As a corporate analyst in Fiserv’s Global Analyst Program, Tyrell, a 2022 graduate, is immersed in a fast-paced environment where he’s tasked with developing innovative solutions, providing strategic advice and supporting critical business operations. His diverse skill set, honed through his international relations major and Spanish minor, equips him to excel in this multifaceted role.

“Every day brings new challenges and opportunities,” Tyrell said. “From collaborating with cross-functional teams to analyzing complex data, I’m constantly learning and growing.”

A key aspect of Tyrell’s role involves bridging the gap between finance and sales. He works closely with various departments, including finance, sales, billing, product management, legal and leadership, to optimize pricing strategies and drive revenue growth.

Beyond his core responsibilities, Tyrell said he actively seeks out opportunities to improve operational efficiency and streamline processes. His fresh perspective and analytical skills have proven invaluable in identifying areas for improvement.

Tyrell credits his success at Fiserv to the strong foundation he built at 香蕉视频. “The diverse curriculum, supportive faculty and engaging extracurricular activities prepared me well for the challenges of the professional world,” he said. “The analytical and research skills I developed in my coursework are directly applicable to my daily work.”

The connections he forged during his time at Hastings have also played a significant role in his career trajectory. A referral from a fellow HC graduate opened doors to opportunities at Fiserv, and the strong network he cultivated continues to support his professional growth.

As Tyrell continues to advance his career at Fiserv, he’s excited about the opportunities to learn, grow and contribute to the company’s success. He said he鈥檚 also eager to explore the vibrant Omaha community with his fianc茅e.

By Carissa Barwick, communications specialist

On field trips to the farm-based center west of Hastings, preschoolers scamper down tree-lined trails, collect seeds and make pies in the outdoor mud kitchen. First-through-sixth graders explore topics like food webs and ecosystems, plants and pollinators. 香蕉视频 theater students perform one-act plays in the old horse barn. Local residents take quiet strolls through moonlit prairie grass or learn how to plant a garden or make sourdough bread. Families gather between the barns to enjoy bluegrass and folk bands at the Flatwater Music Festival.

More than 8,000 visitors each year participate in Prairie Loft鈥檚 classes, field trips and summer camps, as well as private events like wedding receptions and company retreats.

鈥淥ur goal is to get as many people as possible outside, enjoying nature and connecting to the agricultural heritage that鈥檚 so important in our area,鈥� said Arrington-Williams, who grew up camping and hiking in her native Colorado. 鈥淲e teach people where their food and fuel and fibers come from, and we help them enjoy the recreational and wellness benefits of nature.鈥�

Before joining Prairie Loft in May 2023, Arrington-Williams used her skills in writing, marketing, fundraising and event planning at several local organizations. For two years, she was an admissions counselor at 香蕉视频. She started a business magazine and directed operations and marketing at a craft brewing company. In her off time, she attended Prairie Loft events and volunteered on the Flatwater Music Festival planning committee.

鈥淧rairie Loft was one of those places that really touched my heart when I graduated from 香蕉视频 and was deciding whether to go home to Colorado or put down roots in Hastings,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I heard the executive director position was open, I had an intuitive hit saying 鈥榯hat鈥檚 my job.鈥� Being able to come back as the organizational leader is pretty fantastic.鈥�

From working farm to educational center

Prairie Loft鈥檚 roots go deep into the history of Adams County, Arrington-Williams said. Its four renovated barns and farm buildings stand on 8.3 acres that were originally part of Ingleside, a working farm managed by the former Hastings Regional Center psychiatric facility. Patients and staff grew vegetables and crops and tended the dairy herd, chickens, turkeys and pigs. Produce was used to feed those housed at the hospital.

In 2019, Prairie Loft secured additional land through a management agreement with the State of Nebraska, including 15 acres of farm ground planted and harvested by volunteers and 50 acres of diverse ecosystem for nature trails and outdoor learning.

鈥淲e have grassland and trees and forest cover. We have a variety of wildlife,鈥� Arrington-Williams said. 鈥淎 lot of biodiversity is within walking distance. That鈥檚 what makes it really special.鈥�

While a full-time program manager teaches and coordinates youth classes and camps, Arrington-Williams focuses on adult education and the tasks that keep a nonprofit running smoothly 鈥� community engagement, board relations, event planning, marketing and communications, and financial oversight and fundraising.

The fundraising piece is especially critical as Prairie Loft prepares to launch the final phase of a $1.5 million capital campaign to renovate the Workshop Barn that once housed farm equipment. Donors have already provided funds to build out the Pershing Prairie boardroom and Big R鈥檚 commercial kitchen. Additional donations will be used to finish a meeting and classroom space.

Future plans include renovating a red horse barn donated by the late Dr. John 鈥淒oc鈥� Yost, an orthopedic surgeon who was volunteer physician for 香蕉视频 athletic teams for more than 25 years.

鈥淲e鈥檇 like to use the barn as an ag-focused classroom space where children can have hands-on, tactile experiences,鈥� Arrington-Wlliams said.

Connecting neighbors with nature

The mother of two young sons, Arrington-Williams is always busy, whether she鈥檚 coordinating the Harvestfest at Prairie Loft or teaching a yoga class. Her penchant for multi-tasking began early when she majored in media production at 香蕉视频 while pursuing minors in Spanish and philosophy, writing for the 鈥淐ollegian鈥� student newspaper, leading tours for the Public Relations Council and ending her senior year with Who鈥檚 Who honors.

鈥淚 feel like 香蕉视频 prepared me to think critically and not be afraid to take risks and learn something new,鈥� she said.

At Prairie Loft, her creative passion is fueled by connecting the community with this region鈥檚 rich agricultural legacy and prairie landscapes.

鈥淏eing able to pay homage to a space that has such historical significance and is such an important resource for our community is a huge honor. It drives me forward every day,鈥� she said.

By Judee Konen 鈥�85

And she wouldn鈥檛 want it any other way.

鈥淚 was definitely one of those individuals that fell into this line of work, and I鈥檝e loved it ever since,鈥� said Jamieson.

Currently, she serves as program officer for Supportive Housing for Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) San Antonio, Texas. In this role, she works with a team to provide affordable, stable housing options as well as key services to households with at least one person with a disability. Many people in supportive housing have experienced homelessness because they have struggled to secure and sustain housing in their communities.

Jamieson鈥檚 position requires: being an independent starter since the working conditions are hybrid, connecting with varied audiences, and continually studying and presenting the best practices for permanent supportive housing 鈥� all skills she honed as an active student at 香蕉视频.

鈥淏eing involved kept me busy and helped with my organization skills as well as being able to meet people where they are,鈥� she said.

Formally, Jamieson served as president of the Multicultural Student Union, co-president of Alpha Delta Alpha, and a member of the Public Relations (PR) Council, among other endeavors. Personally, she took it upon herself 鈥渢o mentor and support many minority students.鈥�

鈥淭he connections, friendships, responsibility for others, and being the face for someone making the choice to attend HC all helped me grow in my communication skills,鈥� she said.

Finding Success in Nonprofit Management

Jamieson provides this advice to others seeking to succeed in the nonprofit field:

• Truly have a passion for the work.
• Understand that you won鈥檛 save the world, but you can have a huge impact on someone鈥檚 life, to help them reach whatever level of independence looks like for them.
• Seek a mentor to help you in areas that aren鈥檛 your strengths.
• Being genuine, empathetic, trustworthy, humble, and keeping your word are very important in nonprofit management.
• Develop skills that will grow your team, the organization, and yourself.

鈥淚 believe in the mission of the department and find my work meaningful because I want to see Nebraska thrive, especially the areas outside Lincoln and Omaha,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he national pattern is that rural areas and smaller cities and towns are starting to die out. I think we can change that dynamic in Nebraska. It鈥檚 important for the health of Nebraska overall that we have dynamic communities across the state.鈥�

A native of Grand Island, Nebraska, Zarek graduated from 香蕉视频 in 2015, magna cum laude, with high distinction in economics and Spanish. After earning her master鈥檚 degree in economics at Iowa State University and working as a research analyst at the Greater Omaha Chamber, she was hired last year to create a comprehensive data infrastructure and manage the research team at the Department of Economic Development, which strives to attract and retain businesses and talent throughout Nebraska.

Zarek鈥檚 career choice was inspired, in part, by her undergraduate experience in 香蕉视频鈥檚 Talent Pool, a program that pairs business and economics interns with local organizations. During an internship with the Hastings Economic Development Corporation (HEDC), she conducted research on local businesses and entrepreneurs and the resources available to them in the Hastings community.

鈥淚 was already interested in economic development, but this internship really solidified that this could be a career for me,鈥� Zarek said. 鈥淚 saw that there is a real need for economic development in the state and that I could develop the skills to make a difference.鈥�

Zarek鈥檚 internship mentor at the HEDC was Dave Rippe, who later became director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and hired Zarek as the chief data officer. This fall, Rippe joined 香蕉视频 as director of the Scott Scholars program.

鈥淛ennifer is an amazing talent. She is a unique combination of a confident leader and a skilled tactician. I knew from the second I met Jennifer that she was very special, and I am honored to be a part of her journey,鈥� he said.

In her position at the Department of Economic Development, Zarek collects and analyzes data to provide insight into Nebraska鈥檚 economy, the outcomes of department programs and grants, and the impact of national and state legislation. She and her team are currently working on a project that compares Nebraska to all other states in the areas of workforce vitality and economic strength.

鈥淎ccording to about any metric you can find, Nebraskans are well-educated, hard workers. We also have a diverse economy and tend to weather recessions better than other states,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think one area where we are struggling, which is not uncommon, is the availability of workers. We have slow population and workforce growth, which is limiting how fast our economy can grow.鈥�

While more populated states with multiple urban centers have greater access to qualified workers, Nebraska offers unique career and lifestyle possibilities with a touch of 鈥渘ice鈥� thrown in the mix, Zarek said.

鈥淚 think Nebraska is a great place to live because there are so many opportunities. You can do anything you want here 鈥� focus on any career, raise a family, start a business. Most important, you can live in any type of area that you want 鈥� rural, small town, big city 鈥� and the people will be welcoming and friendly. You can really plug into your community in Nebraska and make a visible difference,鈥� she said.

Zarek credits a diverse group of faculty mentors at 香蕉视频 with preparing her for a successful career and interesting life. From her economics classes with Dr. Amy Black 鈥�90 and Spanish classes with Dr. Pedro Vizoso, to her flute lessons with Deb Johnson 鈥�77 and Bell Choir experiences with Dr. Byron Jensen, she learned to think critically and pursue her passions across the disciplines.

鈥淭he professors at HC truly cared about me as a person and as a student,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or me, the liberal arts approach was very important, and I believe it has given me an advantage in the workforce.鈥�

By Judee Konen 鈥�85, associate vice president for advancement.

This year, a talented 香蕉视频 graduate was among the institute鈥檚 95 accepted students.

鈥淲hen I interned at the Oklahoma Gazette my senior year at 香蕉视频, my mentor, the assistant editor, recommended DPI to me. She had attended after she graduated college, and she thought I could benefit from it, too,鈥� said Hannah Meeske, a 2017 graduate who majored in publishing, English and Spanish.

Keeping up with professionals

DPI鈥檚 workshops are taught by experienced publishing professions from all areas of the field. Sessions on career development connect current students with additional professionals, as well as the program鈥檚 alumni network.

鈥淚t was great hearing stories, advice and insights from professionals who started as students just like us,鈥� Meeske said. 鈥淲e even got proprietary information 鈥� stuff we can鈥檛 share with anyone else! 鈥� from real publishing houses.鈥�

However, DPI wasn鈥檛 Meeske鈥檚 first exposure to a program that provides a direct look at the publishing industry. She said DPI directly reflected her experiences as an undergraduate at 香蕉视频.

鈥淒PI and HC are very similar in curriculum and approach. I felt prepared, if not more so, than most students in attendance, thanks to my 香蕉视频 experience,鈥� Meeske said.

Meeske built a strong background in publishing while at Hastings. As an undergraduate, she networked with professionals by attending national conferences for English and publishing majors, gained hands-on experience through her editorial internship with the and was introduced to almost all aspects of the publishing industry.

鈥淎t 香蕉视频, I became familiar with the book production process, from start to finish,鈥� Meeske said. 鈥淭his provided me with enough background to follow along with the industry professionals at DPI as they spoke about everything from editing, to design, to printing and binding.鈥�

Meeske received her graduate certificate from DPI in early August. Now, she plans to pursue employment opportunities in publishing. She said her goal is to work for a publication in Oklahoma City, while also participating in rodeo. Her vast knowledge of publishing creates the flexibility for her to create a career path that suits her interests.

鈥淥ne of the benefits of attending 香蕉视频 and the Denver Publishing Institute is how I feel prepared 鈥� and even excited 鈥� to work in any job in publishing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t helps me easily balance the search for a career while continuing my passion for rodeo.鈥�

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

Perched on a rocky landscape overlooking a seemingly endless horizon of water, Jenna Jaeger, sophomore biology and Spanish double major, sat quietly meditating after a five-day trek through Northern Spain. The quiet moment gave her a chance to reflect on the 72-mile hike she鈥檇 just completed during January Term (J-Term) 2017.

While many students use J-Term as an opportunity to travel abroad, Jaeger and six other 香蕉视频 students set out on a J-Term trip that led them to the end of the earth 鈥� and into a new culture.

Accompanied by Dr. Pedro Vizoso, associate professor of Spanish, and Dr. David McCarthy, professor of religion, the group explored the French route of the Camino de Santiago.

鈥淭he Camino de Santiago is a very old tradition in Europe, and pilgrims from everywhere used its routes to journey to Santiago de Compostela, the location of Saint James鈥� tomb,鈥� Vizoso said. 鈥淭he French route is the most common because, in some ways, all the pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela from the European Countries east of Germany were funneled there through Paris.鈥�

The Camino de Santiago played a large role in the development of Spain鈥檚 religious identity in the eighth century. For nearly 800 years, Spain was under the control of the Islamic Moors. Spain embraced Catholicism as a way to create a distinct identity and recover from Moorish rule, with Christianity spreading throughout the country via the Camino.

The goal of the J-Term course was to study the culture, religions and history of Europe by experiencing the Camino de Santiago first-hand during a three-week trip through the cities on the French Route.

Exploring France as Spanish speakers

The adventure began in Paris, France, where the class traveled by car to the French stops on the Camino. The students presented mini-lectures in Spanish about the importance of each French city along the way, and they explored the major cathedrals related to the Camino鈥檚 rich history.

France helped the students 鈥� who were each studying Spanish as either a major or minor 鈥� to step out of their comfort zone and into a new culture and language. The students could rely on Vizoso and McCarthy for most translations; however, when they set out by themselves during their free time, they were challenged to adapt.

鈥淲e had to learn about French culture in order to not be obnoxious tourists. I learned a little bit of the French language, too鈥� Jaeger said. 鈥淚 value my Spanish education much more after my experience聽of not being able to sufficiently communicate in France.鈥�

McCarthy, who holds a Master of Arts in French and a Doctorate in religion, shared valuable insights and history lessons to help students navigate a culture distinct from their Spanish studies.

鈥淎lthough I speak French, I didn鈥檛 know the French steps of the Camino,鈥� Vizoso said. 鈥淒r. McCarthy explained the significance of every step we visited in France, so I relied totally on him to do the French portion of the trip. For me, Dr. McCarthy was an amazing help.鈥�

As the class wrapped up their lessons in France, they prepared to cross the border into Spain. Although their route on the Camino was continuous, the culture and language would change as they journeyed south.

鈥淛ust imagine if the United States was divided into 27 countries, and every country had its own language. Going from France to Spain would be like crossing the border to Kansas and suddenly having to speak another language,鈥� Vizoso said, noting that it was good for the students to experience Europe鈥檚 cultural diversity by exploring the continent鈥檚 history.

鈥淚t was such a stark difference. France seemed a little more proper, posh and affluent, whereas Spain was more laid back, happy and accepting,鈥� said Joseph Quinn, a junior Spanish and education double major. 鈥淭here was even a difference with how churches were built in France and Spain, which was really interesting to see.鈥�

A pilgrim鈥檚 voyage

Once in Spain, the class embraced the true history of the Camino by finishing the final 72 miles (116 kilometers) on foot. For five days, they walked from city to city on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

鈥淲e tried to live like pilgrims as much as we could by staying in pilgrimage hostels and living with other pilgrims,鈥� Jaeger said.

Unlike some of the pilgrimages, the trip didn鈥檛 end when they reached the site of Saint James鈥� tomb in Santiago de Compostela. Instead, the travelers continued on, driving to the zero kilometer or 鈥渢rue end鈥� of the Camino.

鈥淭he tradition of the Camino de Santiago often ends with going to the zero kilometer of the route at Finisterre, or the end of the earth. This is where the Atlantic Ocean begins, and the land ends in a cliff with an abrupt drop into the sea,鈥� Vizoso said.

Vizoso said his students seemed to be strongly affected by their stop in Finisterre. For Jaeger, it was a quiet space to reconnect with herself after the strenuous trip on the Camino.

鈥淚 was able to sit and meditate while listening to the ocean and absorbing the sun,鈥� Jaeger said. 鈥淒uring this trip, I really connected with myself, and meditating at Finisterre gave me a sense of the strong spirituality in the place, and a sense of peace.鈥�

Immersion in history, culture and language

The students鈥� return to home just a few days after their visit to Finisterre revealed improved Spanish speaking skills and an expanded understanding of Spanish culture. While abroad, the class was required to speak in Spanish as often as possible. Vizoso said limiting the student’s鈥� ability to use English enriched their learning experience.

鈥淲hen students are constantly using Spanish in their interactions, they are in some ways able to connect with the physical reality of the culture,鈥� he said. 鈥淢aking that physical connection with the target language and culture is so important because it makes the trip more than just a tourist experience.鈥�

Even after two full years of college Spanish courses, Jaeger said her experience on the Camino was distinct from anything she had learned in the classroom. Full immersion in the language helped her to grow her Spanish repertoire.

鈥淪ometimes, colloquial terms would get in the way of our somewhat limited Spanish vocabularies, but it forced us to learn more and expand our Spanish knowledge,鈥� Jaeger said. 鈥淭here was no longer the easy way out of explaining it in English 鈥� we had to find a way to say what we wanted in order to communicate.鈥�

Traveling through France and Spain pushed the students to 鈥減op the university bubble鈥� and immerse themselves in history, religion, culture and language, said Vizoso. For the seven scholars who completed the Camino de Santiago for J-Term, the impact of the unique experience will be long lasting.

“Leaving your own country and culture will take you out of your comfort zone, but it will open your eyes to understanding something that’s different than your normal routine,” Quinn said. “This J-Term class was an opportunity to see the world in a new way, and it was life changing.”

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

The opportunity to partner with teachers while abroad arose after Reed applied for the Casa Ayni Volunteer After School Program upon the suggestion of one of her influential 香蕉视频 Spanish instructors. 聽

鈥淚 went to Dr. Pedro Vizoso and explained to him that I didn鈥檛 have enough room in my schedule to complete my Spanish major unless I could get class credit over the summer. He introduced me to the Casa Ayni program, one that he had worked with many times before,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淛ust by poking around on their website, I saw that they had an after school volunteer program.鈥�

Skill, opportunity and scholarship align

Reed promptly sent in an application and resume to Casa Ayni. Little did she know, her credentials and previous in-classroom experience 鈥� gained through curriculum at HC 鈥� would impress the director of the program, leading her to assume that Reed was already a teacher.

鈥淚 explained that I was not yet a teacher, but that I was training to be one. The next day she sent me an email saying that she had contacted a principal at a school, and that I was welcome to work there if that was something I would rather do,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淚鈥檓 the first person that they have ever worked with like that, and I may have unintentionally opened up a gateway for other people.鈥�

To pay for the trip, Reed received even more help from 香蕉视频 through the Knappenberger Fund. This scholarship, established by a family with strong ties to the College, covered the costs of the Casa Ayni program, as well as a portion of Reed鈥檚 travel budget. The financial help derived from the Knappenberger allowed Reed to experience more than just one discipline while abroad.

鈥淲ith the Knappenberger Fund, I didn鈥檛 have to do any personal fundraising to afford the trip. It was a God send because that meant that I had enough money to go to Machu Picchu and take a tour around different Incan sites. I鈥檓 not a history major, but I am still a history dork,鈥� Reed said.

Overcoming language barriers

The trip to Peru wasn鈥檛 all fun and games, however. Reed actually began working in the classroom after just the second day of her six-week venture, and was required to speak only in Spanish. Though she initially felt prepared to use the language she had studied for three years at HC, on the spot translating turned out to be more difficult than she thought.

鈥淎bsolutely no one in the school spoke English, so I was kind of terrified my first few days. It became a lot of charades and learning how to describe something without using the actual word for it because I didn鈥檛 have it at my disposal,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淭he weirdest thing was that kids would ask me for help, and I would have to go ask the teacher because even though I knew the answer in English, but couldn鈥檛 say it in Spanish.鈥� 聽

Reed adapted quickly, learning a majority of the essential 鈥渃lassroom Spanish鈥� that she needed to effectively work as a teacher鈥檚 aide.

鈥淚 was exhausted at the end of every day for having to focus so hard on how to say every single word, but then I started to get more comfortable with it and I settled into a routine,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淣ow that I鈥檓 back, I sometimes find myself quietly translating the word that I鈥檓 saying into Spanish in my head, even though I don鈥檛 need to anymore.鈥�

Understanding culture in the classroom

Reed returned to the states with an enriched understanding of not only the language barriers, but also cultural barriers that foreign students face once they enter the American schools system.

鈥淗ere you are expected to sit down, be quiet and do your work. In the schools in Peru, students could get up and work with friends; it was way more lax,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淔or a child to move from that school system would be a very hard challenge for them. These students are in a completely different place; classmates don鈥檛 look like them, classmates don鈥檛 talk like them and the disciplinary expectations are way different.鈥� 聽聽

After spending only six weeks emerged in the culture of a new school system, Reed began to apply the differences to her previous experiences. She was even able to revise her thinking on a student she worked with in America that originally hailed from Guatemala. 聽聽

鈥淎fter having worked in a Peruvian school, that little boy鈥檚 behaviors make way more sense. He wasn鈥檛 misbehaving to be naughty, and he wasn鈥檛 doing it to get a rise out of the teacher. It was just how he had been able to act in school up to that point,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淚 guess I never would have realized that had I not gone to Peru and seen how another school system is. I feel like having that insight is going to make me a much more understanding teacher.鈥�

Reed hopes to share her experience during HC鈥檚 Academic Showcase Day this year as a way to shed light on the cultural differences between schools from different countries, and why it should matter to teachers. 聽

In the grander scheme, Reed plans to graduate from 香蕉视频 and earn her teaching license. She envisions teaching abroad as a major part of her future, and hopes to dedicate her summers to working in schools from other countries when she is not in the classroom in the United States.

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

From the fall/winter edition of HC Today.

You can define a man by his words 鈥� and that can mean not only by what he says, but what he reads.

Dwayne Strasheim has no dearth of books to define his character. His office alone has an entire wall devoted to books and the eye immediately detects a theme. English Syntax, The Lexicography of English and Lost for Words are but three titles his bookshelves bear. The items in his office follow a similar pattern. A Merriam-Webster daily calendar (today鈥檚 word is oppugn) sits on his desk. A stuffed aardvark wearing a green hat that says LINGUIST sits on the filing cabinet.

English and linguistics seem to reside in the very DNA of this man, but this was not evident to him from the start. Dwayne graduated from Wayne State College with a German major and history minor and taught these subjects at Hastings High in 1962. The next year, he studied at the University of Washington on assistantships. 鈥淚 really loved high school teaching, but a year out of college and I was ready to get back,鈥� he said.

Dwayne graduated with a master鈥檚 degree in linguistics in 1965 and decided that he wanted to move back to Hastings. 鈥淚 thought Hastings was a wonderful place to live,鈥� he said, 鈥渟o I sent a letter to the president of 香蕉视频, Ted Maxson, asking for a position.鈥�

After an interview conducted over dinner, Dwayne found himself the newest member of the 香蕉视频 faculty and began teaching in the fall of 1965. That summer Dwayne experienced invaluable mentoring from English professors Art Langvardt, Robert Harwick and Darrel Lloyd through summer workshops offered at 香蕉视频. Dwayne, who taught Modern Grammar, was able to be critiqued by his colleagues while also observing them in the classroom. 鈥淭he summer institute was a wonderful experience. I got really lucky,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose three guys were fantastic teachers. If I鈥檝e had any success as a teacher here, it鈥檚 partially due to this experience and those teachers.鈥�

In 1970, he earned his PhD in English linguistics from Ohio University, making 香蕉视频 one of the few small schools with a PhD linguist. He served 香蕉视频 as a professor of linguistics and composition and as director of Interim, now known as J-Term, from 1970 to 1978.

In the 49 years Dwayne has taught at Hastings, he has certainly made an impact through dedicated involvement in a wide variety of activities. Dwayne was inducted into the 香蕉视频 Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 for meritorious service. For nearly 30 years, he has been the voice of the Broncos, announcing football and men鈥檚 basketball games. He also served as an administrator on campus for 22 years, working first as Registrar and then as Assistant Dean and, ultimately, Dean of the College in 1983.

However, he continued teaching the entire time he was an administrator, because he wanted the contact with students. 鈥淚 really enjoyed administrating, and I thought I wanted to be an administrator forever, but it got to the point where I looked forward to teaching class,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been such a delight to continue teaching.鈥�

Brett Erickson 鈥�95/MAT 鈥�99, who teaches photography and journalism at 香蕉视频, first met Dwayne his sophomore year of college when he took Dwayne鈥檚 linguistics and language course, known for many years among HC students as Ling and Lang. 鈥淚t was that semester when I started thinking that understanding language was something I was never going to stop working with,鈥� Brett recalled. 鈥淎 lot of people have given their lives to this college, but I think you would be hard pressed to find another human being who has given as much of his life to college and higher education,鈥� Brett said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if you could measure the impact or even hope to measure the impact of Dwayne Strasheim on this campus. We are who we are, or what we are, because of him.鈥�

Brett not only learned the importance of linguistics from Dwayne but how to be an effective teacher as well. 鈥淢ore than anything from Dwayne I learned the value of planning and inclusion with students and that, if you plan well for a class, if you have structure, then neat things can happen in a classroom,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he other thing is passion. When he talks about linguistics, it鈥檚 effervescent.鈥�

Erin VanDeWalle 鈥�08 harbored a lifelong fear of grammar when she took her first class (Structure of English) with Dwayne. He used various tactics to ease students鈥� anxieties, though. He often started class with a linguistics-related comic and gave Tootsie Pops to students on test days.

鈥淲hen he could see that glazed look in our eyes because we simply couldn鈥檛 take in any more information, he would ask if we had reached 鈥業nformation Overload鈥� and he would end the lecture and either visit with us for the remainder of the class or dismiss class early,鈥� Erin recalled. 鈥淗is sense of humor and his caring persona did not go unnoticed by his students.鈥�

Another class she took from Dwayne was American English Dialects, which is memorable to her because he brought in speakers with noticeably different dialects. 鈥淚t was just a really neat addition to his class that he could have left out, but he didn鈥檛. He went that extra mile to make his lessons appealing and applicable to our lives,鈥� she said.

Erin鈥檚 Cedar Rapids (Neb.) High School English teacher Lois Meyer also learned from Dwayne. Ultimately, a few of Erin鈥檚 students have attended 香蕉视频 and taken Dwayne鈥檚 classes as well. 鈥淗is impact can be traced through multiple generations of English teachers who were all motivated by his teaching passion.鈥�

HC junior Jocelyn Delgado鈥檚 uncle and mother both went to 香蕉视频 and learned from Dwayne.

鈥淎 lot of things he has taught us we discussed,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd the first thing I knew about HC was Dr. Strasheim, because my mom had different stories about his class.鈥�

Jocelyn took composition class from Dwayne when she was a freshman and added an English minor after he encouraged her to keep writing. 鈥淗e definitely sparked my love for writing and for the style of writing that I have,鈥� she said.

She will be taking American English Dialects from him this J-Term and another class from him in the spring. 鈥淚 like taking classes with him, because it鈥檚 a lot more discussion-based learning. He鈥檚 really good about implementing relevant information and keeping it lighthearted and fun,鈥� she said.

Forty-nine years from when he first started as a 鈥�25-year-old kid who didn鈥檛 have enough sense to be scared,鈥� Dwayne has been a professor, mentor, advisor and administrator to thousands of students and alumni. 鈥淢y students and colleagues have been the joy of my career,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel 73, because the students keep me young.鈥�

Dwayne鈥檚 comfortable with leaving at the 49-year mark, although some have urged him to stay another year for an even 50. His tenure ties him with Dr. Hayes Fuhr, for whom Fuhr Hall is named. This provides an inkling of Dwayne鈥檚 impact 鈥� what Dr. Fuhr did for 香蕉视频 through music, Dwayne has done through linguistics.

By Emily Case ’14

All 香蕉视频 undergraduate students who have at least one year left on campus are eligible to be an Excelsior scholar.

The application is fairly straightforward. Jennifer Zarek 鈥�15, the 2013 Excelsior Scholar, explained that Excelsior鈥檚 application requires a personal statement and an outline of the research you intend to conduct.

鈥淸The selection committee] wants to see your thoughts so they can assess the proposal,鈥� said Zarek.

The selection committee provides students feedback on proposals if a draft is submitted prior to an established date. The application also requires no interview, thus placing more importance on the quality of the written application.

Her project assessed the impact of microloans in Costa Rican women鈥檚 lives. Zarek, who also earned a Knappenberger Travel Fund to cover her travel costs, had an internship with the microcredit institution Fundaci贸n Mujer that allowed her to combine two of her great passions, Spanish and economics. She chose Fundaci贸n Mujer because microloans interest her. Her main internship duty lied in creating and implementing the impact assessment, for which she distributed surveys and conducted interviews.

When she started her internship, she spent a lot of time learning how the organization functions, but as she became accustomed to the organization, her responsibilities shifted to completing her impact assessment and performing translation duties. Through her internship, she gained experience she feels will prove useful in the future, which includes the opportunity to conduct research in the real world, witness firsthand how a microcredit institution works, and refine her Spanish skills.

After the research project is complete, the Excelsior scholar must present the results twice鈥攐n campus (in a forum such as Academic Showcase Day) and at a national or competitive conference. Not only do these presentations provide students important experience, they also allow the student鈥檚 experiences to be appreciated throughout the 香蕉视频 community and in a broader academic community. Excelsior scholars also are encouraged to submit their research results to a scholarly journal in their discipline for publication.

Professors have been very helpful to Zarek throughout the entire process鈥攆rom the application process, throughout her research project and to her presentation.

鈥淚 definitely have a lot of faculty support,鈥� she said. 鈥淒r. Liz [Frombgen, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs] met with me several times during the application and offered me feedback on the draft, [Economics Professor] Dr. Amy Black is finding a conference for me to present at and Dr. [Douglas] Kinnear read over drafts of my research paper. At other places, you wouldn鈥檛 get that at all.鈥�

If a topic piques a student鈥檚 interest, the Excelsior Scholar Program provides a wonderful opportunity for a student to get funding to complete the research.

Zarek is certainly glad she applied for the Excelsior Scholar Program.

鈥淚f someone has an idea, I would totally encourage them to apply for it,鈥� she said.

Written by Liz Case ’14