“I go into the lab and they teach me about pH and particles and how to monitor bacteria. We also do multiple tests to make sure that the product is safe. As a quality intern, I check papers and verify with workers that they are doing their job correctly and address errors that may have been made,” Castellanos said.

Castellanos, a biology major with physics and psychology minors from Grand Island, Nebraska, said the internship taught him more about fields he is interested in and that it has helped him grow as a person.

“What I enjoy most is being able to push myself to be the best person I can be everyday. It’s also nice when my hard work gets recognized by coworkers,” said Castellanos, who is also a Scott Scholar. “Internships are like gateways to careers, so I think it’s important to give your best effort in your work because it allows you to learn and grow as a person.”

He said his work environment was very supportive and helped him when facing with challenges. He also found it rewarding when he received recognition for good work.

“I stress easily because I am a perfectionist. I’ve made some mistakes, but my peers and supervisors advised me that there is some room for error. So, it was hard adjusting to that work environment and learning how to interact with my coworkers,” Castellanos said.

Chemistry professor Dr. Neil Heckman recommended Castellanos for the internship, and �㽶��Ƶ Career Services staff helped him apply for the position. He credits �㽶��Ƶ to this opportunity and has embraced the support the community has given him.

“There’s actually people here that do care about you. The professors, the staff and really everybody here are willing to do their job to help students. There is a support system here that has really helped me not only with academics and career opportunities, but personal challenges, too,” Castellanos said.

He said a lot of people applied for the internship, so he didn’t believe he’d get it.

“Yet I did,” he said. “I think it’s because �㽶��Ƶ taught me how to be professional during my interviews and in the workplace.”

He said many of the tasks he’s been handling incorporate a lot of knowledge from classes he has taken. He also utilized Career Services staff and Dave Rippe, director of the Scott Scholars program, to learn about professionalism in the workplace.

“It was really interesting because in chemistry class, we would learn about certain things that I thought I would never use. Now, in this internship, I am,” Castellanos said.

Castellanos said he enjoyed the time learning about different fields, experiencing new things and meeting different kinds of people — and that he’s found something he enjoys doing.

While Castellanos said he’s already started to look into PhD programs in order to become a physicist, he’s keeping his mind open to other opportunities and will continue to explore his options with the help of �㽶��Ƶ.

“I found fulfillment in my work that I’ve been doing at this internship and in my classes. I feel as though I can follow my passion in a way that doesn’t drain me,” Castellanos said.

By Rachel Ritzmann a business administration and marketing major from Broomfield, Colorado.

Landing one research experience for undergraduates (REU) is an accomplishment for a student in the sciences. Milly McClure, a senior from Liberal, Kansas, landed four.

The physics and mathematics major spent summer 2024 in Texas A&M’s Cyclotron Institute. She helped faculty learn to use a new thermal evaporator—a machine integral to the institute’s research into using the radioactive element astatine to fight cancer.

But that’s not all.

The university sent her to a five day, expense paid workshop at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois.

“I was the youngest person there and the only undergraduate student,” Milly said. She took advantage of exposure to graduate students, postdoc fellows and professors from other institutions to get advice on selecting a graduate program.

A year earlier, she had no idea these opportunities existed, let alone would be open to her.

This story originally appeared in the 2024 HC Today.

An Unclear Path

By the end of McClure’s sophomore year, she hit a crossroads. She had quit playing softball and picked up a second major in mathematics.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do or what I could do with my degrees,” she said. “I knew I wanted to go grad school. I just didn’t know what for.”

Seeking insights from others who had graduated from the College’s physics department, she signed up for the �㽶��Ƶ Alumni Mentoring Program and participated during the first block of her junior year.

Her mentor: Dr. Jordan Borrell ‘13, assistant professor of occupational therapy education at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

As an undergraduate at HC completing his senior capstone project in physics, Borrell constructed a robotic hand in the same labs where McClure was working and learning. His next stops included the University of Kansas for a master’s and doctorate and the University of Nebraska Omaha for postdoctoral work in clinical applications of assistive and prosthetic devices.

Along the way, he benefited from mentors’ guidance. When Kim Graviette ‘83, director of Career Services, asked him to serve as McClure’s mentor he said “yes.” It was also a wakeup call.

“Now I can actively say I have about 10 years of experience under my belt for research,” Borrell said. “I can provide that knowledge I wish I had.”

Getting Answers…and More

McClure entered the alumni mentoring program seeking answers.

What graduate programs are available? How can one pay for grad school? What does it take to get into grad school?

What she did not know to ask: how do I land a REU?

For college students from smaller colleges and universities like �㽶��Ƶ, REUs provide summer opportunities to work in large research laboratories, network in their career fields of interest and explore graduate programs.

Once Borrell explained how crucial REUs can be for clarifying career goals and securing graduate school slots, he and McClure began focusing their weekly meetings on completing REU applications.

The goal: to land one REU

McClure landed REUs from the University of Arkansas, University of Kansas, University of Colorado and Texas A&M.

“The REU programs were emailing me all at the same time so I had to make pros and cons lists for which ones I really wanted to go to, what would help me in my career and what would help me get the best experience for grad school,” McClure said.

Many of those lists she compiled at 2:00 a.m. while traveling in France because the programs required responses within a week.

Borrell said he was extremely proud of McClure’s success. His advice?

“‘You’re in a lucky position where you get to choose that opportunity because you got multiple offers. So now look at the potential projects, we have the opportunity to leverage which project you get into.’ Not all students have that,” he said.

Ultimately, McClure selected the REU at Texas A&M based on the research she could do there and its location.

“I had already lived in Kansas and Colorado. I’ve never lived in a town as big as College Station,” she said.

When not in the lab, McClure enjoyed the camaraderie with undergraduates from across the country who share her interests as well as trips to see NASA’s facilities in Houston.

‘A clear path of what I want to do.’

McClure and Borrell continue to meet. As she applies to graduate programs in medical engineering or bioengineering, Borrell is reviewing her papers and applications.

“I can’t thank [Dr. Borrell] enough because he has really helped me,” she said. “And I really appreciate the mentoring program because the REU wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t met him. The REU helped me get out of my comfort zone. Now I have a clear path of what I want to do.”

Borrell credits McClure’s strong work ethic, intelligence and willingness to listen with her success thus far.

“She has a bright future ahead of her. I’m really excited to see what she accomplishes and where she goes,” said Borrell.

About the Alumni Mentoring Program

The program connects current students with alumni in their career field of interest to get career advice and insights. The pairs meet for about an hour a week for a minimum of five weeks during an eight week block. If you have questions about the program and may be interested in participating as a mentor, contact Carissa Uhrmacher ‘96 in Career Services at carissa.uhrmacher@hastings.edu or Alicia O’Donnell ‘96 in the Alumni and Foundation Office at aodonnell@hastings.edu.

By Alicia O’Donnell ‘96

�㽶��Ƶ, where class sizes are small and the student to faculty ratio is about 13 to 1, suited him perfectly. He found professors who were there for him every step of the way, and a culture that helped him excel.

Now, in a move that seems as inevitable as the Earth circling the sun, the retired astronaut and Ashland native has landed back in Nebraska as the museum’s new president and CEO.

“This museum was built on land in my hometown. The doors of the museum opened in May 1998, one month before NASA called and asked me to become the first astronaut from Nebraska. So the tug to come home and do this job was strong,” said Anderson, who served on the museum’s board before becoming CEO. “I have a vision for this place. I believe it’s good now but it can be great. It could and should be a gem of the Midwest.”

Anderson’s career at NASA as an engineer and astronaut spanned three decades. He spent 167 days in space on two missions and executed six spacewalks. Since retiring from NASA in 2013, he continued to live in Houston while teaching part time at Iowa State University, where he earned his master’s degree in aerospace engineering. He has written five books about space and his experiences, including three for children.

Anderson and his wife Susan, now retired from a position as community engagement officer at NASA, are building a home on Lake Allure in Ashland.

Space is the place

The SAC & Aerospace Museum board is excited to have Anderson at the helm. “The stars have aligned,” said Gary Gates, chair. “Clay’s unique professional experiences align perfectly with the mission of the museum.”

Located between Lincoln and Omaha near I-80, the museum uses 300,000 square feet of exhibit and education space to preserve the history of the Strategic Air Command and its efforts to keep the peace between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The museum features an impressive collection of SAC aircraft, missiles, rockets and other aerospace artifacts, as well as two full-motion flight simulators, a Children’s Learning Center and airplane restoration facilities.

As the museum approaches its 25th anniversary in 2023, Anderson is eager to build on its rich history while launching new initiatives focused above the atmosphere.

“Space is the place. That’s where everything’s going,” he said. “My job is to help the museum tell the story of how we went from a deterrence focused-Cold War heritage with ties to STRATCOM to illustrating how our past shapes our future using the same concept of deterrence but in outer space.”

Anderson envisions a major renovation of the current facility and the addition of a missile and space gallery with artifacts, classrooms and perhaps even a planetarium and observatory. A key focus of his efforts will be adding more hands-on activities to engage kids and their parents.

Bomb bay of a B-36

Anderson points at the open belly of a 159,000-pound B-36 Peacemaker, the largest production bomber ever built. The massive bomb bay, open to the atmosphere, connects the flight deck and crew compartment to a rear section where the crew of 15 ate and slept. To reach the back of the plane, the crew pulled themselves by rope on wheeled trolleys that rolled through tunnels on either side of the open bay.

The former astronaut’s eyes light up when he describes his plan to build tunnels under the museum’s B-36 where kids can slide through the bay and experience a bit of the thrill of those long-ago aviators.

“We need to create interactive exhibits where families can be entertained, educated and inspired,” Anderson said. “That’s our mantra today.”

Wherever the former astronaut’s vision leads the museum, he will always search the skies for inspiration.

“Everything I’ve done in my life is about looking up,” he said.

By Judee Konen ’85

�㽶��Ƶ senior Mason McMeen has gone back to his hometown of Broken Bow, Nebraska, twice to intern at Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), an American multinational medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents.

McMeen, a physics major with a mathematics minor, is a facilities engineering intern this summer after working as a project engineering intern a year ago. He designs parts and works in research and development and has grown his skills as an engineer.

BD seeks to advance the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care and has a presence in virtually every country and partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. 

By interning with BD at its Broken Bow facility for the last two summers, McMeen is a part of this mission. 

McMeen originally planned to study business when came to �㽶��Ƶ. 

“My first encounter with physics was my sophomore year when I took a physics class,” he said. “Physics solves real life problems and it’s really hands-on.” From that moment, he was hooked, and changed majors to align with his newfound passion.

This summer, his primary responsibilities include modifying and updating plant facilities, tracking chillers and air compressors and simply maintaining a functioning plant. Mcmeen’s schedule also includes research development of products and modifying production lines.

“I’ve designed machine parts, worked in research development and seen the production process from start to finish. I was able to see firsthand what this work looks like from a corporate level,” McMeen said.

It’s a position that requires him to balance and apply lessons in mathematics and physics with his role. “Like school, there’s never a time where you aren’t busy. It’s nice to be able to use concepts from class, especially when redesigning and linking dimensions,” he said.

Above all else, McMeen said he finds joy in this learning opportunity. 

“They invest a great deal of resources into their interns, and I am grateful for the opportunity given to me from BD. I’ve developed great habits, and I look forward to more learning. I’m proud of my growth as an engineer,” he said.

By Kianté Stuart, a junior from Nassau, The Bahamas, majoring in communications studies and business administration.

Dr. Steven Bever won a handful of prestigious awards during his time as professor of physics at �㽶��Ƶ. But one award that’s still due him as he prepares to retire is the unwritten “Most Hours Spent in the Science Building Award.”

“I tend to live here — probably a little too much,” he conceded with a laugh during a recent interview. Students past and present know it’s not uncommon to find Bever in the Morrison-Reeves Science Center in the wee hours.

“He used to stay at the science center until 2 or 3 in the morning, working tirelessly to make sure he was always available to offer help for those who need it,” said Lyndsay Ruane ‘19, a physics major now pursuing a PhD in aerospace engineering. “I will never forget the time I was stressed about an exam, so he went home and came back with his two enormous dogs just to cheer me up.”

The science center was home away from home for Bever, whether he was teaching classes, preparing labs for the next day, assisting students with their intensive senior projects or helping explain difficult material or concepts. “I’m definitely a student-focused professor and a believer in direct assistance,” he said. “That’s where I’ve seen the maximum growth occur.”

Bever joined the HC faculty in 2003 as associate professor of physics and was promoted to professor in 2008. He received the Alpha Chi Outstanding Faculty Member Award in both 2007 and 2018, and the 2006 Polished Apple Award for new faculty members.

“Dr. Bever was one of the best professors I ever had,” said Keian Kirkegaard ‘07, now an SRE data engineer and technical lead at Bit Systems in Aurora, Colorado. “Steve started with Hastings when I was a freshman and is a key reason why I was so successful there and continue to be today. He had an unbelievable knack for connecting with students and always went above and beyond in everything he did.”

To teach or not to teach?

The calling of educator was one Bever was hesitant to embrace. He initially envisioned teaching high school physics, but after taking a few courses and sitting in on some high school classes, he decided it wasn’t for him. He left physics for a year and pursued broadcast media and music, instead.

“Then my love for physics and math kicked back in,” he said. “I can identify with students who have done that — you’re not quite sure, you’re out of it for awhile, and then you decide, ‘Nope, this has to be part of my life.’ It’s why I’m a firm believer in students developing a firm foundation in the liberal arts.”

Bever went on to earn a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University. He married wife Michele, and spent a year selling audio equipment. Then he returned to Purdue for a doctorate in electrical engineering.

“The thing that pointed me toward teaching instead of industry was that our funding dropped out from under us due to a change in the national administration,” he said. “So I started teaching math classes, and I started receiving awards from my students.”

Bever began to think that maybe he was cut out for teaching after all, so he applied for physics professor positions and landed at the all-male Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he eventually served as the chair of the Department of Physics. After 13 years, Bever departed Wabash to reconsider his career path.

“I took the tests that show you what you should be doing,” he said. “And guess what. It said, ‘Teacher.’ ”

Making strides at HC

Bever made a successful bid for the associate professor position at HC, and he and Michele made the move to Hastings, where Michele joined the staff of South Heartland District Health Department. She became the executive director in 2007.

During his time at Hastings, Bever made a push for student research grants, including the NASA Nebraska Space Grant; restarted the Physics Club; revised the physics curriculum and all laboratory exercises; and supervised numerous senior research projects and presentations.

“I think one of the things I’m most proud of is seeing our students go out and have extremely successful careers, and see them have happy lives,” Bever said. “I’m always happy to see when they take courses after departing, or move up in their companies or move to other companies. And I’m so happy to get notes back that say, ‘I decided to go from my master’s to a PhD’ — it’s always fun to see that.”

One such note came from Dr. Jordan Borrell ‘13, who credits Bever for his decision to pursue a graduate degree. Borrell said his professor helped him target and define a research interest as well as search for a graduate school. Today, he has a PhD in bioengineering; he researched and developed a stimulation therapy that recovers lost motor function due to spinal cord injury.

“My research is a result of my early discussions and guidance from Dr. Bever,” Borrell said. “He was a professor whose passion for teaching was evident in every lecture and demonstration. He was engaging, thoughtful, and patient with all of his students. He made learning fun and always had time to answer any and all questions. He strived to see his students succeed, even well after graduation.”

Though Bever will no longer spend the vast majority of his time at the science center, he has no plans for being bored. He has some consulting opportunities, wants to resurrect an audio company he started a decade ago and is considering teaching part-time at a different institution after moving to a new town. And he may do a little research himself.

“As I’ve been packing up my laboratory, I stumbled across a research project I started 18 years ago at Wabash College, so I’d better finish it before moving on to new projects,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed student projects, and I like the idea of doing a little work of my own.”

By Amy (McGraw) Palser ’99

Wise’s research article, “Wellbore Characteristics that Control Debonding Initiation and Microannuli Width in Finite Element Simulations,” further explored how a change in pressure and temperature impacts the cement within abandoned oil wells. The goal is to try and reduce the chances of it happening in the future.

​In the petroleum industry, oil and gas wells go through a life cycle from initiation, to production and to abandonment. When a well is abandoned, it is typically plugged with cement. The cement is assumed to prevent leakage from the well for eternity. However, as evidenced by sidewalks and roads, cement cracks and degrades under normal use. Wise wanted to know if with elevated temperatures and conditions at thousands of feet deep, the cement there could fail as well.

Because it is physically impossible to examine the cement in these wells, Wise’s research used numerical simulations to predict cement behavior.

“From previous research done by myself and the general industry, we know that the most common failure mechanism of the cement is debonding, caused by changes in pressure and temperature, from the steel casing. So, we wanted to quantify the gap size and investigate a solution,” he said.

The most recent research focuses specifically on expressing the width of the gap magnitude given specific pressure and temperature changes to determine how different wellbore properties, like dimensions and depths, affect the gap sizes.

“The cement must stay intact so the environment or freshwater sources are not exposed to wellbore contaminants such as hydrocarbons or greenhouse gases,” he said.

Before pursuing his masters degree in petroleum engineering at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Wise spent time as a research assistant at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, and as a product compounder for Platte Valley Energetics in Alda, Nebraska.

Wise is on track to complete his Ph. D. at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoman the fall of 2020.

He said his �㽶��Ƶ professors have helped prepare him for the coursework within his masters and doctorate programs.

“The intensive coursework I took as a physics major has taught me how to conduct thorough research all while thinking critically,” he said.

Wise co-authored the paper with Alexandra Cedola, Runar Nygaard, Geir Hareland, Oystein Arild, Hans Petter Lohne, and Eric Patrick Ford.

By Courtney Hanson, a junior from Brookings, South Dakota, majoring in communication studies and philosophy and religion

The ever-growing factory is essential to Tesla’s sustained progress toward a zero-emissions future, as it supplies the power source of Tesla’s electric vehicles and reduces the cost of Tesla’s clean-energy products. By the time the building is complete, it will generate the equivalent of the world’s current total of energy in lithium-ion batteries, all while leaving no carbon footprint.

Completing  Gigafactory 1 will be a major stride toward a future powered by sustainable energy — and 2016 �㽶��Ƶ graduate Miranda Muhs is a part of the progress.

Muhs is an industrial engineer on the Factory Design Team at Tesla Gigafactory 1, where her primary responsibilities include space planning and design work for the future visions of the company. It’s a position that requires her to balance her formal training in mathematics and physics with the “human” side of business.

“Working as an industrial engineer at Tesla is a lot more than sitting at a desk crunching numbers all day,” she said. “It’s essential I have people skills, too, because I must be able to communicate and work with other engineers, designers, architects and stakeholders.”

Muhs credits �㽶��Ƶ for equipping her with the eclectic set of skills she uses as an employee of Tesla. In fact, her undergraduate experience provided her with a first taste of a career as an industrial engineer.

Hastings connections fuel career goals

As as sophomore at Hastings, Muhs landed a summer internship with Wellhead Electric Company in Sacramento, California. Her exceptional work for the company earned her the internship again the following year.

“My summers in Sacramento taught me a lot about business and interpersonal communication while also exposing me to the design side of engineering. The internship was the biggest launching pad for what I wanted to do later in life,” Muhs said.

Interning with Wellhead represented the “big picture” of physics at �㽶��Ƶ, said Muhs. The position allowed her to explore the multifaceted world of engineering in a hands-on way. Moreover, the internship relied upon alumni connections in 1962 graduate, �㽶��Ƶ trustee and Wellhead Electric owner Hal Dittmer.

“Hal is very supportive of the physics department at the College, and being able to utilize connections like that is more valuable for undergraduate students than they often realize,” Muhs said. “The alumni network is full of genuinely intelligent people, and connecting with these mentors sets you up for success.”

Professional connections, like the ones she built with Dittmer and his company, became a prominent part of Muhs’ �㽶��Ƶ experience. Those connections showcased the role compassion and direct mentorship play on �㽶��Ƶ campus.

“Even if there wasn’t an explicit connection, everyone I interacted with at the College genuinely cared about the success of the students. My teachers noticed when I wasn’t in class, and that sort of attention and care mattered to me. It made going to school fun,” she said. “I appreciate this even more now after attending graduate school, where I experienced a much different environment.”   

Muhs’ �㽶��Ƶ education confirmed her passion for industrial engineering while simultaneously introducing her to a broader life mission. Her primary goal is to positively impact the lives of others, just as her professors at Hastings impacted hers.

As an industrial engineer for the world’s leading company in sustainable energy, she is able to do just that.

“At Tesla, it’s all about trying to save the world before we ruin it. Everything I do is inspired by that mission, and it’s the reason I enjoy working here,” she said. “I want to accelerate our green energy consumption to build a better world for those around me.”

By Mallory Gruben ’18

Puckett secured his first REU at North Carolina State University the summer after his sophomore year. Although he was still unsure of which area of physics he would pursue with his career, he hoped the experience would identify a clear path for him.

“As an undergraduate in physics, the career possibilities are pretty much endless,” he said. “I looked at the opportunity as a way to find a sense of direction in where I wanted to go after �㽶��Ƶ.”

Finding a focus

The REU accepted eight students, and each student was assigned a project specializing in a certain area of material science. Puckett was assigned a mechanical engineering project that explored new clean energy possibilities.

Throughout the summer, he worked in the NCSU laboratory designing and testing an energy harvesting system that could convert mechanical energy, like vibrations, into electrical power.

“The most challenging part was actually learning the concepts and ideas behind what I was making,” Puckett said. “I was doing research in graduate-level aerospace and mechanical engineering, so there was definitely a shock factor for me as an undergraduate from a small college.”

Puckett said building off his �㽶��Ƶ experience made it easier to digest these complex topics. His classes at HC taught him not only the foundational concepts of physics, but how to learn on his own. His said his ability to learn independently helped him turn mind-bending ideas into tools for understanding the everyday physical world.

Once he established his understanding of energy conversion, Puckett applied the concepts he’d learned in the lab. He excelled in the hands-on atmosphere thanks to his background with lab work.

“At �㽶��Ƶ, the science disciplines have a big emphasis on a hands-on approach and working in the lab. We do a lot of basic testing and data collection and analysis,” Puckett said. “I think that’s what prepared me for my first REU the most.”

Through his lab work, Puckett discovered his passion for engineering. More importantly, it guided him toward specializations in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

“Working in the lab in North Carolina allowed me to use my hands everyday to create something from nothing, then test and analyze it,” Puckett said. “I really liked doing hands-on work, and I realized early on I wanted to continue in the mechanical or aerospace direction.”

Deeper into space travel

Newfound focus in hand, Puckett applied for another REU in 2017. This time, he hoped to dive deeper into mechanical and aerospace engineering.

His final landing spot was a ten-week REU covering electric propulsion systems for deep space travel, based at Texas A&M University.

“I was researching plasma physics, which is used in electric propulsion,” he said. “This is when an electromagnetic system propels spacecraft. It is cheaper and more efficient than traditional chemical propulsion systems.”

Electromagnetic propulsion systems operate by moving particles to create plasma waves. The momentum of the high-energy particles within the waves can move spacecraft, without the need for a fuel source.

During his research, Puckett ran simulations on a supercomputer to observe, calculate and record the movement patterns of particles within specific types of plasma waves.

“In the simulations I was looking for instabilities that might affect the performance and lifetime of electric propulsions thrusters. Understanding these instabilities can improve these systems,” he said

Although he was only a summer research assistant, Puckett’s research carried real-world implications. His supervising professor shared the developments of Puckett’s research with other scientists — including members of NASA and the US Air Force — to help expand the general understanding of plasma waves and deep space travel.

“It was terrifying at first, but once I settled into my role, it was rewarding to see the value of my coursework and collegiate efforts within the scientific community,” Puckett said.

Sights set on success

Puckett enters his final year with a clear picture of his future goals. Using funds he received from the NASA Space Grant, Puckett will build a human exploration rover as part of his senior seminar project. The quadricycle would hypothetically allow humans to travel around all terrains on Mars.

Designing a high-caliber rover may seem challenging to most undergraduate students, but Puckett said he feels adequately prepared to take on the task.

“My summer REUs taught me how to work independently and make critical research decisions on my own, and my �㽶��Ƶ education challenged me to expand my mind when thinking about complicated situations” he said. “I feel confident that this combination will help me succeed in completing my senior seminar research project.”

After finishing his rover, Puckett will apply for graduate school and officially launch his career in mechanical engineering. If all goes as planned, his professional trajectory will send him straight toward the cosmic success he’s always dreamed of.

By Mallory Gruben, a senior from Eckley, Colorado, majoring in journalism

But this January was different. It marked the official conclusion to his 57-year career at �㽶��Ƶ. He decided it was time to fully embrace retirement.

Sachtleben has had a profound effect on the College and his students. He was an instructor and mentor for the 20 students enrolled in his J-Term course this year, and hundreds of other students along the way. With nearly six decades as an HC professor under his belt, he has a rich history as a Bronco.

A spark of passion

Sachtleben’s journey to �㽶��Ƶ began when he discovered his passion for teaching while working one hour each week as a physics tutor in graduate school.

“One week, I had five students who came in to ask questions. The next week, the same five students were back. And the next week the same five came back again,” Sachtleben said. “The fourth time they came, I asked why they kept coming in, and I remember them saying, ‘well when you explain it, we can understand it.’ That was the key.”

He decided to become a professor, and in 1960 he applied for an open position at �㽶��Ƶ and was accepted. Just three years later, Sachtleben began a new chapter as the chair of the physics department, a position that would allow him to create a meaningful relationship with the institution and his students.

Building a department

Sachtleben is often associated with his fellow physics professor, the late Dr. Carl Throckmorton, as the major contributors to the growth of the �㽶��Ƶ Physics Department. When Sachtleben first arrived at the College, the department received $200 each year for its operating budget. By the time he retired, the physics department offered a refined curriculum and equipment comparable to graduate programs and research labs.

“Once, when we went to Bell Labs in Chicago, they showed us a relatively new technology, not expecting us to know it. After the demonstration, one of my students said, ‘We just did that experiment last week at �㽶��Ƶ,’’’ Sachtleben said.

He also played an influential role in establishing the astronomy program at HC. The current observatory bears his name as recognition to his contributions.

“Clyde’s the guy who got it started in 1978 with the first observatory that was originally on �㽶��Ƶ campus,” said Dan Glomski, program director for the Sachtleben Observatory and a close colleague of Sachtleben. “Without his support on the second one, I doubt it would have gotten here.”

Sachtleben didn’t accomplish these feats alone, though. From Throckmorton, his right-hand man and fellow physics professor, to the maintenance staff that helped with equipment repairs, he never forgot to thank the people who supported him on his way.

“I had a support system. I had Carl Throckmorton, Alene Tanner (then the department’s administrative secretary) and the College’s maintenance department,” Sachtleben said. “I was extremely fortunate to have this support.”

Sachtleben also said he was fortunate to draw upon other professional experiences that inspired his work as a Bronco. During his career at �㽶��Ƶ, he had the opportunity to teach for six summers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and for 25 summers at the University of Colorado Boulder. These experiences, he said, introduced him new ideas, demonstrations and information he could employ in his teaching at �㽶��Ƶ.

Students bound for success

Sachtleben was always glad to return to the �㽶��Ƶ environment in the fall where he knew all the students in his classes and enjoyed watching their progress. One accomplishment he proudly highlights is the success of his former students.

“Students that appreciated what I did, went on to succeed and then came back to tell me thank you,” Sachtleben said. “That’s all a person needs. If I didn’t have the students coming back to see me, it would be a different life.”

From chairs of physics departments at notable universities, to lead researchers, to NASA astronauts, “Doc S” has instructed dozens of successful �㽶��Ƶ graduates.

“Doc S became my mentor at �㽶��Ƶ. When I interviewed to become a NASA intern, the interview was done over the phone in his office,” said Clayton Anderson ‘81, a retired NASA astronaut. “He was a great instructor, and he has been of tremendous value to me as an engineer and astronaut.”

Sachtleben’s students built off of the foundations they established while in his classroom. He was a dynamic and engaging educator and, just like his graduate peers noted long before he began at �㽶��Ƶ, he was known for making complex topics easy to understand.

“The astronomy course he taught was geared toward non-science majors, so one of the challenges of the course is teaching a broad range of students,” Glomski said. “Clyde was really good at that because he gets on their level to get them involved.”

Sachtleben is also a big believer of demonstration-based learning. Anderson said he invited students to his home to play billiards or ping pong as a lesson in physics. He even helped lay the groundwork for the current senior seminar program.

“The structure, culture and philosophy of lab directed learning that is still in place in the physics department today was started by Clyde Sachtleben and Carl Throckmorton,” said Dr. Jim Dugan, retired chair of the �㽶��Ƶ Physics Department. “Our seniors have been doing senior projects since 1978, so the �㽶��Ƶ Physics Department was ahead of the curve on that kind of learning experience.”

Retired, but not gone

Sachtleben’s capabilities as a teacher secured him a position at HC long after his official career ended. Shortly after his retirement in 2001, he was asked to return to teach “Intro to the Night Sky,” the J-Term astronomy course. He received the same request every year for the last 15 years.

Although 2017 is the last year Sachtleben will serve as a formal instructor at �㽶��Ƶ, his role as an Bronco mentor will not end.

“Retirement and Sachtleben don’t really go together. He will still find a way to educate people, and he will still be an asset to �㽶��Ƶ,” Anderson said. “It’s indicative of his passion for educating that he retired 16 years ago, but continued to teach the J-Term course.”

Sachtleben will enjoy the rest of his retirement with his loved ones. After a 57-year career spent caring for �㽶��Ƶ and its students, it is well deserved.

“I have very fond memories of �㽶��Ƶ,” Sachtleben said. “I’m lucky to have spent my life doing something that makes me happy.”

By Mallory Gruben, a junior from Eckley, Colorado, majoring in journalism