Dr. Ray Kelton, Longtime Music Professor, Dies Nov. 28

Raymond H. Kelton died Nov. 28, 2008, at home in Austin, Texas, surrounded by his family. He was 88. Dr. Kelton was born Aug. 7, 1920, in Tucson, Ariz., to Frank and Eleanor (Harrison) Kelton.  He graduated from Tucson High School and the University of Arizona with Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees.  He received a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Texas.

Art Professor Marlene Mueller to Exhibit Works at
Museum of Nebraska Art

WAYNE, Neb. (Sept. 26, 2008) -- Wayne State College Professor of Art Marlene Mueller will have her first solo exhibition at the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) from Oct. 18 to Jan. 4. The exhibit is the first full-scale showing of her complete fire drawing series.

Wayne State College in U.S. News & World Report 2009 College Rankings

Wayne State defines its mission as learning excellence, student success and regional service. The college’s students, faculty and staff measure themselves against these ideals each day in the classroom, at conferences and in laboratories, in the community, at work, and in many levels of athletics. The 2009 college rankings by U.S. News & World Report aim to quantify certain aspects of colleges’ success as well. An examination of the data presented in the annual survey reveals several key categories in which Wayne State continues to live up to the ideals of its mission.

State College System Tour to Help Students and Parents

Wayne State College will participate in the official 2008 Nebraska State College System Tour at various locations in September.

Students and parents are welcome to take part in a 90-minute program about the college search process. Additional sessions will be hosted to assist guidance counselors, transfer advisors and TRIO staff when aiding students and their parents with the college search process.

The tour program will include scholarship information, important deadlines, literature, prizes and more. Separate sessions are designed for students, parents and counselors. Complimentary refreshments and meals are served. Please call ahead to reserve a seat for the program.

Wayne State and the Nebraska State College System Sponsor College Application Week

Wayne State College and fellow Nebraska State College System institutions Chadron State and Peru State want to ensure that Nebraska is doing everything it can to help students earn a college degree. Applying to college is the first step.

To take this first step, the Nebraska State College System will be sponsoring the inaugural NSCS College Application Week, Oct. 27-31. Across the state, the NSCS will help high school seniors apply to at least one of the three state colleges: Chadron, Peru or Wayne State.  The application fee will be waived for students applying during this week.

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 Professor Todd Young Receives Teaching Excellence Award from Nebraska State College System

Dr. Todd Young, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Wayne State College, has been named as the recipient of the Rebensdorf Teaching Excellence Award from the Nebraska State College System. Dr. Young excels in the classroom, his profession and in the community.

Wayne State Presents Alumni Achievement Award
to Dr. Terri Monk

Dr. Terri Monk, a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., was presented with this year’s Alumni Achievement Award at Wayne State College’s spring graduation on May 3. Dr. Monk delivered the commencement address at the baccalaureate ceremony.

Wayne State College Graduation Ceremonies Held on May 3

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

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.

Brian Wansink, Class of 1982, Named ABC News

"Person of the Week"

Brian Wansink, who was recently appointed executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, was named "Person of the Week" in a segment on New Year's resolutions regarding eating. The story features interactive nutrition guides and a video interview.

Health, Human Performance and Sports Honors Three Students

The Department of Health, Human Performance, and Sports (HHPS) at Wayne State College selected Connor Bramlet of West Point, Michaela Hegarty of Fremont and Nick Jarosh of Ankeny, Iowa, as "Major of the Year'' award winners this fall semester. The Nebraska Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance honored the three for excellence in physical education, exercise science and sport management during its 110-year gala celebration Oct. 27 in Lincoln.

WSC Honors Students Among Nation’s Best

Wayne State College honors students Leann Bolte and Ashley Villarreal presented the results of their honors projects at the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) convention Oct. 31-Nov. 4 in Denver. Bolte and Villarreal were the only Nebraska students invited to present at this year’s conference.