W h e r e C o l l e g e o f S a i n t M a r y a n d A l u m n a e a r e T o d a y

EDUCATIONThe Art and Science of

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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T SF I R S T W O R D

10THE ART AND SCIENCE OF EDUCATIONSchools welcome College of Saint Mary students and grads with open arms because of what they have learned – and their ability to apply what they've learned to make a difference.

14IS COLLEGE WORTH IT?The value of a college education continues to exceed the cost to attain it — personally, profession-ally and financially. Fulfilling our Mission, College of Saint Mary turns no one away because she can’t afford it.

DEPARTMENTSFIRST WORD 2

COMMUNITY SPIRIT 4

FLAMES ATHLETICS 18

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT 20

MILESTONES 22

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

JOURNEYS—ROOTED IN HISTORY, MAKING A DIFFERENCE TODAY, INSPIRING TOMORROWS LEADERS

Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM

JOURNEYS MAGAZINE

The Strategic Marketing & Communications Office publishes JOURNEYS magazine twice per year. eJOURNEYS electronic newsletter is dis-tributed four times per year. JOURNEYS is copy-righted in its entirety. Send correspondence or address changes to JOURNEYS, College of Saint Mary, 7000 Mercy Road, Omaha, NE, 68106, or journeys@csm.edu.

In keeping with the Christian principles upon which the University was founded and is operated, College of Saint Mary does not unlawfully discrim-inate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, age, marital status or national origin. Although it is a university for women, College of Saint Mary is in compliance with applicable federal and state laws prohibiting sex discrimination.

Brittney Long Director of Public Relations & Communications

Allison KuklisGraphic Designer & Publications Coordinator

2015 SPRING EVENTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 23 • 11:30 p.m.Great Conversations featuring Alex Kava

FRIDAY, APRIL 24 - SUNDAY, APRIL 26CSM Theatre Department Presents:Almost, Maine

THURSDAY, APRIL 30 • 4:30 - 6:45 p.m.Student Art Exhibition and Music Recital

SATURDAY, MAY 9 • 1 - 2:30 p.m.Saint John's Bible Series

GRADUATION WEEKEND SATURDAY, MAY 16 5 p.m. Baccalaureate Mass 6 p.m. Graduate & Family Reception 7:30 p.m. Honors Convocation 7:30 p.m. Master’s Hooding 7:30 p.m. Practical Nursing Certificate Ceremony 8 p.m. Graduate & Family Reception

GRADUATION WEEKEND SUNDAY, MAY 17 10:30 a.m. Commencement Exercises Speaker Dr. Carolyn Woo President & CEO, Catholic Relief Services

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 • Midnight - MidnightOmaha Gives!

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Greg FritzVice President for Strategic Marketing & Communications

Sara Hanson Vice President for Enrollment Services

Vicki HoskovecVice President for Institutional Technology

Dr. Tara Knudson CarlVice President for Student Development& Special Assistant to the President

Sarah Kottich, CPA, MBAVice President for Finance & Administrative Services

Dr. Christine PharrVice President for Academic Affairs

Sandra RedingVice President for Institutional Advancement

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richard (Rick) Jeffries, J.D. - Chair

Kathleen Dodge - Vice Chair

Deborah Macdonald, J.D. - Treasurer

Terri Wachtler Campbell ’93 - Secretary

Jean Bartman

Jane Carmody, DNP, RN

Lorraine Chang, J.D.

William Cutler

Ivan Gilreath, MBA

Jane Huerter, J.D.

Brad Knuth

Carol Kontor

David Kramer, J.D.

Dr. Sheila Megley, RSM

Audrey Milfs ’67

Daniel O’Neill

Daniel Padilla

Sr. Laura Reicks, RSM

Steve Ritzman

Dr. Michon Rozmajzl, RSM, ’65

Annette Smith

Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM

Dr. Britt A. Thedinger, M.D.

Sue Weiler-Doke ’85

Lyn Wallin Ziegenbein, J.D.

For a complete list of CSM Board Members and their company/community affiliates, visit CSM.edu/AboutUs/BoardofDirectors.

ON THE COVER: Junior education major Amir Davis from Titusville, Florida, is shown with Spell-man Child Development Center preschooler Claire Lancaster. Lancaster is the daughter of Ashley Lan-caster, a junior nursing major from Fort Mill, South Carolina, and Madonna Hall resident. Photo by Heather Hall.

For a complete list of all events, please visit CSM.edu/Events.

Dear Alumnae and Friends,

I hope you enjoy our re-envisioned alum-nae publication, now called JOURNEYS, to be published twice a year in April and October and its companion piece eJOURNEYS avail-able four times a year via email and online.

The word “JOURNEYS” sums up Col-lege of Saint Mary’s history and our expected future. It’s all about the careful education of women, calling forth the voices and power of women to make decisions and to commit themselves to partnering with others to trans-form the world. In the words of Scripture, it’s about contributing to a world of “no more war,

no more tears, a new heaven and a new earth;” this is the journey.

This issue focuses on this careful educa-tion of women in three ways: you’ll read about what the campus offers today, you’ll see stories of our alumnae who are contributing to the education of children now, and you’ll engage with College of Saint Mary’s attempts to re-spond to the national conversation about the affordability of a college education.

I’m proud of College of Saint Mary for many reasons and one of those reasons is be-cause we’ve always been committed to the fu-ture. Our education is rooted in our history but inspires hope in our students no matter

their previous circumstances. Our education demands of graduates that they take their place in the drama of life, the process of change.

Quite simply, our education is what Pass-over and Easter are about…passing over into newness.

Enjoy your read!

REDING RETURNS TO VP OF ADVANCEMENT ROLE

Come June, a familiar face will re-turn to Walsh Hall. Sandra Reding, who served as vice president for insti-tutional advance-ment from 1996-2000, will return to the post to lead fundraising, grant writing and alumni relations.

“I’m thrilled to return to College of Saint Mary,” Reding said. “Although I’m very famil-iar with the campus and its culture, so much has changed in the last 15 years under Sister Maryanne’s leadership. I’m very impressed with the college’s growth and visibility, as well as its unwavering commitment to its mission.”

Since 2011, Reding has served as the ex-ecutive director of the Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha. Before then, she served in senior development positions with the Joslyn Art Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, Hastings College Foundation and Simpson College. Reding holds a bachelor of arts degree from Briar Cliff University and a master of science degree in higher education administration from Iowa State University.

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C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T

QUEEN OF HEARTS More than 200 guests attended the 69th annual Queen of Hearts Celebra-tion held February 7, 2015. The campus community selected honorees based on values, character and ser-vice. From left: Congratulations to First-year Princess Haley Eschbacher, a freshman occupational therapy major from St. Louis, Missouri; Second-year Princess Charlene Shambare, a sophomore applied psychol-ogy major from Omaha; Third-year Princess Rachel Etter, a junior applied psychology and human services major from Omaha; and Queen Daniela Rojas, a senior theology and art major from La Vista, Nebraska.

PA PROGRAM SECURES CLINICAL SITES

Charles “Chuck” Fletcher arrived on cam-pus in May 2014 and faced a daunting task: secure 330 clinical sites for students enrolled in College of Saint Mary’s new physician as-sistant studies program.

“Students begin clinical rotations in the last year of their five-year program,” Fletcher said. “There are 30 students in a cohort who each must complete 11 four-week rotations.”

Nearly a year later, after too many phone calls, emails, and face-to-face meetings to count, Fletcher said he was thrilled at the re-sponse from interested professionals.

“We have secured more than 400 sites in clinics and hospitals across the country,” he said. “Ninety-three percent are in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. Because most of our students are from the Midwest, we sought sites in areas where students could live with family, friends or alumnae.”

Fletcher will visit each of the clinical sites where students will work alongside physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners in family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, OB/GYN, psychiatry and general surgery. “In each site, a student will determine a patient’s health history, per-form a physical examination, and craft a diag-nosis and treatment plan with their preceptor,” said Fletcher.

Fletcher is also part of the team assisting Shaun Grammer, director of the physician as-sistant studies program, prepare for program accreditation.

“We’re on track for provisional accredita-tion in Spring 2016,” Grammer said. “We sub-mitted our feasibility study to the Accredita-tion Review Commission-Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) in March. The application and self-study are due in July with a site visit planned for September.”

STEVENS HONORED WITH CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) presented Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, College of Saint Mary president, with the Chief Executive Leadership Award dur-ing the District VI Conference in January in Denver, Colorado.

In his nomination of President Stevens, Rich-ard Jeffries, J.D., chair of College of Saint Mary’s Board of Directors and partner at Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather, L.L.P, wrote:

“When Dr. Stevens took the helm, the institu-tion had literally mortgaged its land and incurred debt that threatened to impair the College. Ste-vens eliminated institutional debt and enhanced its academic offerings. A tenacious fundraiser, Dr. Stevens has upgraded every academic space on campus, secured the construction of a student commons and attracted the $11 million necessary to build Madonna Hall, where single mothers may live and learn with their children in community.”

Deborah Macdonald, J.D., treasurer for Col-lege of Saint Mary’s Board of Directors and retired president of Kinder Morgan Natural Gas Pipeline Group, supported Jeffries’ nomination writing:

“Dr. Stevens truly embodies the mission of College of Saint Mary as a Catholic university ded-icated to the education of women in an environ-ment that calls forth potential and fosters leader-ship. She is a personal advocate for the underserved minorities in not only the community of Omaha but also the community of women at large.”

CSM PARTNERS WITHCHI HEALTH

College of Saint Mary just made enrolling in course-work more convenient and even more affordable for CHI Health employees, thanks to a new partnership between the two organizations.

The agreement offers CHI Health-affiliate employees reduced tuition for any of the University’s 30+ undergraduate programs.

“CHI Health and College of Saint Mary are natural partners,” said Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, College of Saint Mary president. “College of Saint Mary graduates well-prepared, car-ing health professionals, and we educate students to be business analysts, educators and legal studies majors. We can help CHI Health employ a more educated and diverse workforce.”

College of Saint Mary expects its new online Doctor of Education program (see related story below) with emphasis in Health Professions Education to be of great interest.

“With CHI Health having a national presence, we’re confident that our online Ed.D. will be very attractive to those in search of an advanced degree,” said Dr. Christine Pharr, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “It will provide the flexibility of an online program with the personal connectedness that College of Saint Mary is known for providing.”

NEW ONLINE Ed.D. LAUNCHES IN JUNE

College of Saint Mary will launch an online Doctor of Education degree in June for career-driven, degree-seeking professionals. Students in the three-year pro-gram can choose from two emphases: Health Professions Education or Educational Leadership.

“The Health Professions Education track is perfect for the working healthcare professional who wants to teach in higher education or is looking to be an edu-cation director in a medical facility,” said Dr. Christine Pharr, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Educational Leadership is designed for the professional who is eager to assume leadership in the field of education or within their business or corporation.”

Dr. Vicky Morgan is hosting virtual open houses with prospective students from across the country and is serving as interim program director pending the arrival of newly appointed program director Dr. Kristi Preis-man. Preisman has been an associate professor at Peru State College for the past decade and will join the Col-lege of Saint Mary at the end of the academic year.

“College of Saint Mary has created a program that is affordable, is accessible and facilitates exceptional learn-ing, all while sitting in the comfort of your own home,” said Preisman.

The Ed.D. is offered as a cohort program. All courses are online with the exception of a one-week residency requirement each summer.

J O U R N E Y S M A G A Z I N E4

Learn more about the program at CSM.edu/EdDOnline.

Dr. Vicky Morgan Director, Teaching & Learning Center Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Dr. Kristi Preisman Program Director, Online Ed.D.

Mark Jastorff, CASE District VI Conference host and Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, presents the Chief Executive Leadership Award to President Maryanne Stevens.

COMMUNITYSPIRIT

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LEGAL STUDIES SEEKS TO EXTEND ABA APPROVAL

The legal studies department hosted an American Bar Association (ABA) review team in mid-January. Every seven years, the ABA vis-its existing programs seeking reapproval. Dur-ing the two-day visit, a practicing attorney from Atlanta, Georgia, and a senior paralegal from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, met with faculty and staff from the library, enrollment services, mar-keting and student development. In addition, the reviewers met with the legal studies advisory board and College of Saint Mary alumnae.

Before the visit, program director Sally-Bisson Best, J.D., completed a comprehensive report showcasing curriculum, academic stan-dards, recruiting efforts and support services for students.

“The site team was very impressed with the competency of our faculty and the level of importance the institution places on the pro-gram,” Bisson-Best said. “The reviewers also reported that students felt their education was transformative, which speaks to the high-level of personal attention in our program.”

Among 1,000 legal studies programs na-tionwide, only one-third are ABA approved. College of Saint Mary received its first ap-proval in 1991 and is the only ABA-approved program of its kind in Nebraska and Iowa.

Reapproval through 2020 will be voted on by the ABA House of Delegates this summer.

Charles "Chuck" Fletcher Clinical Liaison, Physician Assistant Studies Program

Shaun Grammer Director, Physician Assistant Studies Program

C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I TC O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T

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CSM HOSTS LITTLE WOMEN PREVIEW NIGHT

The College of Saint Mary Institutional Advancement Office welcomed nearly 175 alumnae and friends to a preview performance of “Little Women” at the Omaha Community Playhouse on January 22. Following a recep-tion hosted by President Maryanne Stevens and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Chris-tine Pharr, guests enjoyed Louisa Mae Alcott’s timeless tale of sisters Jo, Megg, Beth and Amy, guided by their beloved mother Marmee.

“This was such a wonderful event to bring CSM women and their guests together with the performers on stage,” said Pharr, who is an Omaha Community Playhouse board mem-ber. “It was a magical night celebrating the joys and triumphs of women throughout history.”

LAB WELCOMES DIGITAL CADAVER

Thanks to a grant from the Armstrong McDonald Foundation, students in the health professions are benefitting from a new high-tech learning tool.

An Anatomage table, a mobile digital ca-daver measuring seven feet by two feet and costing nearly $90,000, arrived in late March and comes equipped with a touch screen and two 64” display monitors.

With the swipe of a finger, students will be able to rotate the body in all directions, and with a scalpel “swipe” tool, they’ll slice, layer, segment and cross-section tissue to demon-strate anatomical relationships.

Until recently, animal dissection and plas-tic models were the only methods available to demonstrate the systems of the human body at the undergraduate level. College of Saint Mary recently developed a cadaver lab to enhance anatomical instruction; however, the lab is less than optimal for the more than 200 students who are enrolled in anatomy courses annually.

“Today’s students love technology and are drawn to it. This device will use that love of technology to encourage the exploration of hu-man anatomy through this space-age device,” said Dr. Jeff Keyte, division chair of Arts & Sci-ences and assistant professor of biology. “The ‘cool factor’ alone will get students’ attention.”

CSM ADVANTAGE POSTS RECORD ENROLLMENT

Before the fall 2014 semester began, a record number of new, first-time students participated in a five-day kick-off designed to ensure a smooth transition to college life. Participants met other new students, faculty and staff and brushed-up on necessary study and test-taking skills.

CSMAdvantage also focuses on the devel-opment of mind, body and spirit. Students participated in a weekend retreat where they learned important health and wellness tips and were introduced to the importance of goal-setting and networking. The program contin-ues throughout the year with luncheons and one-to-one meetings with staff members in the Achievement Center.

“The 26 students in this year’s class earned a combined grade point average of 3.41 for fall semester, said Angela Fernandez, assistant dean for retention programs. “We help new students get off to a great start and then sup-port them throughout this exciting journey.”

VANDENACK INSPIRES HONORS STUDENTSMary E. Vandenack, J.D., ’90, found-

ing and managing partner of the Omaha law firm Houghton Vandenack Williams, recently shared her keys to business and personal suc-cess with student achievers at the annual Walk Tall Honors luncheon.

“Mary opened my eyes to not only the importance of choosing a job I love, but also finding it in a place I love where I can also find hobbies I love,” said Jamie Williams, a junior occupational therapy major from Hastings, Ne-braska. “The trifecta to finding the perfect set-ting is preparation, wellness and confidence.”

Mayra Roman, a junior mathematics secondary education major from Rio Vista, California, said she was impressed with Vandenack’s support of other women.

“She emphasized the importance of lifting each other up, especially in environments where women are still fighting for equality,” Roman said. “At College of Saint Mary, I’ve been able to witness how well women can work together and how much we can all learn from each other.”

Vandenack graduated summa cum laude from College of Saint Mary with her bachelor’s degree in business and accounting. She attended Creighton University School of Law, graduat-ing magna cum laude. While in law school, she served as editor-in-chief of the Creighton Law Review and won Best Oral Advocate honors in Domestic Moot Court. Vandenack serves on the editorial board for the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Magazine and on the ABA Women Rainmakers and the Commission on Youth at Risk board.

SAFETY PROGRAM GETS NEW WHEELS

At 6’6” tall, it’s a tight squeeze for Dave Ferber, College of Saint Mary’s director of safe-ty and security, to get in the University’s new patrol vehicle. But it’s a sacrifice he’ll gladly make to quicken his response time to someone in need.

The new “egg mobile,” as students com-monly call it, allows Ferber and his seven-member security team to patrol the 25-acre CSM campus in bitter cold temperatures with high-beam lighting. And unlike a standard se-curity truck, the Polaris Global Electric Mo-torcar (GEM) navigates narrow sidewalks and parking lots with ease.

The motorcar can travel up to 27 miles per hour on an eight-hour battery that takes about an hour to recharge.

“It’s important for us to utilize an eco-friendly mode of transportation that doesn’t leave much of a carbon footprint,” said Ferber.

STUDENTS POST HIGH MARKS FOR SATISFACTION

College of Saint Mary faculty and staff work hard to meet the needs of a diverse group of students. According to results of a recent survey, the University is succeeding.

“Every three years, we administer the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory to full-time undergraduates,” said Dr. Tara Knudson Carl, vice president for student development, special assistant to the president and retention advisory council chair. “The survey measures satisfaction and priorities (items of importance), and offers national benchmarks on nearly 60 items related to students’ happiness on campus.”

The survey also collects demographic in-formation to help administrators gain a better understanding of the specific needs of campus sub-groups.

Forty-two percent of College of Saint Mary’s student body participated in the recent survey. Those students praised competency in academic advising and instruction, the appli-cation of coursework to career goals, and the availability of faculty and online resources. Campus safety and security, and a welcom-ing campus culture also posted high scores. Similarly, the Achievement Center earned high marks as an environment conducive to learn-ing and studying.

“The responses are right in line with what students feel is important,” said Knudson Carl. “In areas where students expressed con-cern, we’ve modified processes and services as needed. Overall, the results are very affirming of our work and commitment to students.”

MERCY HALL READIES FOR A MAKEOVER

With genuine excitement President Stevens delivered news that the planned renovation of Mercy Hall was a go.

“We’re moving forward with the Mercy Hall renovation plan this spring!” President Ste-vens posted in a late February blog to students and faculty. “Within the last few days, generous donors confirmed the additional pledges need-ed for the nearly $8 million project.”

Mercy Hall, built in 1969, houses the din-ing hall, bookstore, meeting spaces and Walk-ing Woman Welcome Center for prospective students and families. While cosmetic improve-ments have been made over time, the building’s mechanical infrastructure is severely outdated.

“The heating, air conditioning and elec-trical systems are original,” said Kim Savicky, chief administration officer with oversight for facilities. “Repairs are costly, and it is becom-ing more difficult to find replacement parts for the ageing equipment.”

Plans include remodeling the dining room with new serving stations, buffet islands, fur-niture and contemporary décor to enhance the student dining experience. Enrollment Ser-vices will undergo reconfiguration to include a spacious lobby outlined by offices for admis-sions personnel. The plan also includes much-needed updates to the Mercy Hall Meeting Room and President’s Dining Room.

To jumpstart construction, Chartwells, the University’s food service provider, temporarily relocated to the Lied Fitness Center in mid-March. A multi-purpose room houses serving stations and dining tables circle the track. To thank students for their patience during the construction, Christina's Place in the Hixson-Lied Commons expanded its menu and service hours, and the University added more “flex dollars” to meal plans.

The dining hall is expected to be ready in September with other areas to be completed shortly thereafter.

FLAMES TO HOST FIFTH ANNUAL GOLF SCRAMBLE

Registration is open for the fifth annual Flames Golf Scramble set Friday, May 29, at Ti-buron Golf Club in Omaha. Community mem-bers, alumni, family and friends are invited to join College of Saint Mary faculty and staff for a great day of golf celebrating Flames athletics.

The driving range opens at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start, four-person scramble, begin-ning at 11 a.m. The event concludes with a social gathering, silent auction and dinner. Proceeds benefit College of Saint Mary athletic programming.

Tiburon Golf Club features 27 holes of championship golf with superior greens. With more than 12 acres of lakes and natural wood-ed areas, Tiburon offers spectacular scenery and challenging golf shots.

To register as a golfer or sponsor, visit CSMFlames.com.

College of Saint Mary

WINTER COMMENCEMENT Fifty-eight students received bachelors, masters and doc-toral degrees at College of Saint Mary’s winter commencement held Saturday, December 13, 2014. Terri Wachtler Campbell ’93, secretary for College of Saint Mary’s Board of Directors and Classified Inside Sales Manager for the Omaha World-Herald (shown here with President Maryanne Stevens), delivered the commencement address. Graduate Kristen Deane M’14 of Omaha received the Master of Arts in Teaching Student of the Year Award. Selena Palmer M’14 of Omaha received the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership Student of the Year Award.

Rendering by Leo A. Daly Architectural Firm

C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I TC O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T

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CSM FAST FACTS

ON DECK FOR GRAND SLAM DIGSThe Heritage Park softball complex, just east of the Lied Fitness Center and home to the

Flames softball team, is scheduled for an all-star upgrade. The proposed complex addition in-cludes restrooms, locker rooms, a concession stand and accommodations for umpires, statisti-

cians, announcers and the media.“As we move to the Great Plains Athletic

Conference (GPAC), it’s imperative that we provide an exceptional facility for our athletes and their fans,” said Flames Athletic Director Jim Krueger. “This past year, the softball team had its best record in 10 years. The addition will allow our team to compete at a higher intercollegiate level and assist our coaches in recruiting top players.”

A fundraising campaign is currently under-way for the project, estimated to cost $500,000.

CAMPUS MINISTRY FINDS NEW HOMECampus Ministry, College of Saint Mary’s center for spiritual life and faith development, has

moved from Walsh Hall to a new home in the Hixson-Lied Commons, across from the Student Leadership and Organizations offices and adjacent to Christina’s Place.

“Our new location allows students to drop in between classes to visit with friends and en-joy a snack,” said director Vickie Zobrist. “Stu-dents also come for counseling, mentoring and pastoral support to navigate tough times and difficult decisions. There is no judgment here.”

Student-led service clubs also operate out of the new digs. A group recently traveled to Kentucky to repair substandard housing and another will visit Milwaukee in the fall to serve the homeless in soup kitchens and shelters.

“We go to learn their stories. We’re there to be a ministry of presence. This is what building a community of faith is all about,” Zobrist said.

FLIGHT NURSE HELICOPTER LANDS AT CSM College of Saint Mary’s soccer field served as

the landing pad for a recent visit from the Uni-versity of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Flight Nurse and Medical Helicopter.

College of Saint Mary’s Student Nurses Association hosted the visit and welcomed UNMC Chief Flight Nurse Jeremy Moore and his crew to campus.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for our nursing students to experience a specialized ca-reer path within the nursing profession,” said Tracey Green, Ed.D.(c), assistant professor and Student Nurses Association advisor.

SUMMER ACADEMIES ANNOUNCED

College of Saint Mary will host more than 100 10th- and 11th-grade high school girls during its summer 2015 academies. The 14th Annual Latina Summer Academy will be held on campus June 21-June 26, and the second Annual African-American Summer Academy will follow July 12-17.

The academies encourage young Latina and African-American women to finish high school, attend college and pursue their dreams. The academic track explores forensic science and technology and introduces students to ca-reers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In addition to academic programming, participants will also explore the visual and performing arts, journaling, meditation, ex-ercise, nutrition and self-defense. Corporate executives, educators and community leaders from the Omaha area will offer encouraging words and stress the value of education and es-tablishing positive role models.

679

40

243

56

1,018 Total Students

Full-Time UndergraduatesPart-Time Undergraduates

Graduate Students

Non-Degree Seeking Students

2014 ENROLLMENT SNAPSHOT

Where are our students from?

7% Other states and countries

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

Full-time Faculty: 55Adjunct Faculty: 114

Total Staff: 110

Majors by Division 1. Health Professions: 53% 2. Professional Studies: 29% 3. Arts and Sciences: 13% 4. Non-degree Seeking/Undeclared: 5%

Top 5 Majors1. Occupational Therapy

10:1

2. Nursing 3. Sciences

4. Education 5. Business

To learn more about the academies, visit CSM.edu/LSA or CSM.edu/AASA.

2014 Latina Summer Academy Graduates & Program Coordinators

2014 African-American Summer Academy Graduates & Program Coordinators82%

Nebraska

11%Iowa

ENROLLMENT SERVICES Fresh off the heels of an impressive Spring 2015 class of new stu-dents, the Enrollment Services Team is busy collecting applications, transcripts and registration deposits from prospective students for the fall semester. Sizeable academic achievement awards are offered to all students (based on grade point average and ACT/SAT score), and all full-time undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. If you know of a student who is ready for the College of Saint Mary experience, contact Enrollment Services at 402-399-2355, e-mail enroll@csm.edu or visit CSM.edu.

Rendering by Leo A. Daly Architectural Firm

UNMC Flight Nurse and CSM Alumna Jen Newcomer ’02 and Dr. Kathleen Zajic, chair, College of Saint Mary health professions

WEDNESDAY WALKING WOMAN CLUBThe College of Saint Mary Mission inspires students, faculty and staff to pay careful attention

to the development of mind, body and spirit. The University encourages employees to take ad-vantage of weekly wellness time, utilize the facilities at the Lied Fitness Center (LFC), participate in the annual wellness challenge, and walk alongside colleagues every other Wednesday at noon.

From left: Taking a break from their walk around the LFC track are Accounts Payable Coordinator Kathy Cepuran; Human Resources Director Sarah Marie Livingston; General Ledger Analyst & Grant Manager Gizzelle Chadran; Enrollment Specialist Amy Miller; and Athletic Department Administrative Assistant Bridgette Bunjer.

STRATEGIC PLANNINGSarah Kottich knows a thing or two about strategic planning, having been through the pro-

cess several times. The vice president for finance and administrative services is pursuing a doctor-ate in interdisciplinary leadership, studying best practices in institutional planning.

Kottich and co-facilitator Dr. Tara Knudson Carl, vice president for student development and special assistant to the president, have mapped out a process to take the University through 2020.

“Vision 2016 brought us to where we are today, financially stable and living out our mission. It’s exciting to be looking ahead to develop the next chapter in the University’s history,” Kottich said.

The yearlong process began in November with input from faculty, staff and board members on the University’s mission, values and vision.

“We’re in the business of developing powerful women who make the world a better place. As such, we are developing a plan that will support this important and meaningful work,” said Kottich.

Over the next several months, College of Saint Mary’s Council for Institutional Effectiveness (CIE) will analyze the University’s critical success factors, which will lead to the development of areas of focus, goals and strategic tactics.

Send ideas for College of Saint Mary’s 2020 Strategic Plan to JOURNEYS@csm.edu.

Rebecca Hilton, executive director of mission integration and campus ministry, and Vickie Zobrist, director of campus ministry.

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“We have never been content to simply respond to state and federal decisions,” Acklie added. “College of Saint Mary leads in teacher education. We get involved when it matters and lend our expertise and insight to policy/regulations decisions that affect the university, our students and the students they serve.” This dedication to leading in the field is one reason the practicum hours are so high for College of Saint Mary students.

THE OTHER REASON IS TRULY THE HEART OF THE PROGRAM.

College of Saint Mary has cultivated long-standing relationships with organizations in the community that give students ample op-portunity to learn how to apply what they’re learning–real time. Plus, as Dr. Melanie Fel-ton, Associate Professor of Education and Di-rector of Early Childhood Education put it, “Children in classrooms today have the same needs for physical and psychological safety, a sense of belonging, a feeling of acceptance and recognition for their abilities and talents as they had many years ago. However, today there are many new issues that impact the ability of teachers and families to meet these needs. These issues include academic pressures through frequent high stakes testing, rapid changes in technology and the role of social media in our lives, as well as the economic strains felt among families and communities. In order to help our children develop holis-tically, teachers must have an even stronger foundation in child and adolescent develop-ment and family systems to be able to judge

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EDUCATIONThe Art and Science of

How We Keep Our Education Program on Top

College of Saint Mary graduates are highly prized across myriad fields, but what pleases Deanna “Dee” Acklie most is how schools es-pecially welcome the students of our programs! Dr. Acklie is Associate Professor of Education and Director of Undergraduate Teacher Edu-cation and Special Education. “Preparing our students for the classroom is an understate-ment! Our undergraduate students average between 200 and 250 practicum hours. That’s more than double the 100 hours required by the state of Nebraska. Beyond having exceeded the requirements, it’s our students’ ability to apply a wealth of experiences to their teaching that makes them so valuable.”

Acklie should know about meeting re-quirements. She leads the charge among the education faculty who are active participants with the Nebraska Council of Teacher Edu-cation Association (NCTE), the state orga-nization comprised of administrators, teach-ers and college representatives from teacher education programs, and the Nebraska As-sociation of Colleges of Teachers of Educa-tion (NCTE). Acklie’s dedication runs deep. She serves on both of these councils and is the secretary of the NCTE working commit-tee. She attends regular webinars on current topics and even spent winter break reading the 600 pages of the new proposed federal guidelines to discern their impact on College of Saint Mary programs.

College of Saint Mary served as one of the pilot colleges for the new statewide student teacher clinical evaluations and faculty served on the committee that created the format.

“We are preparing reflective teachers who are ready to

engage in lifelong learning and service to their students and

communities."

- Dr. Melanie Felton

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Photography by Heather Hall

CORRIE LUSCHSenior, Early Childhood Education

Murray, Nebraska

“I attended a very small all girls’ Catho-lic high school. When I graduated in 2006, I attended Creighton University. I felt like the school was so big and there were so many students that I was lost in the crowd. I took a few years off before I decided to go back and complete my degree. I was drawn to College of Saint Mary because of the small class siz-es. The fact that it is a women’s college and Catholic were also factors to me because it is what I know and love.

After I became a mother I realized how much I enjoyed being around children and watching them learn and discover things. I knew I wanted to be a part of that process and facilitate children’s learning. To me there is no greater feeling than watching as the ‘light bulb’ goes off and you know you have taught a child something they will use for the rest of his/her life.

That’s why I am earning my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Special Education. I would like to be a classroom teacher in the range of preschool to third grade. Younger students have such a sense of wonder and excitement and are so eager to learn. Working with them keeps me energetic and on my toes! Preschool and kindergarten teachers are especially on the ‘front lines’ and are so crucial to setting the stage for students’ future learning.

My professors in the education depart-ment are great. They are all very knowledge-able and talented teachers. They take the time to get to know each of us as individuals and build relationships. They are all very un-derstanding of things that may come up in our personal lives such as being ill or having a sick child, and they work with us to specify what we need to get caught up. I truly be-lieve each of my professors is committed to us and to the profession by making sure we will be the best teachers we can be. ...

Junior education major Amir Davis meets with Dr. Dee Ackile, associate professor of education and director of undergraduate teacher education and special education.

To continue reading about Corrie's experiences as a College of Saint Mary education major and her journey to the classroom, visit CSM.edu/JOURNEYS.

access the latest research and best practices around the topics they teach. College of Saint Mary supports this learning with travel funds provided through the Liseux Fund and lecture series right here on campus at the Teaching and Learning Center. The faculty has a broad range of teaching experience in the K-12 are-na. Current adjunct faculty members include a Alice Buffett Teaching Award winner as well as teachers who work daily in the field.

“One thing we do that may be underes-timated in its efficacy is incorporate technol-ogy into our teaching,” said Felton. “We offer a specialized course and work with all students to prepare electronic portfolios. Over the years many of our graduates have become technol-ogy leaders in their schools because of their preparation at College of Saint Mary.”

“We model a high level of professionalism and expectation to our students every day for four years and it shows in their teaching and the way they approach the classroom. Our graduates have won awards for their teach-ing including Buffett awards, and Catholic Archdiocese teaching awards,” said Acklie. Fel-ton added, “Part of our mission is to prepare students to go forth into the world. What is modeled and expected here, goes out into the world with our graduates. It’s not always easy, but we have to hold to our standards. Early in my career I had my first student cry in my of-fice. This student could share and discuss all of the content, perform wonderfully in her field experiences but turned in poor quality or late written work. I shared that she could easily be an A student given her knowledge and skills. She burst into tears sharing that no one had expected much from her. She buckled down performing in a way that matched her ability, and later after graduation told me that she fin-ished her master’s degree and was a leader at her school. This is the reward we get–knowing that the product of our efforts is out making a difference in the world with confidence.”

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T H E A R T A N D S C I E N C E O F E D U C A T I O NT H E A R T A N D S C I E N C E O F E D U C A T I O N

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T H E A R T A N D S C I E N C E O F E D U C A T I O N

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T H E A R T A N D S C I E N C E O F E D U C A T I O N

“Part of our mission is to prepare students to go forth into

the world. What is modeled and expected here, goes out into the world with our graduates."

- Dr. Melanie Felton

SHANNON HAGEMANSenior, Secondary Education

Elkhorn, Nebraska

When I graduated high school over a decade ago, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. But first, I wanted to travel all over the world, write it all down, come back to the small town life and tell my stories. My sophomore year, I abandoned those plans to follow through with a new, unex-pected goal: being the best mom I can. Twelve years of marriage and six children later, I was blessed with the opportunity to return to college and follow through with that original goal of be-coming a teacher.

My family is my passion and my driving force toward finishing my degree. This is as much for me as it is for them. My husband and children are very helpful and patient.

My professors are also a driving force. I see them—some married, some with children—achiev-ing these huge milestones. I came here to earn my degree in secondary education, but I'm leav-ing here with plans to return. Why not make new, bigger goals? Doctorate maybe? I see them and I think, “They did it. They're living proof that women can make and conquer these amazing goals.” ...

JENEFER SILVAFreshman, Education

Avalon, California

I am thankful for the alumnae who have gone before me to set a great example and grow such a successful education program and I’m grateful for my Misericordia scholar-ship that makes it possible for me to attend College of Saint Mary. I plan to be a bilingual teacher with my Spanish minor.

My family is the reason I do what I do. They have taught me to always fight for what I want and, when it’s not easy, my professors are always there for me. They help me stay on track and I feel comfortable meeting with them after class for extra help, plus I take ad-vantage of the free tutoring available to me here. Everyone on staff is here for anyone needing advice or just someone to talk to. They do all they can to help raise us up.

The fact that we are an all-women’s school means we are here to help and support each other. We all learn from each other’s ethnicity and backgrounds and that somehow helps us become more brilliant! ...

“This isn't about building up hours, this is about tapping into each student's best and highest

use–helping her become the teacher she was meant to be."

- Dr. Dee Acklie

what truly are best and developmentally ap-propriate practices. Teachers must work with families to be strong advocates for children in a much more dynamic way in today's schools and in society as a whole. That’s the value of the net effect of what we teach in our College of Saint Mary classrooms combined with in-depth practicum experience. We help move our students from a ‘student mindset’ to a ‘teacher mindset.’ We are preparing reflective teachers who are ready to engage in lifelong learning and service to their students and com-munities. Outcomes exemplify the Mission of College of Saint Mary.”

“This isn’t about building up hours,” added Acklie. “This is about tapping into each stu-dent’s best and highest use–helping her be-come the teacher she was meant to be. Each teacher candidate begins this journey from a different place. It is our job to help each

achieve the highest level of professionalism and teaching acumen.”

In addition to partnering with com-munity schools, the University enjoys valu-able partnerships with Girls, Inc., (a non-profit organization that provides girls ages 5 through 18 a safe place to go after school and in the summer), Mercy House, a program that provides low-income housing for indi-viduals with special needs, and of course, the Spellman Child Development Center which is located on the campus.

The education department assures that the students are prepared–and that the partners are prepared, as well. College of Saint Mary doesn’t go into partnerships lightly. Each is selected for its opportunity to provide a train-ing ground for students, and an opportunity for the student to really make a difference by her presence there. “Our community partners

understand our high level of expectation,” said Acklie. “They work with our students to meet those expectations. It becomes a real ‘win-win.’ Some of our practicum classroom partnerships have had College of Saint Mary students helping for 10 years in a row!” The partnerships are varied and allow College of Saint Mary students to gain application ex-perience in their area of study, and to work with children from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures.

OUR FACULTY ARE PREPARED, TOO.Preparing College of Saint Mary students

to enter classrooms armed with knowledge and theory starts right here on campus with dedi-cated faculty. In addition to being active with state associations, the faculty are motivated learners in their own right. They participate in webinars and conferences and continually

Education Department Works with Local Organizations to Provide Real-World Teaching Experience• Operation S.M.A.R.T (Science, Math and Relevant Technology) – a partnership with Girls, Inc.

Through Operation S.M.A.R.T., kindergarten through sixth grade girls of diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds receive instruction in natural and social sciences, math and technology from College of Saint Mary students who are learning how to teach in this area. The girls from Girls, Inc. come to campus two afternoons a week for instructional activities. This is a long-standing partnership (nearly 20 years) that yields awareness and inspira-tion for girls in our community and hands-on, applied learning to College of Saint Mary students.

• Crestview Homework Club – a partnership with Mercy House. Students enrolled in College of Saint Mary’s guidance and management and multi-cultural education programs provide tutoring to elementary age children who live in Mercy Housing.

• Spellman Child Development Center – on the College of Saint Mary Campus. The Spellman Child Development Center provides many opportunities for College of Saint Mary education students. Early childhood education students complete field experiences at the center that involve observing children and teachers, as well as interacting directly with children to imple-ment activities and teach lessons. The opportunity to work with infants, toddlers and preschoolers in a program that focuses on offering high quality care and education is essential. Students enrolled in other classes such as Child Psychology are also provided opportunities to observe children in a way that enhances their learning. The College of Saint Mary Early Childhood Education program is working on new initiatives with the Spellman Center including celebrating The Week of the Young Child, designing service learning projects and building opportunities to teach early childhood education students on site at the center.

College of Saint Mary sophomore Rachel Connelly finds personal reward in the smile on a student’s face when he or she first understands a concept.

As a student learning to teach at the high school level, it’s something she can easily relate to.

“I want to teach high school because of the cognitive abilities and changes that mark this time,” Connelly said. “I specifically chose Span-ish and theology because they encourage lifelong learning as well as alternate ways to view and communicate with the world.”

The Omaha native said she chose to attend College of Saint Mary for many reasons.

“I chose College of Saint Mary because of its small size and the rigor and reputation of its edu-cation program,” Connelly said. “I truly appreci-ate the reputation that College of Saint Mary has in the community because of the contributions of the alumnae.” ...

RACHEL CONNELLYSophomore, Secondary Education

Omaha, Nebraska

To continue reading about Jenefer, Shannon and Rachel's experiences as College of Saint Mary education majors and their journeys to the classroom, visit CSM.edu/JOURNEYS.

Our Response to This Question isa Resounding “YES!”

IS COLLEGE WORTH IT?

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One doesn’t have to go far to hear about the escalating cost of tuition today and the impact it is having on Ameri-cans and the nation’s colleges and universities. While it can be argued that the media has greatly exaggerated the cost of tuition—using “list” prices vs. those that most students actually pay—the fact remains that college is one of the greatest expenses a person will have in her lifetime. After adjusting for inflation, the costs of college tuition more than tripled between 2000 and 2010 forcing more students to borrow money for their education. According to the In-stitute for College Access and Success, graduating seniors in 2013 averaged $28,400 in student loans.

Finding the funds—and a way to graduate without massive debt—might be classified as a new sport for stu-dents and their parents. Responding to those students and their needs, while staying viable and relevant, is a challenge for institutions, and College of Saint Mary is no exception.

LET’S START BY DEFINING WHAT “WORTH IT” MEANS.

Omaha’s own Warren Buffett said, “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

People tend to measure whether anything is “worth it” by what they get in return. Relative to tuition, a student needs to consider whether she will become gainfully em-ployed such that she can pay back student loan debt in-curred. More than the monetary return on the investment, students today are considering the potential personal return they will receive from funding the college experi-ence—and well they should.

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According to a March 2014 Gallup survey of 30,000 college graduates of all ages across all 50 states, people who borrow significant college loans score worse on quality-of-life measures. The survey revealed that those who finished college between 2000 and 2014 with more than $50,000 in debt were significantly worse off than those who gradu-ated with no debt in the following five categories:

• Feeling there is purpose to their lives• Being in supportive relationships• Having financial security• Having a sense of community• Having physical well-being

High debt might contribute to the feeling of lack of purpose because people may choose jobs that pay well ver-sus those that are interesting or fulfilling and, thus, feel trapped in their jobs versus feeling free to leave and try something new. Debt can cause a delay in buying a home, getting married, starting a family—which in turn stifles becoming involved in a community. When this happens, there are societal side effects as well.

THE COST OF NOT ATTENDING COLLEGE IS EVEN GREATER—FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY.

Pew Research reported in February 2014 that those with a bachelor’s degree or higher earn more money than those with two-year degrees or some college credits. They also enjoy a lower unemployment rate and much lower rate of poverty.

Rachel Etter, a junior applied psychology and human services major, meets with Financial Aid Advisor Kelley Miller. Watch more about her journey to College of Saint Mary at CSM.edu/PayingforCollege.

Student photography by Heather Hall

I S C O L L E G E W O R T H I T ?

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RESPONDING TO STATISTICS FROM THE HEART OF OUR MISSION.

In June 2014 College of Saint Mary formed a Tuition Strategy Task Force to take a deep dive into the issue and derive solu-tions that work for the students the University serves. The Task Force unearthed and poured through hundreds of pages of reports about the issue, reviewed the University’s historical and current tuition-setting strategies, and con-sidered its unique position in the market. This research has set the groundwork for develop-ing additional tactics so that College of Saint Mary might ensure student access and afford-ability while maintaining long-term financial stability for the university.

“Forming the Tuition Task Force was a natural extension of our mission and commit-ment to our students,” said Dr. Maryanne Ste-vens, RSM, College of Saint Mary president. “Even when the tuition discussion wasn’t on the national radar, we were helping students find ways to pay for this extraordinary oppor-tunity. The need has heightened and we see it as our responsibility to rise to the challenge.”

“We spent a significant amount of time re-viewing solutions being implemented by other colleges and universities across the nation,” said Sarah Kottich, MBA, CPA, vice president for finance and administrative services. “It was insightful to learn that, while the naitonal conversation about tuition has received a lot of attention, few institutions are making drastic changes to their tuition setting strategy.”

Kottich noted that, according to the Na-tional Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, from the 2009 to 2013 aca-demic years, only 3.3 percent of colleges froze tuition and only 1.3 percent reduced tuition.

“We operate with a passion for our mis-sion,” Kottich said. “We are dedicated to the education of women in an environment that calls forth potential and fosters leadership. The first step in being able to fulfill our mission is to provide access to all we offer. This means that no woman is turned away from College of Saint Mary undergraduate programs because she can’t afford it.”

“We’ve been working with our students for years to assure they can get on board, stay on board, graduate and go out into the world as unburdened by debt as possible,” she contin-ued. “We have already addressed affordability in a number of ways and we believe we have been ahead of the industry curve in developing tactics to keep finances from being a hurdle to our students.”

Kottich noted that College of Saint Mary already:

• Offers need-based financial aid on a slid-ing scale based on the particular financial circumstances of the individual student.

• Makes on-staff financial aid counselors available to meet one-to-one with stu-dents about their financial options.

• Has eliminated all fees—no parking, activity, library or lab fees.

• Provides free cable, internet access and laundry facilities in the residence halls.

• Provides donor-funded scholarship op-portunities.

• Partners with local employers, including the Catholic school system, CHI Health and BoysTown to offer discounted tu-ition to their employees.

• Offers grants for books to students who cannot afford them.

• Offers accelerated degree programs which save students time and money: - Three-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Five-Year Master of Occupational Therapy - Five-Year Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Students can begin the five-year occupa-tional therapy and physician assistant degree programs right out of high school. Once they begin one of these programs, they do not have to reapply for the master’s degree component as long as they meet progression requirements.

Finally, in addition to the traditional resi-dence halls, Madonna Hall is a special residence hall on campus for single student mothers. The student mother pays the same tuition, room and board as she would as a traditional student, but her child may live in the residence hall with her and eat in the dining facilities free of charge. And, the University offers access to the Spellman Child Development Center right on campus.

Another important point the Task Force considered is the “typical” student that Col-lege of Saint Mary serves. The student body reflects great diversity in age, socio-economic profiles, culture and small town/large city backgrounds. This results in some students having high financial need. Some enroll as the first in their family to attend college (first-gen-eration students), while others return to school to complete their degrees as independent stu-dents without significant financial support from their parents.

Interestingly, transfer students range in age from women in their mid-20s to a current stu-dent who is 70!

“For many of our students, finances can be a stumbling block when seeking higer ed-ucation,” said Beth Sisk, director of financial aid. “Thirty-nine percent of our students in fall 2014 were eligible for Pell grants from the federal government. We are able to help them apply that federal aid, but we must supplement that aid. That is why the support of our alumnae and donors is so critical—and appreciated.”

During the 2013-2014 academic year, 64 percent of full-time undergraduate Col-lege of Saint Mary students received financial need-based aid. The University awarded $1.3 million in need-based aid, of which donors funded $700,000.

If you would like to learn more about CSM's commitment to helping students fund their education, visit CSM.edu/PayingforCollege.

“It’s important to us that our students know they are not in this alone,” said Kelley Miller, financial aid counselor.

“They have lots of resources available to them both on and off campus. We do more than hand them money. We help them to be smart consumers and take advantage of every-thing that’s out there.”

When asked if college is worth it today, Kottich gave a resounding, “Yes!” and added: “When you think of the mission of College of Saint Mary, the financial aid office may not be the first department that comes to mind, but the work done in this office and, by exten-sion, through the Tuition Task Force, is very reflective of what we are about here. Cath-erine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, said ‘No work can be more productive of good to society than the careful education of women.’

“What we do in our financial aid depart-ment every day helps women access education which leads to employment, fulfillment and creating more good in the world,” she con-tinued. “And the best part is the ripple effect. One woman attends and then we’re enrolling her sister, her cousin, her mother and, hope-fully one day, her daughter. Even when there are no further legacies who attend College of Saint Mary, we experience the positive effect one woman’s education has on her family, her circle of friends and her role in her profession and in society. That’s worth it!”

“I was very nervous when I learned how much tuition costs yearly, but once I came in and talked about financial aid, I calmed down and thought, ‘I can do this.’ What I learned is you can afford to go here and you can achieve your dream.”

- Monika AdhikariSophomore, Nursing

Bellevue, Nebraska

“I just knew that this was where I wanted to be and whatever it took, I was going to come here. When my counselor showed me how much it would cost, she said, ‘Don’t worry, there are scholarships and there is so much aid out there that if this is where you want to be, this is where you’re going to be.’ Three-fourths of my tuition and fees and all my books were paid for.”

- Shawya AssadiSenior, Pre-Physician Assistant Studies

Omaha, Nebraska

WHY MOST STUDENTS NEED MORE THAN BOOTSTRAPS.

It may be hard for people who graduated from college many years ago to understand just how steep the tuition climb is for stu-dents today, but one thing is clear: It is not like it used to be.

To put it in perspective, since 2000, the cost of tuition has tripled, the cost of health-care has doubled and real household income has remained flat. College tuition requires money that many do not have. That is why the College of Saint Mary response to this challenge is so important.

5.8

14.7

21.8

Bachelor's degree or more

Two-year degree/Some college

High school graduate

And Share Living in Poverty ...

3.8

8.1

12.2

Bachelor's degree or more

Two-year degree/Some college

High school graduate

Unemployment Rate ...

$45,500

$30,000

$28,000

Bachelor's degree or more

Two-year degree/Some college

High school graduate

Disparity among Millenials Ages 25-32 By Education Level in Terms of Annual Earnings ...(median among full-time workers)

“When I transferred, I didn’t know what I know now about scholarships and grants because at my old school they did everything for me. Here, they help you understand what aid you’re receiving and why you’re getting it. They definitely help you pursue your dream and become whatever you want to become.”

- Deaundra YoungJunior, NursingMims, Florida

Source: PEW Research, February 2014

SWIMMINGCollege of Saint Mary’s swim team fin-

ished 21st at the National Championships with a score of six.

Colleen Bernal (junior, pre-physician assistant studies), Hannah Pauley (senior, biology), Brooke Love (sophomore, pre-phy-sician assistant studies), Sidney Drew (fresh-

man, occupational therapy), Kathleen Moeschen (sophomore, occupa-tional therapy) and Carolyn Hanus (sophomore, nursing), all qualified for the national meet, where the Flames set a new school record in the 400 Medley Relay. The team of Drew, Hanus, Bernal and Pauley fin-ished the relay in 15th place in school record time — 4:12.36.

MCAC Scholar Athletes: Colleen Bernal, Brooke Love, Corina De-bates (senior, occupational therapy), Carolyn Hanus, Kathleen Moe-schen, Hannah Pauley, and Amanda Rundgren (sophomore, nursing).

SOFTBALLCollege of Saint Mary’s softball team had

its best season last year since 2005 with a 16-22 record. The team hopes to improve over last year as play continues this spring. After the first 10 games of the year being cancelled because of bad weather, the Flames finally took the field in Tucson, Arizona, where they

went 3-5. The Flames current record is 5-6 with much of the season still ahead of them.

VOLLEYBALLCollege of Saint Mary’s volleyball team

finished the fall season with a 20-9 record and a 6-2 conference record that tied them for second place in the regular season. The Flames lost in the first round of the confer-ence tournament to Haskell Indian Nations University in a five set match.

First-Team All-Conference Honors: Mallory Babic (junior, elemen-tary education). Second-Team All-Conference Honors: MacKenzie Hyde (freshman, occupational therapy), Aysha Janssen (sophomore, nursing), and Jessica Kuehner (senior, early childhood education). Honorable Mention All-Conference Honors: Jamie Carlson (senior, business analytics and strategic communication). MCAC Scholar-Ath-lete Honors: Aysha Janssen (junior, nursing), Megan Reabe (senior, occupational therapy), Paige Indra (sophomore, nursing), Jessica Kuehner (senior, early childhood education), Lindsey Fiegenschuh (sophomore, occupational therapy), and Malory Babic (sophomore, elementary education).

GOLFThe Flames golf team continues to im-

prove under Coach Keri Rodriguez, in her fourth year at the helm. The team will build off an impressive fall in which College of Saint Mary finished in the top three at four of five events. Spring action began in April.

CROSS COUNTRYCollege of Saint Mary’s cross country

team repeated as the MCAC Champions, winning the conference meet held in Law-rence, Kansas.

Emily Weber ’14 (masters, occupational therapy) repeated as individual conference champion and was named Runner of the Year.

Haden Mikesell (junior, biology) finished third in the conference. The conference title qualified the Flames for a second consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament where they finished in 36th place. Head Coach Derek Fey was named MCAC Coach of the Year.

First-Team All-Conference Honors: Emily Weber, Haden Mikesell and Paige Orth (junior, occupational therapy). Second-Team All-Confer-ence Honors: Sydney Svehla (sophomore, occupational therapy) and Stephanie Albert (senior, nursing). MCAC Scholar-Athlete Honors: Stephanie Albert, Erin Grundmayer (junior, nursing), Haden Mikesell, Paige Orth, Sydney Svehla (sophomore, occupational therapy), Jackie Uhing (junior, nursing), and Emily Weber.

SOCCERThe Flames soccer team finished the fall

season with a record of 11-7 and a 3-3 re-cord in the MCAC. This marked the 13th winning soccer season in the history of Col-lege of Saint Mary and the second winning season in a row. The Flames fell to No. 19 Bellevue University in the first round of the

conference tournament. The University’s soccer team had 14 Scholar-Athletes, the most in the league.

First-Team All-Conference Honors: Abby Zach (senior, business ana-lytics and strategic communication) and Sarah McGuire (junior, psy-chology). Second-Team All-Conference Honors: Payton Roby (junior, occupational therapy) and Erika Yost (junior, occupational therapy). MCAC Scholar-Athlete Honors: Payton Roby, Megan Wilder-Wulf (junior, business analytics and strategic communication), Jordan Meadows (junior, nursing), Erika Yost (junior, occupational therapy), Sarah McGuire, Abby Zach, Christa Manning (junior, human biology), Shannon Brandriff (sophomore, occupational therapy), Jordan Copple (sophomore, occupational therapy), Jennifer Brach (sophomore, busi-ness analytics and strategic communication), Shannon Landry (senior, biology), Taylor Ainsworth (junior, occupational therapy), MaryBethe Smith (junior, psychology), and Flor Zermeno (junior, biology).

TENNISCollege of Saint Mary’s tennis team en-

joyed its inaugural season last fall as first-year Head Coach Kim Gradoville led the Flames to a 1-4 dual record. The Flames picked up the school’s first win with a 6-3 victory over Mount Marty College in Sep-tember. The Flames picked up the Univer-

sity’s second ever win March 21 with a 7-2 road win over Bethany Lutheran College in Minnesota. The team continues its season this spring, competing on newly renovated courts adjacent to the College of Saint Mary soccer fields.

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F L A M E S A T H L E T I C S

ATHLETICS

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FLAMES JOIN NEW ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Athletics have long been a part of the College of Saint Mary culture. With the recent addition of tennis to the roster, we showcase athletes across eight sports. All this has put College of Saint Mary’s programs above radar, spurring an invitation to join the Great Plains Athletic Con-ference (GPAC) effective with the 2015-2016 academic year.

“We are tremendously excited to have College of Saint Mary join the GPAC,” said Corey Westra, GPAC Commissioner. “College of Athletics have long been a part of the College of Saint Mary culture.

Westra went on to say how proud the GPAC is to have an all-women’s institution as full members in the league. “College of Saint Mary is en-thused about acceptance into the Great Plains Athletic Conference,” said University President Maryanne Stevens. “We expect to be a significant competitor in the conference. The GPAC takes great care in ensuring that teams and spectators encourage competition that calls forth poten-tial and fosters leadership – essential to the mission of College of Saint Mary.”

Athletic Director Jim Krueger said he is enthusiastically in favor of the move for the opportunity it provides to increase the competitive level for our athletes, higher awareness of our programs, and the recruiting advan-tages it provides. “The GPAC will provide top notch, quality competition in all of our sports.”

JOHN CARLSON RETURNSAS HEAD SOCCER COACH

College of Saint Mary is excited to have John Carlson return to CSM as the Flames head soccer coach.

During his previous tenure at the Univer-sity from 2001-2003, the Flames compiled a 45-13-7 record and won two Midlands Col-legiate Athletic Conference titles. Carlson also coached at Nebraska Wesleyan Univer-

sity (NWU) from 1999-2001, amassing a 34-4-4 record. While at NWU, Coach Carlson was named the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Confer-ence (now Great Plains Athletic Conference) Coach of the Year for the 1999 season.

Most recently, Carlson served as head girls’ varsity soccer coach at Omaha Skutt Catholic High School since 2000. He led Skutt to five Ne-braska Class B State Soccer titles.

“I’m very excited to get started,” Carlson said. “After touring Col-lege of Saint Mary’s facilities, learning of their upcoming move to the Great Plains Athletic Conference and especially after meeting with the team, I knew this was a great place to coach.”

From left, Athletic Director Jim Krueger, GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra, Vice President for Student Development, and College of Saint Mary President Maryanne Stevens, RSM.

BASKETBALLCollege of Saint Mary’s basketball team enjoyed another successful

season this year, winning the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) Tournament for the second time in a row and earning a trip to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament.

In the NAIA tournament, the Flames advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to the eventual runners-up, Concordia out of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). The team completed the season with a 28-6 record and went 14-3 in conference play.

Deaundra Young (junior, nursing) led the team this season earning a First Team All-American honor, MCAC Player of the Year and All-MCAC. This is the second year in a row that Young earned these honors. Tiffany Anzalone (senior, applied psychology and human services) broke the University’s all-time scoring record January 16 against Central Chris-tian College, ending her career with 1,795 points.

All-MCAC: Tiffany Anzalone and Deaundra Young. Honorable Men-tion All-MCAC: Tiffani Lewis (senior, occupational therapy) and Pey-ton Hagen (freshman, occupational therapy). MCAC Scholar-Athlete: Tiffany Anzalone, Andrea Christensen (junior, occupational therapy), and Justice Ross (sophomore, occupational therapy). Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete: Tiffany Anzalone.

Flames center Deaundra Young takes a shot during the first round of the NAIA National Tournament against Huntington University on March 12 in Sioux City, Iowa.

Sports statistics compiled by Flames Sports Information Director Morgan O'Rear. Photography by Heather Hall.

For schedules, rosters, results and more, visit CSMFlames.com.

A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T

ALUMNI FROM COAST TO COASTSPOTLIGHT ON COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY EDUCATION GRADS

BARBARA MARCHESE, ED.D.’76Principal at St. Vincent de Paul SchoolEDUCATOR FOR 40 YEARS

“I have always loved being around kids, that’s what inspired me to go into education. I found them interesting, honest and not afraid to try things. I was never very serious as a student myself, and appreciated my teachers seeing some possibilities in me. I wanted to do that for others.”

OMAHA,

NEBRASKA

ADELAIDE DANIELSON MURPHY ’98Special Education/Reading Teacher at KendrickLakes ElementaryEDUCATOR FOR 12 YEARS

“College of Saint Mary made me realize I really wanted to be an educator. The time we spent with the Girls Inc. students was an amazing hands-on experience for us as future teachers and all of those students we got to work with.”

LAKEWOOD,

COLORADO

VANESSA KATHLEEN MEYER ’03, M’08Principal at Uta Halee AcademyEDUCATOR FOR 11 YEARS

“Whether it has been working with a student who is three or a student who is 18, watching the student’s growth and being part of their success is what keeps me motivated. We have the opportunity to change lives for our students and the families we work with, so building those relationships and collaboration as a team is most meaningful for me.”

OMAHA,

NEBRASKA

JEFFREY SMITH M’12Teacher at Northwest Magnet High SchoolEDUCATOR FOR 2 YEARS

“After practicing law for 15 years, I was being called in a different direction and was motivated to go into the field of education. I wanted to help shape and influence a younger generation to push themselves beyond what they previously thought possible.”

OMAHA,

NEBRASKA

TESS BRESLEY SYKES M’13English Teacher at Zoo AcademyEDUCATOR FOR 1 YEARS

“My own children inspired me to go into education. I love to watch the ‘light bulbs go on’ when they grasp something new, or uncover something to explore. I feel the same kind of joy when my students make a connection between their world and something we’ve read or come into class brimming with questions and ready for a discussion.”

PAPILLION,

NEBRASKA

CATHERINE (KATIE) STRAND ’13Teacher at Harold Kaveolook SchoolEDUCATOR FOR 2 YEARS

“The best part about being an educator is that my job will never become stagnant; every year brings different challenges and gifts. Plus, as an educator, I have the ability to enter into different places and cultures that I normally couldn’t. Here in northern Alaska, so far from where I was raised, I am just as much of a learner as my students.”

KAKTOVIK,

ALASKA

Across this nation, College of Saint Mary education graduates are teaching, enlighten-ing and preparing students for the future. JOURNEYS asked a few education alumnae to share why they choose to be teachers, what they love about their profession and how their College of Saint Mary experiences ultimately influenced their career paths.

NORTHWEST

23

SOUTHWEST

78

MIDWEST

1,186

SOUTHEAST

61

NORTHEAST

22

KRISTAL RENÉ TUREAUD ’02First Grade Teacher at St. Jerome Catholic SchoolEDUCATOR FOR 12 YEARS

“College of Saint Mary helped me become knowledgeable of the society we live in and to be able to reason and think critically. I have learned that children must be cultured and become independent learners who are capable of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating using a wide variety of skills and resources.”

LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA

ERICKA BOSTON ’04Teacher, Child Advocate andEducational ConsultantEDUCATOR FOR 11 YEARS

“I love being an educator because I love children and enjoy working with them. Hearing children have ‘ah-ha moments’ continues to inspire me to teach! There is such great power in learning!”

CHARLESTON,

SOUTH CAROLINA

S P R I N G 2 0 1 5J O U R N E Y S M A G A Z I N E 2 12 0

For more about these graduates and others, visit CSM.edu/AlumniSpotlight.

MARILYN STEFFES BARTA ’77Fifth Grade Teacher at Kuemper Catholic SchoolsEDUCATOR FOR 38 YEARS

“The most rewarding part of being an educator is hearing from so many students many years later. It’s always a wonderful surprise, and it validates my vocation....that somehow, in some small way, I must have been important to that student once upon a time.”

CARROLL,

IOWA

DOREEN SUTHERLAND SKONEKI ’76Retired Teacher from Montgomery Catholic EDUCATOR FOR 38 YEARS

“I had great inspiration to go into the teaching profession. Both my aunt and uncle were teachers, and I have always had a great love of children.”

MONTGOMERY,

ALABAMA

LIANA MARTINEZ ’97Teacher, Reading Specialist, ESL Teacher at Floresville Middle SchoolEDUCATOR FOR 18 YEARS

“College of Saint Mary greatly influenced my career. CSM and my professors gave me real-world experiences and lessons that prepared me for challenges I had to overcome my first few years of teaching.”

FLORESVILLE,

TEXAS

HEATHER PAWLING STACK ’98Intervention Coach at Wagram ElementaryEDUCATOR FOR 17 YEARS

“I’m not sure there was ever an inspiration, exactly to go into this profession. I’ve just always known I would be a teacher and have known since I was in third grade. This is where God wants me to be.”

LAUREL HILL,

NORTH CAROLINA

THERESA CONNEALY WIGGS ’80Montessori Consultant; Board of Directors, Montessori International School of the PlainsEDUCATOR FOR 35 YEARS

“I absolutely love being an educator because I get to see ‘the light bulb turn on’ in a child’s eyes when they learn something new; that is a wonderful thing. I also love the opportunity to inspire young teachers to be exceptional educators.”

BENNINGTON,

NEBRASKA

BUFFET OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARDThis award, that began in 1988, recognizes Omaha Public School Teachers (K –12).

14 CSM ALUMNI HAVE RECEIVED THE ALICE

WHERE ARE OUR EDUCATION ALUMNI?

(Based on our current records.) =

U.S ARMEDFORCES-EUROPE

2

CANADA

1

Early Childhood Education (13%)

Elementary Education (48%)

Graduate Degrees (22%)

High School (2%)

Special Education (3%)

Middle School (<1%)

DEGREES EARNED BY EDUCATION MAJORS AT CSM

(Based on our current records.) =

IN MEMORIAMIf you know alumnae who have passed away and you want to share this news with our read-

ers, please send a printed obituary to JOURNEYS, College of Saint Mary, 7000 Mercy Road, Omaha, Nebraska, 68106. Death announcements must be accompanied by a memorial service program or published newspaper obituary.

MARCH 2015Joan Turner Hamilton ’67Kathy Mahoney ’84

FEBRUARY 2015Loretta Scholl Breitnauer ’49Sr. Mary Michelle Guida, RSM, ’55Sr. Mary Clarita Costella, RSM, ’62Sr. Mary Eileen Greger, RSM, ’61Sr. Mary Evangeline Randolph, RSM, ’58John Wisniski, Jr. ’73Sr. Kathleen Zaner, RSM, ’65

JANUARY 2015Rosmary C. Gaughan Daly, former member of the College of Saint Mary Board of Directors and honorary doctorate recipient.Evelyn McArdle Bjornson ’52Nadine Racek ’44Betty Jean O’Leary Lee ’42Ruth O’Keefe Willms ’40Mary Joan Wogan ’58Brittany Woods Collins ’08

DECEMBER 2014Sr. Mary Jude Graham, RSM, ’52, philosophy instructor at College of Saint Mary for more than 20 years.

Mary Agnes Kavanaugh Miller ’35 (Aunt of Mary Ellen Mulcahy ’62)Barbara Sohler Murphy ’61JoAnn Humphreys D’08Ruth Ann Purdy ’73, ’91

NOVEMBER 2014Wendy Ratkovec Kinney ’02 (Sister of Tina Ratkovec Barten ’02)Sr. Mary Lucina Kozeny, RSM, ’61

OCTOBER 2014Sr. Maureena Bichler, RSM, ’60Joan Preiner Circo ’47Mary P. McAndrews ’60

SEPTEMBER 2014Madeline “Peg” McCaslin Dineen ’42

AUGUST 2014Carolyn Mobley Kilgore Libby ’59Sr. Agnes Maria Ostry, ND ’67

JULY 2014Joanne Boyer, founding director of the College of Saint Mary occupational therapy program.Noema Callahan O’Hair ’44Matilda “Tillie” Black Bear ’69

JUNE 2014Ann Kerkman ’55Barbara Bennett McDermott King ’70 (Sister of Brenda Bennett Clark ’71)Mary Kay McGuire Uraga ’67

MAY 2014Maurine Hinchey Nuschy ’86

APRIL 2014Donna Pattison Fishback ’93, ’96Gwanetha Hamilton Metz ’60Shirley Von Dorn ’93, ’96

M I L E S T O N E S

MILESTONES CLASS NOTES

1940sPatricia McNamara ’45 is a member of the Los Padres Watercolor Society in Santa Barbara, California.

1960sSr. Marie Micheletto, RSM, ’62 received the 2014 University of Omaha Department of Gerontology Alumni Award.

Carolyn Bless Larsen ’63 received the 2014 Betty Soper Historical Award from the Platte County Historical and Genealogical Society of Platte County, Missouri.

Dr. K. Bridget Brosnihan Simmons ’65 received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the InterAmerican Society of Hypertension in Salvador, Brazil. Brosnihan Simmons is professor of surgical sciences/physiology and pharmacology in the Hypertension and Research Center at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Maureen Coufal Proksel ’66 received the 2014 Volunteer of the Year Award from the Bennington, Nebraska, Community Foundation for the many hours she volunteered with the Bennington Library, Festival of Trees and the Bennington Women’s Club.

Sr. Kay O’Brien, RSM, ’67, writer and historian for the West Midwest Sisters of Mercy, completed a three-volume book about the history of the Sisters of Mercy.

1970sSofia Grochala Kock ’71, principal of Holy Name School in Omaha, received the 2014 Servite Celebrating Partnership Program Award from the Servants of Mary.

Deborah Wright ’74 retired from the County of Los Angeles as treasurer and tax collector. She lives in Long Beach, California.

Beth Tacke Black ’75 and her husband, Philip, have moved their bookstore, The Bookworm, to a new location at the Loveland Centre in Omaha. They have owned the bookstore for 27 years.

Laura Oliver ’76 has been elected Monona County Treasurer in Mapleton, Iowa.

Kayleen Snyder Wallace ’79 was named 2014 Administrator of the Year by the Archdiocese of Omaha. She has been the principal of St. Joan of Arc since 2009 and served as principal at Mary Our Queen for 10 years.

1990sMary Vandenack ’90 is a founding member of Houghton Vandenack Williams law firm in Omaha.

Linda Johnston Cobb ’92 retired from her role as housing coordinator at Central Community College in Hastings.

Lisa Utterback ’93 was named executive director for the Omaha Public Schools. Utterback provides daily support and planning to principals at 20 area schools.

Jill Hefti-Breed ’93 and her family recently moved to Castle Rock, Colorado. She and her children wrote a new children’s book titled, Go Granny Go.

Barbara Clinkenbeard ’95 is a psychiatric nurse practitioner in private practice providing cancer counseling at Psycho-Oncology in Omaha.

Sarah Cheney Porto ’95 is a personal banker at Nebraska Bank of Commerce in Lincoln.

Jodi Polenz McQuillen ’96 is a visiting instructor in the social work department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Trish Kucirek Siedlik ’99 completed her ninth season of coaching volleyball at Bellevue University.

2000sSharon Lind ’00, chief executive officer of Banner Health’s Ogallala Community Hospital, will fill in as interim CEO of Sterling Regional MedCenter in Sterling, Colorado.

Kristie Korth Brezenski ’02 was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. Brezenski played soccer, basketball and volleyball at Scotus Central Catholic High School in Columbus and soccer and basketball at CSM.

Brenda Campbell ’05 was named Face of the Day for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Nebraska and Southwest Iowa. Campbell was diagnosed at the age of 22.

Anne Boatright ’06 is the program coordinator for Methodist Health System’s SANE/SART program for victims of sexual assault.

Jannette Taylor M’08 is the program director for the NorthStar Foundation, an after-school program for boys in Omaha.

Melissa Kandido M’09 received the 2014 Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award. Kandido is a social studies teacher at Beveridge Middle School in Omaha.

Lisa Spencer M’09 was named principal of Farragut Elementary School and Nishnabotna High School in Hamburg, Iowa.

FACULTY & STAFFSr. Catherine Rupp, OSM, College of Saint Mary English professor and chair of the department for many years, celebrated her 75th Jubilee as a Servant of Mary. Sister lives at Immanuel Fontenelle Home in Omaha.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 5J O U R N E Y S M A G A Z I N E 2 32 2

Your classmates are eager to hear about you! Please share births, adoptions, marriages, employment news, retirements and other joys of life with our readers. Send your news to JOURNEYS, College of Saint Mary, 7000 Mercy Road, Omaha, Nebraska, 68106, or email news to JOURNEYS@CSM.edu.

Holy Name recently held a fundraiser and retirement party for Sofia Grochala Kock ’71 who served as its principal for 19 years. The school established The Sofia Kock Tuition Assistance Fund to honor her great work at Holy Name School. First row, from left: Joan Fischer Squire ’71; Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, presi-dent of College of Saint Mary; Sofia Grochala Kock ’71; and Trudy Jambor Stodola ’71. Second row, from left: Sr. Johanna Burnell, RSM ’67; Martha Heck ’76; Diane Langel Proulx ’72; and Joyce Becker Gubbels ’69. Third row, from left: Sheila Griep Haggas ’74; Marlene Pfingsten Haney ’62; Alma Esser Brewer ’71; Pat Hansen Lenaghan ’74; Sr Jeanne O’Rourke, RSM ’63; and Pat Loebig Miltner ’71. Back row, from left: Elaine Steuter Burke ’71; Cathy Hiber Greteman ’71; Sr. Roselma Legault, OSM ’71; Charon Pound Kupfer ’71; and Sr. Linda Hess, OSM ’75.

Mary Kathleen “Kathy” Mahoney ‘84 Worked in the CSM registrar’s office for 42 years from 1960-2002 while raising five children and earning a bachelor’s degree at age 50.

NEW BEGINNINGS - MARRIAGES

Baylee Collins ’14 to Collin Mink.

Hannah Thompson ’13, M’14 to Michael Wieger.Hannah is an occupational therapist at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

Ana Aguilar ’13 to Moises Carrillo. Ana works in the ICU at CHI Bergan Mercy in Omaha.

Allison Dostal M’13 to Brian Jeter.

Chelsea Karr ’11, M’12 to Jeffrey Tjarks. Chelsea is an occupational therapist at CHI Bergan Mercy in Omaha.

Amanda Tomka ’12, M’13 to Mitchell Kurtenbach. Amanda is an occupational therapist at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

For up-to-date information on your class-mates, visit CSM.edu/AlumniSpotlight.

Joining Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, for dinner recently were, from left: Sr. Mary Mechtilde Hill, chemistry professor and med tech advisor to med tech alumnae Carol Salber Brennan ’80; Pat Metcalf Schwartz ’81; Kookie (Krysten) Knott ’78; Marian Reinhart Pitz ’80; and Kathy Nejezchleb ’80.

Amber Orender ’12, M’13 to Clinton Torczon.

Mollie Scheel ’12, M’13 to Mitchell Maire. Mollie is an occupational therapist for the Balance, Mobility and Aquatic Center in Grand Island.

Julianne Gass M’12 to Shawn Gray. Julianne is a seventh-grade math teacher at Central Middle School in Omaha.

Samantha Chmelka M’11 to Caleb Grummert.Samantha is an occupational therapist at Tabitha Rehabilitation in Lincoln.

Stacie Cornwell ’08 to Travis Forbis. Stacie is a substitute teacher for Grand Island Public Schools.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDOMAHA, NE

PERMIT NO. 303

Institutional Advancement7000 Mercy RoadOmaha, NE 68106CSM.edu

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1965PEGGY (MARGARET)

O'NEILLEnglish

SUZANNE (SUE) LIEBENTRITT GARCIAElementary Education

1970

1975BETH TACKE BLACK

Early Childhood Education

AMY GAUGHAN MCAULIFFEBusiness Administration

1990

2005ORLANDO WHITFIELD

Business Leadership,MOL '06, ED.D. '12

2015 Alumna Achievement Award recipients

Celebrating all class years & featuring these HONORED YEARS:

1955 • 1960 • 1965 • 1970 • 1975 • 1990 • 2005

Alumnae Reunion WeekendCOLLEGE OF SAINT MARY

SEPTEMBER 11, 12 & 13 | CSM.EDU/REUNION

SAVE THE DATE