UNK Today August 24, 2024 A publication about the people, places and events on campus
LARRY SULLIVAN II PHOTOS ,KEARNEY HUB
INSIDE Calendar of campus events ..............................................................................................PAGE 3 New manager of KLPR-FM, combines weirdness and education ..................................PAGE 4 The “Voice of Kearney” ................................................................................................... PAGE 6 A UNK student and teacher ...........................................................................................PAGE 13
UNK fall sports schedule ................................................................................................PAGE 14 Keeper of the trees .........................................................................................................PAGE 15 UNK library plays a lot of roles ......................................................................................PAGE 19 Ask an Antelope................................................................................................................INSIDE
2 | Saturday, August 24, 2024 UNK TODAY A destination for first-generation college students 40% of UNK students are first generation
TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications
KEARNEY — The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a destina- tion for first-generation college students. That’s not just a catchy slogan. It’s a distinction students, faculty and staff take great pride in. UNK was recently recognized as a national leader in advancing first-generation student success, joining 13 other universities from across the country in the inaugural class of FirstGen Forward Network Champions. This exclusive group of higher education institutions is focused on advancing first-generation efforts and contributing to an important knowledge base of ev- idence-based practices, leadership engagement and student support. UNK is the only college or uni- versity in Nebraska to receive this recognition. “UNK has always been a home to first-generation students. Our work with FirstGen Forward for- malized our efforts and our com- mitment to student success. I am proud that UNK has been recog- nized as a Network Champion and that the dedication and hard work of our staff is being acknowledged on a national level,” said George Holman, associate vice chancel- lor for student affairs. An initiative of FirstGen For- ward, formerly the Center for First-generation Student Suc- cess, the network provides a three- phase approach to first-generation student success by engaging and empowering higher education in- stitutions to transform the first- gen student experience, advance academic and co-curricular out- comes and build more inclusive institutional structures. Network Champions receive professional development oppor- tunities, expert guidance and ac- cess to resources and innovation grants. “As a Network Champion, UNK showed a commitment to
Above: The University of Nebraska at Kearney provides a support system and sense of community that allows first-gen students to achieve their academic and professional goals. Right: First-gen status is a badge of honor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where roughly 4 in 10
students can proudly claim this distinction. ERIKA PRITCHARD PHOTOS , UNK COMMUNICATIONS
actively adopt the continuous improvement model and align their efforts with institutional priorities to guide first-gener- ation students to completion,” said Stephanie Bannister, vice president of FirstGen Forward. “Not only is UNK doing excellent work to support their own first- generation students, but they continue to provide support and add to evidence-based practices that serve as a model for all those working to support this popula- tion in higher education.” First-gen status is a badge of honor at UNK, where roughly 4 in 10 students can proudly claim this distinction. The university cel- ebrates their successes each year during the First-Gen Day event
on campus and hosts an annual Cultural Unity Conference that brings high schoolers from differ- ent backgrounds together to learn about leadership, professional de- velopment and higher education. The UNK First Generation Leadership Team supports these students through a comprehen- sive enrollment and success plan, and there are numerous campus resources available, including TRIO Student Support Services, Academic Advising and Career Development, success coach- ing, peer mentoring and tutoring. Students can also participate in the First-Gen Trailblazer Acad- emy, a weeklong “practice run” that prepares incoming Lopers for their first semester on campus
and boosts their confidence as they transition to college. Formed in 2021, the First-Gen Lopers student organization strengthens these connections between students, faculty and staff while increasing the sense of first- gen pride on campus. The group hosts First-Gen Friday Lunches and other events throughout the academic year, providing a social network and support system for first-gen students. “First-generation students at
UNK possess the skills needed to be successful in higher education. The sense of community that has been established through the stu- dent organization, along with the holistic approach to support pro- vided by faculty and staff, make UNK a great place for these stu- dents to tap into their potential and achieve their academic, personal and professional goals,” said Aaron Estes, senior director of the Loper Success Hub and co-chair of the First Generation Leadership Team.
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CAMPUS CALENDAR
AUG. 23 Blue Gold Showcase and Chan- cellor’s Picnic, UNK Campus Greens AUG. 26 Classes begin AUG. 28 Loper Lot Party, Hilltop Mall AUG. 29 Loper Success Hub open house, Calvin T. Ryan Library SEPT. 2 Campus closed for Labor Day SEPT. 3 Screening of “Godzilla” (1954), presented by UNK Film Club, World Theatre SEPT. 4 Presentation by documentary filmmaker Byron Hut, Health & Sports Center SEPT. 4 Ribbon cutting for the new lo- cation of the Loper Pantry, north side of Nebraskan Student Union SEPT. 5 Education Opportunities Fair, Ponderosa Room, Nebraskan Stu- dent Union SEPT. 18 Health Career Fair, Ponderosa Room, Nebraskan Student Union SEPT. 24 2nd Annual Salsa (the food) Con- test & Presentation of Innovative Online Teaching Award, CMCT, sec- ond floor OCT. 4 Fostering Mental Health & Re- silience on College Campuses and in Communities, Ponderosa Room, Nebraskan Student Union OCT. 7 Homecoming Pep Rally, Bell Tower OCT. 8 Homecoming Adventure Race and Smoothie Contest, Bell Tower OCT. 9 Loper Feud, part of Homecom- ing celebration, Ponderosa Room, Nebraskan Student Union
OCT. 9-13 “A Fox on the Fairway,” a play presented by University Theatre at Kearney, Fine Arts Recital Hall OCT. 10 Lip Sync 2024, part of Home- coming celebration, Health and Sports Center OCT. 10 Dedication of renovations at Cal- vin T. Library including the reveal- ing of the building’s artwork OCT. 11 Homecoming Pumpkin Carving Contest, south of Student Union OCT. 12 UNK Homecoming Parade 2024, Downtown Kearney: The Bricks OCT. 15 “All-American Homecoming,” concert by Kearney Symphony Or- chestra, Fine Arts Recital Hall OCT. 17 Fiction writer Ashley Wurzbacher will present as part of the Reyn- olds Visiting Writers Series, Dis- covery Hall OCT. 21-22 Fall Semester Breaking NOV. 13-14 One Day for UNK, an opportu- nity to celebrate and advance the UNK campus NOV. 20-24 “Death Trap,” a play presented by University Theatre at Kearney, Fine Arts Recital Hall NOV. 26 UNK Science Day for high school juniors and seniors, Bruner Hall of Science, Discovery Hall NOV. 27-29 Thanksgiving vacation DEC. 10 “Merry at the Merryman,” con- cert by Kearney Symphony Or- chestra, Merryman Performing Arts Center DEC. 13 Last day of classes
ELDON HOLMES , KEARNEY HUB
UNK takes the field for its homecoming game on Sept. 30, 2023 against Washburn.
LARRY SULLIVAN II , KEARNEY HUB
The Merryman Center for the Performing Arts is located at 225 W. 22nd St. in Kearney. “Merry at the Merryman,” a concert by Kearney Symphony Orchestra, Merryman Performing Arts Center, will be held on Dec. 10.
ERIKA PRITCHARD , UNK COMMUNICATIONS Sherry Morrow’s 1968 Corvair Ultra Van makes regular appearances in the UNK homecoming parade. This year’s parade will be held in downtown Kearney on Oct. 12.
LARRY SULLIVAN II , KEARNEY HUB
Fall classes begin on Aug. 26, with the semester ending on Dec. 13.
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4 | Saturday, August 24, 2024
NOW ON THE AIRWAVES Stephanie Sandlin,
understands how noncom- mercial radio can provide a creative outlet, a broader range of music while still preparing students for a career in media. “In the commercial for- mats, the music on the Bill- board Top 40 gets played a lot,” she said. “But there’s a lot of music out there that’s not getting much airtime. We can touch people and show the relevance of the medium of radio. We can show that art still has a place in noncommercial radio and we can expose au- diences to music and ideas that might be heard mostly on digital platforms.” With a local emphasis. Moving forward, Sandlin expects to find a place in the community for KLPR-FM. “We want to be inclusive of the community,” she said. “We think that would be a good, healthy thing for the community as a whole, to have KLPR be receptive to a lot things in the community and to have our students learn about opportunities to do remote broadcasts from fairs or farmers’ mar- kets. We want to go out and represent the station and be very public while balancing both the campus and the community.”
stands how these two ele- ments can help serve not only the students on cam- pus, but the entire listening area. “That makes for a unique radio station where we can carve out our own niche in the community and have our own unique service,” Sandlin said. Growing up the in the Pa- cific Northwest gave Sand- lin a firm foundation in Americana music. She most recently managed The Trail 88.1 FM at Delta State Uni- versity in Cleveland, Mis- sissippi, a four-year public institution with a student population of 2,700. In Mississippi, Sandlin found fertile ground for her love of the blues — and 78 rpm records. “I like authenticity in mu- sic,” she said. “Music is life, music is a human expres- sion of art. It’s fascinating when you can go back to a type of music before it was a corporate entity, something to make money off of. In the 1920s and 1930s and 1940s, before the music indus- try exists as it does today, there were more authentic expressions of music.” As a young adult, Sandlin gravitated toward the blues. She listened to the music of Robert Johnson as a starting point. “Funny thing, now I’m not a big fan of Robert John- son,” she said. “I’d rather listen to Son House, Skip James, J.D. Short — the cats that are off the grid, but are just as interesting. Getting into those 78 rpm records allows you to touch the his- tory, to touch those artists and to actually feel the era of the music that they lived in.” The recordings made between 1898 and the late 1950s revolved at 78 revo-
a lot of different audiences, provide the best outcomes, honor the alumni that have been part of KLPR for many years and create those edu- cational outcomes that will continue to provide great success for the industry and benefit the commu- nity.” After spending only a short amount of time in Ke- arney, Sandlin made several observations. “People say that if you’re 21 or 22 years old, radio doesn’t mean anything,” she said. “One of the wonderful things about this market — and I’ve only been here for several weeks, so please forgive me — there are radio clusters here in town that have local people doing lo- cal radio. It still serves the population.” Whether it’s broadcasts of weather warnings, local sports or music, the radio community in central Ne- braska works hard to serve its audience. “Here local radio is thriv- ing, it’s active and there is still an industry, along with many opportunities for our students to find success,” Sandlin noted. And while most commer- cial radio stations keep to a very tight play list, Sandlin
RICK BROWN rick@yardlightmedia.com new manager of KLPR-FM, combines weirdness and education
KEARNEY — Weirdness and education — Stephanie Sandlin hopes to combine these two elements on the airwaves at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She arrived on campus about three weeks ago to find the studios of KLPR- FM, 91.1, in need of atten- tion. Renovation of the Cal- vin T. Ryan Library and the Mitchell Broadcast Center had left the sound of the campus radio station in tact, but the construction of the classrooms, offices and stu- dios required Sandlin to im- mediately dig in and prepare for the educational part of KLPR. “I’m a ‘creative brain’ type of person,” she said during an interview in the main broadcast studio of the radio station. “I enjoy shaping the next generation of broadcasters by allowing them to see a little bit dif- ferent aspect of radio. Com- mercial radio is very much about being able to gener- ate advertising and have as much success in the ratings as possible. In educational radio, we can be a little bit weird; we can also educate students and prepare them for the next step in the in- dustry, and teach them what it’s like out there. I like to combine that little bit of weirdness and a whole lot of education.” The instructor under-
RICK BROWN , YARD LIGHT MEDIA “We want to be inclusive of the community,” said Stephanie Sandlin, the new manager of KLPR-FM and new faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Sandlin plans to switch the student radio station to a format of Americana music and to focus on giving students relevant experience in the field of radio broadcasting.
lutions per minute. Made of brittle material, the records easily broke if mishandled. “It’s like dealing with a dish plate that if you look at it wrong, it cracks,” Sandlin said. She owns many boxes of original 78 rpm recordings. “I enjoy the history of these recordings,” Sand- lin said. “I see the blues as an authentic expression of the human experience where you can touch and understand that. Getting to live in the Mississippi Delta, I got to walk my feet in the dirt of some of those same blues artists. It was very special to be able to do that.” As the manager of the student radio station on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus, Sandlin plans to focus on Ameri- cana music. She also plans to bring together students, faculty, former students and broadcast professionals to
form an advisory committee. “We’re going to bring all of them to the table and start talking about how KLPR can serve the various internal publics with our students and how we serve our external publics, which will be the broadcast in- dustry and our community here in Kearney,” she said. “We want to bring a multi- pronged aspect to how we can make the station serve
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UNK TODAY
Saturday, August 24, 2024 | 5
‘We try to tell a story’ Fantasy Drone
Shows to perform at Loper Lot Party
RICK BROWN rick@yardlightmedia.com
KEARNEY — Don Wis- nieski hopes to do more than make pretty pictures in the night sky with the lights from drones. “We try to tell a story,” he said in an interview from his office in Norfolk, where he talked about the company’s next drone show in Kearney. “We’re welcoming students to the community and wel- coming the community to the students. The logos will go up and there will be other things in the night sky.” This new form of enter- tainment has more in com- mon with firework shows, but Wisnieski also sees con- nections with movies — but in 3D. “We can create images in two dimensions, we can do three dimensional images, too,” he said. “Your imagi- nation is your only limita- tion. I come from the world of fireworks. Most drone companies are born out of firework companies because we’re already in the business of aerial entertainment. The customers are asking to add drones to our firework shows.” Wisnieski’s business, Fantasy Drone Shows based in Norfolk, will present a family-friendly drone show as part of Loper Lot Party, 5-9 p.m. Aug. 28 at Hill- top Mall. Admission to the event, open to students and the community, is free. The party will include food trucks, escape rooms, an axe-throwing trailer, miniature golf, bingo, corn-
More than 150 drones will take to the skies near Hilltop Mall during the Loper Lot Party, 5-9 p.m. Aug. 28. Don Wisnieski, owner of Fantasy Drone Shows, considers light shows made my drones as “just the next latest and greatest part of aerial entertainment.” The free event features food, games and activities as a way to welcome students back to Kearney — and introduce community members to students.
“There are no sensors on the drones. We log on to 34 satellites and it’s all driven by flight commands that are communicated to the drones by GPS. They know they need to go to Point A, then go to Point B and when they get to Point B, they may just sit there and do light chases, or they may do part of an ani- mation.” The drones will fly to a height of about 400 feet. A scene might be as large as 200 feet tall by 300 feet wide, giving viewers on the ground a good chance to see the show. Wisnieski likes to start the show about 30
minutes after sundown. “The drones have bright lights, so even with the am- bient light around, you can see the show pretty well,” he said. “In Omaha, we shut down 84th Street and did a show over that. We can’t fly over the top of people and we can’t fly over moving vehicles. If the show is over a busy road, we have to shut down the street. The lights are bright. You can see them even with lights from a park- ing lot.” Wisnieski considers drone shows as “just the next lat- est and greatest part of aerial entertainment.”
PHOTOS COURTESY FANTASY DRONE SHOWS Fantasy Drone Shows based in Norfolk, will present a family-friendly drone show as part of Loper Lot Party, 5-9 p.m. Aug. 28 at Hilltop Mall. Admission to the event, open to students and the community, is free. Read more about the party on PAGE 28.
hole and giant Jenga, Con- nect Four, checkers and Yahtzee, along with other games and activities. Wisnieski plans on using 150 drones during the show. “We might throw in a few extra drones because we have a couple images that require more detail,” he said. “We’re working with pixels in the sky. The more pix- els you have, the better the scene you can make. There will be about 20 different scenes, made by 150 to 180 drones, to create some really cool entertainment options.” The show will include a music track, something Wisnieski calls “an added dimension.” Just managing the batteries takes a lot of planning. Members of Wis- nieski’s staff attended a con- ference presented by Pyro- technics Guild International in Minnesota where a show
was presented with 1,800 drones. “When we start plan- ning a show, we sit down and make up a storyboard because we’re going to tell a story with every show we do,” Wisnieski said. “That helps us dictate how many drones it will take to make the image look good. We can do cool things with 50 drones. Obviously we can do better with 150 of them. The more drones we can use, the crisper and the more detail you can make.” Because the drones move, in addition to emitting col- ored light, the engineers at Fantasy Drone Shows can animate the images in the sky. “We can do about 19,000 different colors,” Wisnieski said. “Each drone has a very bright LED light on the bot- tom that can easily be seen
for six or seven miles. Even the take-off is cool to see. It looks like a swarm of bees leaving the ground, but with lights on them.” Every one of the flight commands gets pro- grammed into the drones. “The drone beside it doesn’t know other drones are there,” Wisnieski said.
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On the fast track Alex Hammeke launches broadcasting career while attending UNK
TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications
KEARNEY — Alex Hammeke was the best male tennis player at Ellinwood Middle School. That’s a nugget he often shares while talking about his athletic background. “There were six of us on the team. One guy. I just ignore the fact that the rest were girls,” he said with a laugh. Hammeke refers to himself as “not athletically gifted.” He didn’t play sports in high school. Instead, he found another way to pursue his passion. “I was not given the smarts of the family. That was given to my sister. I was given my aunt’s in- ability to shut up,” he joked. “And I couldn’t have found a better way to put that to good use.” With a knack for telling sto- ries and connecting with people, Hammeke decided to enter the world of sports communication. The central Kansas native started broadcasting games in high school, first through the NFHS Network, an online plat- form similar to Striv, then as a color commentator for a local radio station. At nearby Barton Community College, where he earned an associate degree in sports management, Hammeke was the full-time voice for the Cougar baseball team. “After my sophomore year of college, I was pretty much con- vinced that sports broadcasting is what I wanted to do,” he ex- plained. Before he could take the next step toward that career, Ham- meke needed to find a school that
ERIKA PRITCHARD PHOTOS , UNK COMMUNICATIONS Alex Hammeke works for NRG Media in central Nebraska as a midday host, afternoon personality and play-by-play announcer. “Basically, if you were to turn on any radio station in town, wait five minutes and you might hear me.”
Honing his skills Clark was a senior lecturer at UNK and general manager of the campus radio station, KLPR 91.1 FM, when Hammeke enrolled in fall 2021. He was excited to have an ac- complished writer and broadcaster and “very cool guy” join the pro- gram. “Alex is a hilarious, hardwork- ing, extremely intelligent per- son. He is also someone I would describe as having an ‘old soul,’”
pus. However, Ford Clark agreed to meet with Hammeke and his father and show them around the Department of Communication. Four days later, following a tour at Oklahoma State University with roughly 60 other students, Ham- meke made his decision. “I wasn’t going to go south. I was going to go north and be a Loper,” he said. “After Ford met with me and showed me what I could do here, I was convinced this was the place to go.”
Clark said. “He is a throwback to a person you might think grew up in my generation. He has a love for AM radio, he loves reading paper versions of newspapers and he can talk to virtually anyone of any age. He also loves to travel and garner knowledge, and he retains knowl- edge like no one I have ever met. “He is truly someone unlike anyone I have ever known.” Obviously, the former UNK fac- ulty member and his advisee im- mediately clicked. Within his first
offered a four-year degree in this field. Naturally, he simply Googled “sports broadcasting majors near me.” “Kearney popped up. Oklahoma State popped up. If I hated both schools, I’d say screw it and just go to Wichita State. They were my fail-safe,” Hammeke said. He visited the University of Nebraska at Kearney on a cold and blustery day in January 2021. It was J term, so very few stu- dents and faculty were on cam-
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Saturday, August 24, 2024 | 7
Alex Hammeke, left, called games for several Loper athletic teams during his time at UNK. He’s pictured with fellow KLPR sports staff member Jon Willis. “The experience that I was able to gain here basically fast-tracked where I am professionally within radio.”
including Faculty Senate and stu- dent government. “If there was breaking news on campus, more than likely I was covering it here on KLPR,” said Hammeke, who also served as a sports writer and news editor for The Antelope student newspaper. He earned awards from the Ne- braska Broadcasters Association and was a national finalist in the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Sys- tem Media Awards competition. “Alex has tremendous skill in everything as it pertains to broad- casting,” said Clark, who recently accepted a faculty position at Briar Cliff University. “He has incred- ible knowledge of the profession and tremendous on-air skill, he is a wonderful interviewer and he is easy to work with. I could go on and on. He will be successful for a long, long time.” Voice of Kearney Dallas Nau agrees. He’s the general manager of NRG Media in central Nebraska, over- seeing three radio stations in Kear- ney and two in Grand Island, plus a news site and other digital assets. Nau calls Hammeke a “do what needs to be done” guy with a great attitude. “Alex is a very talented, person- able, team player who is a joy to work with,” Nau said. “He is very much a utility player, as they say in baseball.” After two years in a part-time
role, Hammeke was offered a full- time position with the media com- pany in December 2023. Currently, he’s a midday host on Hits 106, af- ternoon personality on Y102 and play-by-play announcer on KGFW while also serving as interim sports director for all five NRG stations. “Basically, if you were to turn on any radio station in town, wait five minutes and you might hear me,” Hammeke said with a smile. That’s still pretty hard for him to believe. “If you were to tell me three years ago when I first stepped foot on this campus that I would have a full-time job before getting a di- ploma, I think I’d slap you and call you crazy,” he said. Hammeke’s “wild ride” at UNK came to an end last week, when he graduated honorable mention with a bachelor’s degree in sports com- munication and a minor in sound recording technology. He repre- sented the College of Arts and Sci- ences as a gonfalonier during the commencement ceremony. Nau and Clark both believe he has the passion and skills to do whatever he wants in the industry, and everyone is thankful that the former middle school tennis player ended up on the radio in Kearney. “I’m really happy where I am right now,” Hammeke said. “I couldn’t have found a better com- munity than Kearney to start off in. I don’t really think I want to go anyplace else.”
Alex Hammeke graduated from UNK last week with a bachelor’s degree in sports communication. “If you were to tell me three years ago when I first stepped foot on this campus that I would have a full-time job before getting a diploma, I think I’d slap you and call you crazy.”
semester on campus, Hammeke was calling UNK Athletics events for KLPR. He was also hired by NRG Media as a board operator and color commentator for Kear- ney High School football games. “The experience that I was able to gain here basically fast-tracked where I am professionally within radio,” Hammeke said. “Being in a smaller environment where I was able to hone my skills and get that hands-on experience really accel- erated my career.” Hammeke was part of the KLPR where I was able to hone my skills and get that hands-on experience really accelerated my career.” Alex Hammeke “The experience that I was able to gain here basically fast- tracked where I am professionally within radio. Being in a smaller environment
Alex Hammeke works with future broadcasters in the KLPR radio studio during a Loper Launch Enrichment Camp at UNK.
on the athletics side, Hammeke served as the KLPR news direc- tor for two years and music direc- tor for one year. He launched and hosted programs such as “KLPR Daybreak,” a morning news show; “Mitchell Center Live,” a weekly talk show featuring prominent alumni, NU and UNK administra- tors and other guests; and “Final Thoughts with Hammer,” a news editorial that allowed him to share his opinions. On top of all that, he covered a variety of campus news and events,
sports staff throughout his time at UNK, co-hosting the weekly “Throwin’ Lopes” talk show and calling games for several UNK teams. One of his favorite moments was the historic Volleyball Day in Nebraska, when 92,003 people packed Memorial Stadium in Lin- coln to watch matches featuring the Lopers, Huskers, Wayne State College and University of Nebraska at Omaha, setting a record for the most-attended women’s sports event ever. Along with his involvement
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KEEPING YOU INFORMED The Antelope Newspaper brings news, features, opinions to students “We publish every week on Wednesday, minus a few weeks, throughout the
decisions about the stories they cover — and the ones they are not covering. They often come in and talk to me about those stories as they make their decisions. My job title is very descriptive; I give them my advice and they make their calls on what stories to run.” Breeding empathizes that The Antelope is under the control of the students. “When a staff member comes into my office and asks, ‘What should I do with this story?,’ I al- ways say, ‘I’m not going to tell you what to do. Tell me your problem and we’ll talk about it.’” The opportunity to contribute to The Antelope gives students a larger purpose to their academic experience. “That just intensifies and en- riches their education they re- ceive here at UNK,” Breeding said. “They’re often involved in fun things, but sometimes they’re in- volved in controversial stuff. Those kinds of experiences prepare them for the world, whether they are go- ing into some kind of media envi- ronment or whether they end up in some other career.” Breeding considers working on the staff of The Antelope as a valuable learning experience for students. “As we learn, we deal with controversial stuff,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what business you’re in. You have to make hard decisions. Students get practice in doing that in this environment. It’s a great experience for them. They learn a lot about the insti- tution they are involved with and I think that’s an important thing, whatever you’re doing in life. It’s good prep for life.” semester. It’s about 10 issues each semester.” Jenna Heinz, editor in chief
RICK BROWN rick@yardlightmedia.com
KEARNEY — With a goal of bringing news to students, Jenna Heinz understands the value of a student newspaper. “With social media, it’s a little easier to keep ‘in the know’ about what is happening,” said the edi- tor in chief. “But not everything is always covered on social media. So it’s our goal at The Antelope to bring the news to students.” For more than 110 years, The Antelope has published a weekly newspaper. Heinz expects about 30 students will contribute to the newspaper during the school year. “We publish every week on Wednesday, minus a few weeks, throughout the semester,” she said. “It’s about 10 issues each se- mester.” Staff members cover important news, highlight events on campus, create opinion pieces, review mov- ies and keep readers up to date on sports. “Construction seems to be an important topic because there’s always some kind of building hap- pening on campus,” Heinz said. “We also like to look for things that aren’t being covered anywhere else. We always publish an edito- rial, which is our staff’s opinion on a topic.” With a circulation of 1,200, The Antelope can be found in many locations on campus and at about 10 other places in the community. Home delivery, via U.S.P.S. mail, is available for $30 per year. Josie McCormick handles the web duties. “My job is to take all of the ar- ticles that were published in the week’s paper and post them onto the website with their respective categories, whether it is news, sports or entertainment,” she said.
RICK BROWN , YARD LIGHT MEDIA Jenna Heinz, editor in chief (left), and webmaster Josie McCormick take a break from their duties as staff members on The Antelope to reflect on the purpose of the student newspaper at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. “I really enjoy being part of The Antelope,” Heinz said. “Everyone on the team makes it such a fun process and they have really made my experience at UNK so great.” The newspaper publishes 10 issues each semester with a circulation of about 1,200.
The Antelope website describes part of the process for creating each issue: “Students in the De- partment of Communication and College of Fine Arts and Humani- ties produce the print edition on Mondays from ads, stories, graphic art, photography, audio and video submitted over the weekend under supervision of the Editor in Chief of The Antelope, then published online.” A weekly staff meeting gives the writers and editors a chance to look at possible story ideas. “We just throw them in a pile and go from there,” Heinz said. On Tuesday evenings, The Grand Island Independent prints the student newspaper from com- puter files prepared by the student staff members. Readers can find content from The Antelope on X, Instagram, Facebook and a channel on You- Tube.
“I also like to publish our ‘Loper Speaks’ videos that appear on the YouTube channel we have, and all the other YouTube videos that ap- pear on there so they can get more views.” McCormick also posts other ar- ticles that might not have made it into the weekly printed version. “Every now and then we will have an article that will have an update,” she said. “I’ll post some- thing like, ‘Stay tuned for the con- tinuation of this article,’ and then later on in the week, when we have the rest of the article, we will post it.” Readers can comment on the stories posted on The Antelope website, UNKAntelope.com. “There are a few steps needed to verify your email address which makes it easier for me to publish your comment on the website for everybody to see,” McCormick said.
“Reaching more young people is definitely an advantage,” Mc- Cormick said. “Facebook helps for reaching some older audiences because they like Facebook while younger readers like Instagram.” For Heinz, working on a team makes her experience at newspa- per so valuable. “I really enjoy being part of The Antelope,” she said. “Everyone on the team makes it such a fun process and they have really made my experience at UNK so great. I really care a lot about them and I see how their experiences at The Antelope is going to help them in their future endeavors, no matter what they do.” Rob Breeding, senior lecturer in the Department of Communi- cation, advises the students staff members. “I help them do their job,” he said. “They set the editorial agenda for the newspaper. They make the
UNK TODAY
Saturday, August 24, 2024 | 9
All work and all play UNK program prepares students for careers in parks and recreation
Learning by doing Hands-on, experiential learn- ing is a major focus within the program. Every student completes an in- ternship before graduation at such places as Kearney Park and Rec- reation, Kearney Family YMCA, Tri-City Storm hockey and Ne- braska Game and Parks. They can also work for athletic departments, sports teams, state and national parks and recre- ational facilities throughout the Midwest and across the country. “There are so many different options,” Silverman said. “We en- courage students to spread their wings and branch out if they can.” On campus, students can assist in sales, marketing, social media, event planning and facilities man- agement with UNK Athletics, and some classes include experiential learning components. Last semester, students planned and hosted a Family Getaway at The Archway event featuring food trucks and family activities. They organized a fundraiser for youth scholarships at Kearney Combat Sports. Coniglio, who is managing Miller Pool in Omaha this sum- mer, really enjoys these hands-on experiences. “Most of my classes don’t even feel like I’m actually going to class,” she said with a smile.
TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications
KEARNEY — Clare Coniglio’s first job was at Hitchcock Pool in her hometown of Omaha. She started working there at age 15, unknowingly taking the first step toward a professional career. As she moved up the ranks within Omaha Parks and Recre- ation, Coniglio began thinking more and more about her long- term plans. “There are people who actually make a living running summer programs and pools,” she real- ized. “It really interested me to not have a desk job and to be active and make a difference in that way.” A junior at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Coniglio is among the 80-plus undergradu- ate students enrolled in the sport and recreation management pro- gram. Part of the Department of Ki- nesiology and Sport Sciences, this recently revamped program offers options for students interested in careers related to athletics and recreational and outdoor activi- ties. “A lot of the
ERIKA PRITCHARD , UNK COMMUNICATIONS Clare Coniglio wants to work as a municipal parks and recreation director so she can share her active, outdoorsy lifestyle with others.
skills that it takes to succeed in these careers are the same — market- ing, management and finance, to name a few — and many of the core
classes already overlapped,” said Rachel Silverman, an assistant professor and program coordina- tor. “We were able to merge sport and recreation management into a single program that continues to serve the needs of our students
and their future employers,” she added. The new sport and recreation management program includes two bachelor’s degree options. Students can pursue a compre- hensive degree and choose one of three emphasis areas: manage-
ment, sport media or recreation. There are also sport manage- ment, recreation management and event management minors, as well as a sport and recreation management major that allows students to select a minor from outside the program.
Silverman
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UNK TODAY
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UNK hosts exhibit on health research
KEARNEY — The University of Nebraska at Kearney will serve as the next stop for the National In- stitutes of Health’s All of Us Jour- ney, a traveling exhibit designed to accelerate health research and medical advancements. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 27- 30, the All of Us Journey will be stationed at the north end of Lot 13 on the UNK campus, west of the Memorial Student Affairs Building at 2510 11th Ave. This hands-on, interactive
medications. The mobile exhibit offers an ar- ray of features, including: An augmented reality expe- rience Private rooms for physical measurements and bio sample collection An interactive station where participants can share their mo- tivations for joining the program By gathering health and life- style information from a diverse group of 1 million volunteers, the
program aims to build a compre- hensive research resource. This resource will inform thousands of studies on a wide variety of health conditions, potentially leading to breakthroughs that could benefit future generations. Unlike other research stud- ies that may focus on a specific disease or demographic, All of Us is open to all individuals, re- gardless of their health status or background. The program’s in- clusive approach is designed to
uncover insights that could im- prove health outcomes across all communities. The All of Us Journey tour is a key component of the program’s outreach efforts, engaging com- munities across the country and raising awareness through edu- cational activities and experi- ences. To learn more about the All of Us Research Program and get involved visit JoinAllofUs.org/ drive.
exhibit features activities, vid- eos, games, quizzes and more. It gives attendees the chance to join the All of Us Research Pro- gram, where they can also pro- vide physical measurements and blood and urine samples. For those who contribute bio samples, such as blood or saliva, the program offers the option to learn about their genetic ances- try, their susceptibility to certain hereditary diseases and how their body may respond to various
Program From 9
“You don’t really see many classes where you can pad- dleboard for three credits. Everything in this program is a lot more fun.” Building a network In addition to her sum- mer job, Coniglio works as a facility attendant for UNK Campus Recreation during the school year. She also serves as presi- dent of the SpRec Club, a student organization within the sport and recreation management program. The club hosts social events for members throughout the year and raises money for trips to regional and na- tional conferences. UNK students recently attended the Kansas Sports Summit in Wichita and a Campus Rec and Wellness Expo hosted by NIRSA (for- merly the National Intra- mural-Recreational Sports Association) in Phoenix, Arizona. They’re hoping to go to the Sport and Recre- ation Law Association an- nual conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, next spring. Those events, along with others organized by NIRSA
ERIKA PRITCHARD , UNK COMMUNICATIONS UNK sport and recreation management students can assist in sales, marketing, social media, event planning and facilities management with UNK Athletics.
RYO SUZUKI , UNK COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY UNK students were part of the event management and operations team for last year’s historic Volleyball Day in Nebraska event at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
set on a career as a munici- pal parks and recreation director, a position that would allow her to share her active, outdoorsy life- style with others.
“Life is not fun if you don’t have your leisure time and your recreation time,” she said. “All work and no play is not a life to live at all.”
Key accreditation Eventually, Silverman would like to see the UNK program earn accredita- tion from the Commission on Sport Management Ac- creditation, a worldwide organization that recog- nizes excellence in sport management education. UNK would be the only college or university in Nebraska with that recog- nition, which comes with additional opportunities for research grants, schol- arships and other resources for students. “That would really help our program grow,” said Sil-
and the Nebraska Recre- ation and Park Associa- tion, give students a chance to present their research, network with profession- als and discover internship and job opportunities. “Recreation is a lot of events and it’s a lot of com- munication. It’s really who you know, not what you know, so it’s important to have those meaningful conversations,” said Co- niglio. She already has an in- ternship with the Nebraska Recreation and Park Asso- ciation lined up for next year.
verman, who serves on the COSMA Board of Directors. Coniglio has her sights
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UNK TODAY
Saturday, August 24, 2024 | 11
UNK students discover Italy
TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications
MILAN — It wasn’t Lau- ren Morrow’s first time traveling abroad. The University of Ne- braska at Kearney senior has spent time at all-inclu- sive resorts in the Bahamas and Cancún, Mexico. Those family vacations are fun, but you don’t get to truly experience the culture, she noted. Morrow was looking for a chance to really explore a foreign country and dive deeper into its history, cui- sine and customs. That’s why she signed up for a study abroad trip to Milan, Italy. A psychobiology major in the pre-physician assis- tant program, Morrow, her younger sister Elizabeth and six other UNK students re- cently traveled to the fash- ion and design capital of the world for a three-week ex- perience that they’ll never forget. Morrow called it an “eye- opening” opportunity. “Everyone should expe- rience something like this,” the Grand Island native said. A partnership with the University Institute of Modern Languages (IULM), which focuses on workforce development and cultural preparation, the annual summer program is open to UNK undergraduate stu- dents from any academic area. Participants stayed at a nearby college and took classes at IULM covering topics such as Italian his- tory, language and religion, architecture, fashion and design, and food and wine. “Pretty much every as- pect of Italian culture is incorporated into the three-week program,” said
COURTESY UNK associate professor Rebecca Nelson recently led a three-week study abroad trip to Italy. “We really want students to get outside of their comfort zones, because that’s where the growth really happens,” she said. “By opening their eyes to these experiences, they gain a better understanding of people and the world we live in.”
UNK associate professor of teacher education Rebecca Nelson, who led the trip. Of course, these lessons included plenty of hands- on learning and sightseeing. In Milan, the students visited the Duomo di Mi- lano, a centuries-old cathe- dral and the largest church in Italy, as well as the Santa Maria delle Grazie, a church, convent and World Heritage site where Leonardo da Vin- ci’s “The Last Supper” mu- ral is displayed. They also toured local fashion houses and museums and checked out restaurants and shops in Chinatown, the Navigli ca- nal district and other areas of the city.
“The entire city center is a really neat atmosphere to be in, just to see all the differ- ent people and hear all the different languages that are spoken,” Nelson said. “It’s an experience unlike any that you would ever get here in the United States because of how old those buildings are compared to the U.S.” That history was a high- light for Morrow. “I really liked just walk- ing around and seeing the architecture,” she said. “I think that was really cool because we don’t necessar- ily have that in America. We tend to tear stuff down and build new, where they try to preserve that history.”
“These are the things that you don’t get to see when you’re at a resort,” Morrow added. “You don’t get to see the houses. You don’t get to
see the stores or the beauti- ful streets. You don’t get to see the historical stuff.” Along with Milan, the study abroad trip included
weekend excursions to Rome and Florence. The Vatican, Roman Forum,
Please see ITALY, Page 12
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UNK TODAY
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UNK students participate in a cooking class during a recent study abroad trip to Italy. COURTESYPHOTOS
UNK students capture the beauty of Italy during a recent study abroad trip.
laugh. “I had no idea they ate dinner so late. I’m like a 5, 5:30 dinner kind of person, so waiting until later, I’m like, ‘OK, I am starving.’” These cultural differ- ences are another part of the learning process. “We really want students to get outside of their com- fort zones, because that’s where the growth really happens,” Nelson said. “By opening their eyes to these experiences, they gain a “It’s an experience unlike any that you would ever get here in the United States because of how old those buildings are compared to the U.S.” Rebecca Nelson, UNK associate professor
better understanding of people and the world we live in. And their own per- spectives can shift based on those experiences.” Nelson hopes this trip in- spires participants to pur- sue even more international travel moving forward, and she already has a spokes- person spreading the word to fellow Lopers. Carnahan plans to pitch the opportu- nity to all her friends. “I feel like other stu- dents should study abroad just to experience some- thing different,” Carnahan said. “Our daily life here in Nebraska can start to feel the same. We see the same sorts of people every day. But when you travel abroad, you get to interact with and meet these really amaz- ing people. You can intake those experiences and bring them back here, and it really opens your mind up to new possibilities.”
Italy From 11
Colosseum, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Palazzo Pitti, a late 15th century palace that houses several important muse- ums, were among the fea- tured stops. Laura Carnahan, a UNK sophomore from La Vista, shares Morrow’s reason- ing for choosing this study abroad program. “I wanted to go experi- ence a different culture and really immerse myself in it,” she said. “It was very inter- esting to see how people live their lives over there.” Plus, Carnahan is study- ing visual communication and design with a minor in marketing/management, so she learned things that apply directly to her future career. “It was very eye-opening to see that design has mul- tiple definitions depend- ing on where you are in the world,” Carnahan said. “As a graphic designer, I can draw inspiration from this experience and put that
The Colosseum in Rome was among the many stops during a recent UNK study abroad trip to Italy.
into my work.” One of her favorite parts of the trip was visiting Lake Como, a picturesque area in the foothills of the Alps, and the small village of Varenna, which is known for its el- egant villas and botanical gardens. “That was probably the most beautiful area that I was in the whole time we were there, because the flowers were all in bloom,” she said. “It was such a cozy town.”
Carnahan and Morrow both discovered some sur- prising things about the Italian people during their three weeks in the country. Mainly, their personalities are much more laid-back compared to Americans and they’re definitely not early risers. Classes didn’t start until 10 a.m., lunch was around 2 or 3 p.m. and dinner isn’t served until 9 or 10 p.m. “That really threw me for a loop,” Morrow said with a
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