Wayne State Welcomes New Freshmen, Plans for Their Success

The new freshman class at Wayne State marks the fourth consecutive year, and the fifth out of the past seven years, of enrollment growth at the college. During this same period of increases in the number of first-time freshmen, the college also has increased its retention rate from 67 percent to 75 percent, according to the most recent available data.

Other statistics about the new freshman class:

• 47 percent are male; 53 percent female
• 55 percent are first-generation students
• The average ACT score is 21.5, which is higher than the national average
• 66 percent graduated high school with a GPA of more than 3.0
• 57 percent come from the top half of their graduating class; 27 percent from the top quarter; and 9 percent from the top tenth
• Douglas County leads counties of origin, followed by Madison, Dodge, Sarpy, Holt, Woodbury (Iowa) and Wayne.

Governor Partners with Nebraska State College System for New Scholarship

Gov. Dave Heineman announced a new partnership with the Nebraska State College System (NSCS) on Aug. 14, which is creating a new scholarship aimed at Nebraska high school seniors who hope to stay in the state after college and become leaders in their communities.

The Governor’s Opportunity Award will cover half of the tuition costs for a student enrolled in one of the three state colleges and can be renewed for four years at Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges. Three students will be awarded scholarships for 2009-10 academic year.

Wayne State Announces Spring 2008 Dean's List

More than 700 students at Wayne State College were named to the Dean's List for exemplary academic achievement during the spring 2008 semester. To be named to the dean's list, a student must maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be enrolled as a full-time student.

Wayne State Student Blogging from Costa Rica

WAYNE, Neb. (June 2, 2008) -- You can always count on a Wayne State education to take you places. But can you see yourself outside the country improving your foreign language skills while immersed in another culture? More than a dozen Wayne State students have left for a five-week study abroad trip to Costa Rica. Follow their adventures as they take classes at the Costa Rica Spanish Institute, visit a volcano, tour a coffee plantation and more.

Wayne State College Graduation Ceremonies Held May 3

WAYNE, Neb. (April 23, 2008) -- Wayne State College held commencement for graduate students at 9:30 a.m. and undergraduates at 2 p.m. May 3 in Rice Auditorium. A total of 529 degrees – 211 graduate degrees and 318 undergraduate degrees – were conferred by Wayne State President Richard J. Collings.

Wayne State College Announces Spring 2008 Graduates

WAYNE, Neb. (April 23, 2008) -- This list contains the names of Wayne State College’s spring 2008 graduates. Graduate degrees are listed first, sorted by type of degree ( MBA, MS, MSE, and Education Specialist). Graduates are listed in alphabetical order under the hometown they provided to Wayne State College. All graduates’ majors and concentrations follow their names. Minors appear in italics. The undergraduate list is arranged by type of degree then sorted by hometown. Students graduating with scholarship honors and other honors are listed at the end of this list. The symbol ++ after a name denotes August 2008 degree candidate.

WSC Professor Catherine Rudin Awarded $348,000 Grant
to Preserve Omaha-Ponca Language

WAYNE, Neb. (April 22, 2008) -- Catherine Rudin, professor of languages and literature at Wayne State College, and Mark Awakuni-Swetland, assistant professor of anthropology at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, have been awarded a three-year, $348,800 grant to develop a digital dictionary of the Omaha-Ponca language.

Bruce Babbitt to Deliver Lecture as Part of Thompson Forum Series on April 22

WAYNE, Neb. (April 11, 2008) -- Bruce Babbitt, U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1993 to 2001, will deliver a simulcast lecture at 7 p.m. April 22 in Room 131 of Connell Hall at Wayne State College. The Thompson Forum lecture, which originates from the Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is the final event of the twentieth season of the forum. Babbitt’s lecture is titled “ Nebraska’s Water Future: Feast or Famine?”

Dale Planetarium Show Surveys Spring and Summer Skies

WAYNE, Neb. (April 11, 2008) -- "Surveying Spring and Summer Skies" at Wayne State College’s Fred G. Dale Planetarium will continue until April 27. The show provides an intimate look at the evening skies of spring dominated by the bright planets Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter, as well as numerous interesting star clusters and nebulae.

Earth Day Celebration to Feature the Film, "King Corn"

WAYNE, Neb. (April 11, 2008) -- The Wayne State College Earth Day celebration April 21-23 will feature presentations and panel discussions; a special screening of the documentary film, “King Corn,” hosted by Traci Bruckner of the Center for Rural Affairs; and a cookout, Fun Run, live music, and a Trash Pick-Up for Donuts event.

Wayne State Accelerates Assessment of Student Learning

WAYNE, Neb. (April 3, 2008) -- A seven member team from Wayne State College attended the Academy for Assessment of Student Learning sponsored by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Feb. 20-22, in Lisle, Ill. During the four-year academy commitment, team members will be working in cooperation with HLC mentors and cohort institutions from across the nation to develop a program assessment plan for the new general education program.

Plains Writers Fiesta to Showcase Literature,
Music and Art on April 10

WAYNE, Neb. (March 31, 2008) -- Wayne State College’s School of Arts and Humanities and WSC Press will present the Plains Writers Fiesta on April 10. The fiesta will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Ley Theater on the second floor in the Education Building. The event is free and open to the public.

Wayne State College Student Rachel Leigh Dixon Dies in Automobile Accident

WAYNE, Neb. (March 18, 2008) -- Wayne State College student Rachel Leigh (Simon) Dixon, formerly of Wahoo, died March 17, 2008, as a result of an automobile accident near Norfolk, Nebraska. She was 22.

Wayne State College Service-Learning Projects Hit Record Numbers

WAYNE, Neb. (March 14, 2008) -- Wayne State College service-learning efforts during the past semester involved more than 1,050 student participants in projects from a variety of courses and disciplines. This level of participation is the highest recorded for Wayne State College.

Wayne State Students to Present "The Magical Land of Oz"

for 50th Annual Children's Play

WAYNE, Neb. (March 13, 2008) -- Wayne State College students will continue a theatre tradition on campus by introducing audiences to "The Magical Land of Oz" in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the annual children's play.

Wayne State College Issues Security Alert

UPDATED FEB. 19

WAYNE, Neb. (Feb. 18, 2008) -- Wayne State College personnel on Feb. 17 discovered a possible threat aimed at the college community. College officials, Campus Security, the Wayne Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol have initiated an investigation of the possible threat.

WSC Announces Dean's List

WSC to Host Fourth Annual Language Arts Festival

Wayne State College will host its fourth annual Language Arts Festival on April 11 for students in grades seven through 12. Carol Gorman, award-winning author of numerous books for young people, will be the featured author. The festival is organized by Dr. Janet Gilligan, professor of English at Wayne State.

Wayne State College Holds Winter Commencement Ceremony

Wayne State College held winter commencement Dec. 14 in Rice Auditorium. A total of 193 degrees were conferred by Wayne State President Richard J. Collings.

Campus Memorial Service Announced for Matt Doggett

Wayne State College Tests Emergency Communications Capabilities

WAYNE, Neb. (Dec. 11, 2007) – Wayne State College conducted a test of its emergency paging systems Dec. 4 on the college campus. Wayne State Professor Jason Karsky, Wayne County Emergency Manager Deanna Beckman, and students from Karsky’s emergency planning classes helped plan and conduct the drill.

Sioux Cityan (and Wayne State graduate) will head U.S. nutrition organization
By Bret Hayworth

Sioux City Journal

Nov. 27, 2007

A Sioux City native who's drawn notice for his research into food psychology and mindless movie popcorn eating has been named to head a government nutrition entity.

State of the Nebraska State College System Address to Wayne State College

NSCS Chancellor Stan Carpenter

Nov. 8, 2007

I’m very happy to be here today to deliver the second annual State of the System Address. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Nebraska State College System! We are providing outstanding teaching and learning opportunities; our campus facilities are undergoing much need improvements; and we are partnering even more with businesses and our colleagues in K-12 and higher education.