Here is a look at the most-read stories of 2015 posted by the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s communications and news team.
This is not a subjective list of the top UNK news of the year, although many of these stories fit that label. Instead, this is a snapshot of the stories that you, the reader, clicked on the most when visiting the UNK News website.
Health Science Ed Complex offers increased space, technology
Cutting-edge technology. Increased space. Distinct architecture.
Modern classrooms with better functionality.
The new University of Nebraska Medical Center – University of Nebraska at Kearney Health Science Education Complex has it all, and more.
“If you went into a store and could select everything you need as clinical educators bang, bang, bang – we were able to do that and more for this building,” said Mary Ann Mertz, interim assistant dean for the College of Nursing – Kearney division. “It’s a tremendous modern facility with every tool imaginable for student success.”
The new $19 million building on the UNK campus will host its grand opening, ribbon cutting and public tours at 11:15 a.m. Aug. 20.
UNK adds 40 bicycles on campus for new bike share program
Getting around just got easier for University of Nebraska at Kearney students.
UNK this week launched a bike share program that includes 40 bicycles and 80 parking stations located at six locations on campus: West Center, College of Education building, Wellness Center, Calvin T. Ryan Library, Nebraskan Student Union and Centennial Towers.
Ethan Moore overcomes poverty, abuse to help others
Ethan Moore is proof that light can emerge from darkness.
Moore, who will graduate Friday with a bachelor’s degree in social work, grew up in poverty with his brother, Michael, and their alcoholic, drug addicted, mentally ill mother.
“I knew right away when I went to college that I wanted to study social work,” said Moore, 23, who grew up in Oxford and Holdrege. “I wanted to make sure the stuff that happened to me as a kid wouldn’t happen to other kids.”
New arena seating tops list of $1.5 million in facility work for UNK athletics
Installation of new chair back seating at UNK’s Health and Sports Center highlights major facility upgrades that continue across the Loper athletic department.
The project will transform the 25-year-old University of Nebraska at Kearney sports arena into a modern, fan-friendly venue that rivals the top NCAA Division II basketball and volleyball facilities, said Director of Athletics Paul Plinske.
UNK aims to ‘Make a Difference’ with new marketing campaign
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is full of difference makers, says Kyle Means.
“We turn ideas into action. We produce results to be proud of. We are innovative: it’s not enough just to complete a job, we strive to do it better,” says UNK’s marketing director in sharing one of the university’s new branding statements.
Call it the UNK difference.
Cyber Security students draw attention of Dept. of Defense
When Angela Hollman answered her phone March 19 she was in for a surprise.
The defense department has been watching her collegiate team of six that recently won the North Central Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition and qualified for the national stage in San Antonio April 24-26.
The defense department told Hollman they want to recruit the University of Nebraska at Kearney students. All of them.
Timeflies headlines April 9 concert
One of the top electronic dance music acts on tour is bringing its show to the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Timeflies – named by Billboard as one of the top artists to watch in 2013 – will perform at 7 p.m. April 9 at UNK’s Health and Sports Center.
Regents’ approval propels first University Village project
Following approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, projects at UNK’s University Village are now moving forward.
The first construction project is the new replacement building for University Heights residences.
The board on April 10 approved the program statement and bonds for a three-story, $16 million, 130-bed residence hall that replaces University Heights Apartments, a 1960 structure north of campus for married students.
Adam Jensen picked for NASA exoplanet project
NK faculty member Adam Jensen is among a group of earth science, planetary science, heliophysics and astrophysics experts selected by NASA for an unprecedented initiative dedicated to the search for life on planets outside our solar system.
The Nexus for Exoplanet System Science, or NExSS, hopes to better understand the various components of an exoplanet, as well as how the planet stars and neighbor planets interact to support life.
Marching band headed to Norway for parade performances
Duane Bierman says it is a parade day like no other.
So when UNK’s Pride of the Plains marching band was invited to perform in Sandefjord, Norway, in the town’s National Day parades, the decision was easy.
“Yes. The answer was pretty automatic,” said Bierman, director of bands at University of Nebraska at Kearney. “It was an easy invitation to accept because it’s such a great opportunity for our students.”
The UNK marching band will take 37 members – and a total traveling party of 44 – to Norway May 13-19.
Tom Kropp announces retirement after 39th season at UNK
Loper legend Tom Kropp announced his retirement today, and in typical fashion, did not want any attention.
No news conference, no party, no farewell videos set to music. Just a news release, that his last day as men’s basketball co-head coach is June 30.
A Nebraska athletic legend, Kropp recently completed his 39th season with University of Nebraska at Kearney basketball and finishes his head coaching career with a 482-245 record, covering 25 seasons (1990-15).
Doc Stevenson leaves $2.75 million legacy gift to UNK
The estate of the late B.M. “Doc” Stevenson, a longtime Kearney physician, civic leader and philanthropist, has bequeathed $2.75 million to the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Stevenson died in Kearney on March 2, 2014, at age 87. While not a graduate of the University of Nebraska, he was a fixture on the sidelines at Loper football games for 30 years and was the volunteer team physician from 1960 until his retirement after the 1990 season. As the first team doctor, along with Kearney physician L.R. Smith, Stevenson rarely missed a UNK football game.
Aviation program unveils new flight simulator
The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s new flight simulator offers advanced flying experience in a safe learning environment.
The Aviation Systems Management Program recently purchased a $130,000 state-of-the-art motion-based Redbird Flight Simulations unit. The simulator features a realistic view from the cockpit and dual controls that allow an instructor or co-pilot to perform maneuvers.
Terry Gibbs, director of Aviation Systems Management, said the new simulator allows instructors to teach advanced training techniques to equip students with hands-on experience. He added that the airline industry is facing a huge demand for pilots, and UNK is helping to train professional pilots.
UNK, UNMC Health Science building grand opening Aug. 20
Health science education and health care delivery for central and western Nebraska enters a new era on Aug. 20 when doors to the Health Science Education Complex open officially.
A public ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house beginning 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, culminates nearly three years of planning and activity to bring the new $19 million Health Science building to reality on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. All are welcome. Following the 20-minute ceremony, tours and refreshments will be offered until 2:30 p.m.
The partnership between University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska at Kearney is itself groundbreaking, chancellors Jeffrey Gold and Douglas Kristensen said
Perez-Zamarripa to present research on Capitol Hill
University of Nebraska at Kearney student Stefani Perez-Zamarripa has been selected to present her research at the prestigious Posters on the Hill conference, sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research.
A junior political science major From Lexington, Perez-Zamarripa will present her work “Home is Where the Social Capital Is: An Analysis of Post-emigration Community Ties,” to members of Congress and Capitol Hill staff April 22-23.
‘Nebraska-Centric’ Economics: Passion for home state brings Dority back to Kearney
Bree Dority was a college sophomore when she realized a class was speaking to her way of thinking.
That class, introductory economics, often is dreaded by business majors. Marketing, accounting or finance seem more “real world.” Economics has a reputation as being the “dismal science,” dreary and boring.
But Dority clearly remembers her epiphany during principles of microeconomics that “this is exactly how I think about making choices. This makes so much sense to me.”
BEST OF THE REST
Zombies, vampires find their way to UNK classroom
Wyatt Schake, Taylor Kittle named UNK Homecoming royalty
UNK 11th in U.S. News and World Report Midwest public university rankings
Lambda Theta Nu, first multicultural sorority at UNK, celebrates 10 years on campus
Longtime law enforcement expert Jim Davis new UNK police director
