Gover-nor’s Award, Stuhr Museum Outstanding Award and the Nebraska Book Festival Community Spirit Award.

He died in 2006. Gloria has served on the United Way

and Grand Island Foundation boards. She also has been active in the Red Cross, Goodwill, Stuhr Museum, Crane Mead-ows, Heartland Events Center, Arthritis Foundation and the St. Stephens Epis-copal Church. In 1997, she started the Acts of Kindness group with the first AOK week held in 1999. In 2002, Mayor Ken Gnadt and Gov. Mike Johanns pro-claimed Grand Island the “City of Kind-ness.” The group now has 80 members.

She was named the 1995 Goodwill Volunteer of the Year, 1997 Heartland United Way Citizen of the Year, 1999 Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year by the National Society of Fund Raising Exec-utives, and 2005 Grand Island YWCA’s Woman of Distinction.

Bud and Gloria were named “Man

and Woman of the Year” by the Grand Is-land Independent in 1998, the only time a couple has been selected for this honor.

“Their commitment to Grand Island, the area and the state has been endless,” said CCC Foundation Executive Director Dean Moors.

A plaque honoring the couple was dedicated after the Nov. 17 Board of Gov-ernors meeting in Grand Island.

The appreciation luncheon, which drew 160 attendees, was made possi-ble by the following sponsors: Wilkins Hinrichs Stober Architects in Kearney; NMC in Omaha; Matheson-Linweld in Hastings; Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Hastings; Saint Francis Medical Center in Grand Island; Grand Island Area Eco-nomic Development Corporation; Farris Engineering in Omaha; and Electronic Contracting in Lincoln.

Speakers included scholarship recip-ient Tyler Zoucha, an engineering trans-fer student from Wood River, and donor Maureen Eggert, foundations education English and reading instructor at the Grand Island Campus. The event con-cluded with tours of the Health-Science Education Center, the Center for Industri-al Technology, and the occupational ther-apy area.

Gloria and S.N. “Bud Wolbach

CCC Foundation Executive Director Dean Moors presents a commemorative clock to Gloria Wolbach at the foundation’s annual luncheon in October on the Grand Island Campus. She and her late husband, S.N. “Bud” Wolbach were inducted into the founda-tion Hall of Fame at the event.


Foundation appreciation luncheonThe Central Community College

Foundation held its Annual Appreciation Luncheon on Oct. 27 at the Grand Island Campus.

Speakers included Foundations Ed-ucation English and reading instructor Maureen Eggert (below left), who shared her reasons for supporting the foundation since its inception in 1989, and student Tyler Zoucha (below center), who told the audience about the importance of the scholarship he received through the foun-dation.

Lunch was served in the Grand Is-land Campus Student Center (bottom left) to more than 300 people (top right and middle right). Guests included Grand Island Mayor Jay Vavricek (center), for-

mer Grand Island Mayor Ken Gnadt, former State Senator Arlene Nelson and numerous business and organization rep-resentatives. Several CCC students and employees also attended.

Foundation Executive Director Dean Moors presented a plaque to Barb Drudik, who retired from the CCC Foundation of-fice after more than 20 years of service (bottom right).

A highlight of the luncheon was the induction of S.N. “Bud” and Gloria Wol-bach in the CCC Foundation Hall of Fame in recognition of their support for the foundation and Central Community College (see page 9). Other Hall of Fame members in attendance were Jack Crow-ley and Kenneth Morrison, both from Hastings, and Bud Fleischer of Colum-bus.


Foundation board gains new membersKara Ritterbush of Hastings and Lynne Werner of Grand

Island are new members of the Central Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

Ritterbush has been resource development director for the Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village since August. She previously had served as execu-tive vice president of the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce, com-munity manager for income devel-opment for the American Cancer Society and public relations/foun-dation director of Holdrege Memo-rial Homes.

While in Holdrege, she served as secretary of the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce Ambas-sadors and co-chair of the Phelps County Community Foundation’s Future Fund. She also was active in the Holdrege Rotary Club and the Holdrege Kiwan-is Club.

She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2004 with a degree in journalism: mass media.

Werner has been the senior trust officer for Platte Valley State Bank and Trust Company in Grand Island since 2008.

She heads the trust department, settles estates, administers trusts and manages client investment portfolios.

Her previous employment experience includes working as a pediatric registered nurse at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Hospital; practicing law in Valentine, includ-ing stints as assistant city attorney, public defender and private prac-tice; and serving as a senior trust officer for 10 years for Wells Fargo Bank.

She graduated from the Uni-versity of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and from Creighton Uni-versity College of Law with a juris doctor degree.

Werner previously has served as an elected member of the Grand Island Public School Board and Grand Island Education Foundation and as a St. Francis Hospital Foundation trustee. She currently is chair-man of the Hall County Airport Authority.

She and her husband, Tom, have two children: Adam, a freshman at the University of Nebraska, and Jane, a sopho-more at Grand Island Senior High.

Kara Ritterbush

Central Community CollegeP.O. Box 4903, Grand Island, NE 68802-4903

Lynne Werner

Documents

Paramedic program accredited