鈥淚 nearly screamed,鈥� Narick said.

Narick鈥檚 graduate concentration is on protest literature and how literature can act as a protest, using Gothic archetypes as another point of interest.

She’s planning to become a professor herself through this program.

To assist with her career goal, Narick will coach the university鈥檚 speech team before becoming a teaching assistant in her last two years of the program.

She said she couldn鈥檛 have gotten this far alone.

鈥淢ost of my credit has to go to the Department of Languages and Literatures,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur staff is incredibly intuitive, and have a genuine care and concern for students鈥� futures.鈥�

Narick went on to praise departments around campus, how they assisted with anything and everything she has done in her time at 糖心传媒, and how the professors prioritize their connection with students.

While undergraduate programming has pushed Narick above and beyond, she is now ready to give back. 鈥淚 want to prioritize making English a passionate and intricate experience for undergraduates, the same way 糖心传媒 did for me,鈥� she said.

Narick had been a heavy hitter in forensics (speech) throughout her time at Hastings, having placed 6th in poetry interpretation at the national level of forensics in the 2024-25 school year. With her achievements in hand, and confidence up, she decided her senior year should be more in tune with her future needs and wants. Despite her love for the team, she stepped away.

By slowly pulling away from one of her biggest commitments, Narick was able to focus on editing and revising for both her graduate applications and her coursework. She focused more deeply on her studies, determined to make her final year at 糖心传媒 her strongest.

Stepping back from forensics also allowed her to run for and win the position of president of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honors society at 糖心传媒. This allowed her to further build her support system and be in charge, while still working in a team setting.

Narick has proven herself time and time again, pushing past her greatest struggles and succeeding. 鈥淲hen I started the application process for grad programs, it was grueling, and easy to feel like I wasn鈥檛 knowledgeable enough.鈥�

She encourages everyone to keep going, especially when things seem hard or scary. 鈥淚f you need help, reach out to a professor or your peers,” she said.

鈥淏ri is a community builder,鈥� said Dr. Eleanor Reeds, associate professor of English and Narick鈥檚 course advisor. 鈥淏ecoming president of our English honors society merely cemented her role as a leader within the department. She demonstrates a voracious intellectual curiosity and a constant desire to challenge herself, which inspires both peers and faculty. Her potential to contribute to academia is astounding, yet I am sure she will continue to adapt and grow.鈥�

By Caspian Weeden, an English major from Pueblo, Colorado.

After attending the conference last year, Bultman and several of her classmates decided to enter works in the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) 2026 Juried Student Exhibition, held March 25-28 in Detroit.

The exhibition was highly competitive, with nearly 800 entries. Bultman鈥檚 ceramic vessel was one of just 44 pieces selected for the show.

鈥淭he conference provides an opportunity to develop professional contacts and improve practices in the ceramic arts,鈥� said 糖心传媒 ceramics instructor Jerome Dubas 鈥�83, adding that the undergraduate juried student exhibition is at the core of what makes NCECA so special.

Bultman, who lives in Hastings, created the piece as one of eight pieces designed for her senior capstone.

鈥溾�楯adis鈥� is the name of the White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia,鈥� Bultman said, as she found herself examining intersections between her Dutch heritage and her interest in children鈥檚 literature.

The piece is created in the style of Dutch Delftware, as a tribute to Bultman鈥檚 grandmother and their family, who originated from Holland.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been attracted to the blue and white glazing style and thought that might be something interesting for me to explore,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y grandma is one of the strongest women I know and I wanted to explore Girl Power, femininity and gender studies.鈥�

Majoring in both studio art with an emphasis in ceramics and English with an emphasis in writing, Bultman searched for a way to tie both of her capstones together.

In studying children鈥檚 literature and looking at different themes and structures, Bultman noticed that lots of female characters are cast as villainous or as evil, which she found to be an interesting power dynamic.

鈥淛adis is cast as the villain, and I think it鈥檚 because people are scared of women in power,鈥� she said.

The design on the vase contains several hidden gems, including references to Jadis turning people and animals into stone as she invokes fear in her subjects to maintain her authority.

Bultman designed eight vessels, featuring eight women from different stories and folklore.

鈥淏esides displaying technical skill, Anna鈥榮 work shows the influence of a liberal arts education,鈥� Dubas said. 鈥淭he surface design of her work reflects her cultural heritage, as well as her studies in the literary arts.鈥�

Dubas will accompany 13 students to Detroit this year, where the show鈥檚 jury includes both ceramic artist Eva Kwong and Gary Garrido Schneider, who is the executive director of Grounds for Sculpture.

More than 5,000 students, artists and lovers of ceramics are expected to attend the conference and exhibition, which will feature artworks from undergraduate, post-baccalaureate and graduate students in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The student exhibition will run concurrently with 鈥淰olumes,鈥� the 60th annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.

Being accepted into NCECA鈥檚 Juried Student Exhibition is a major accomplishment, Dubas said.

鈥淎nna having a piece in the show is a tribute to her, the ceramics program at 糖心传媒, the 糖心传媒 Art Department and 糖心传媒 at large,鈥� he said.

By Laurie Cicotello 鈥�94/MAT 鈥�01

In 1965, Ethel (Decker) Huxtable, wrote a letter to 糖心传媒 President Dr. Theron Maxon, full of fond reminiscences and praise for her alma mater鈥檚 enduring role in her life. Although her path had taken her and her husband, Howard, to sunny California for decades following her 1915 graduation, the couple remained forever connected to their beloved college on the Nebraska plains.

Ethel Decker and Howard Huxtable spent many of their formative years in Hastings, and both graduated from Hastings High School before enrolling at 糖心传媒. There, Ethel pursued a B.S. in English, and Howard worked toward a degree in economics. Following the end of his sophomore year, Howard followed his family to California, and completed his degree at Stanford University, graduating in 1915.

Ethel remained at 糖心传媒, completing her own degree in 1915. Years later, she recalled her final day at HC wistfully: 鈥淥n the way home down 7th Street that day, I heard the birds singing, and I saw the roses in bloom. I had not realized how beautiful everything along the way was till that morning I was going to graduate.鈥�

Ethel remained in Nebraska to teach, and spent a year each at Wauneta and Alma. These teaching posts proved to be the beginning of a long and varied career in education for Ethel, spanning several grades, content areas and states. Meanwhile, Howard had parlayed his Stanford degree into a job at International Banking Corporation in San Francisco, and later, took a job at the San Francisco Clearing House, where he worked until his retirement in 1959.

Ethel left her Nebraska teaching posts after the close of the school year in 1917, and on May 10 of that year, she and Howard were married in a small family ceremony at the bride鈥檚 parents鈥� house at 112 N. Bellevue Ave in Hastings. A few days later, the couple moved west, where they established a home in Burlingame, California.

Marriage was not the only significant change that the couple would experience during the following year. When the United States entered World War I, Howard served in the U.S. Navy. He was one of many men with HC connections to serve 鈥� The Hastings Tribune considered in 1919 that the college had acquitted itself of its patriotic duty well, with its 189 men in service 鈥渁dd(ing) lustre鈥� to the institution.

Not all of the servicemen came from the ranks of students and recent attendees鈥攖hree of these service members were part of the faculty, and one was on the Board of Trustees!

Howard, for his part, seemingly excelled in his service. He completed additional training and was commissioned as an ensign. World War I brought different changes for Ethel 鈥� the couple鈥檚 only child, son Homer, was born in April of 1918. While Howard trained as an officer, Ethel cared for their infant.

Fortunately, the conclusion of the war speedily reunited the family, and Ethel recalled that 鈥淎fter the signing of the armistice, Howard, after a few months, was back in civilian clothes and in his old position at the bank.鈥�

Ethel鈥檚 undergraduate studies at 糖心传媒 equipped her well for her next several decades as an educator, and opened exciting doors for her. When their son was a pre-schooler, she created a private school for him and other neighborhood children. As an enrichment activity for the kids, this was undoubtedly useful, but Ethel also viewed it practically鈥攔unning the little school kept her Nebraska Life Credential valid.

鈥淭o me,鈥� she remembered, 鈥渋t meant life insurance, and it would have been void had I not kept in educational work.鈥�

This same motivation drove her to pursue summer graduate school work at San Jose State, and later, at Stanford. Ethel remembered with some pride that her work was so excellent that one of her professors at SJSU told her 鈥淵ou don’t belong here. You should be in Stanford.鈥�

In 1927, Ethel brought Homer to Hastings for an extended summer visit with her parents, and while here taught two courses at 糖心传媒: Educational Methods, and Modern Methods in Geography.

As Homer grew older and entered the public school system, Ethel likewise found a space for herself in the classroom. After stints teaching both elementary and high school, she was approached by her superintendent to consider taking over as Art Supervisor.

鈥淭his meant work, for again, I would need to earn more credentials鈥� to qualify as a supervisor, remembered Ethel, who branched out even further and took a number of Fine Arts courses at the California School of Fine Arts.

Truly a lifelong learner, Ethel鈥檚 dedication to scholastic excellence gained her acceptance into Pi Lambda Theta, an international honor society for educators, (Omega Chapter) at the University of California, a membership she treasured for the rest of her life. She worked as supervisor of art in Burlingame Public Schools for 24 years and, as she remembered, 鈥渓oved every minute of it.鈥�

With challenging and satisfying careers, both Howard and Ethel nevertheless dedicated themselves to a variety of organizations.

Howard was a member of the San Francisco and Peninsular Camera Club, the American Legion, the Sirs of Retirement, and several fraternal organizations. Ethel continued to teach art in community spaces after her retirement, and was active in the Burlingame Women鈥檚 Club and Pi Lambda Theta. In 1975, the couple moved to Modesto, California, to be close to Homer and his wife, Elizabeth.

In addition to their involvement in their California community, the Huxtables never forgot 糖心传媒.

Howard was elected as vice president of the Northern California Chapter of the 糖心传媒 Alumni Association in 1966, and records show that the couple gave regularly to a variety of projects on campus. Ethel, in particular, took an eager interest in developments at the college and often shared her impressions of the alumni bulletin with the alumni office.

After their deaths鈥擧oward died in 1976 at age 84, and Ethel in 1979 at age 88 鈥� their son, Homer, chose to honor his parents through continuing their connection to the place that meant so much to both of them. In honor of his mother鈥檚 long dedication to education, Homer and Elizabeth Huxtable established the Ethel E. Huxtable Memorial Scholarship Fund.

When Homer died in 1993 he left an estate totaling $590,000 to the college in honor of his parents. This gift to 糖心传媒 continues a long tradition of financial support the Huxtables provided the College during their lifetimes.

After reflecting on her previous 50 years of a full life, Ethel concluded her 1965 letter with gratitude for the role her alma mater had played in shaping her: 鈥淚 learned how to value time, work, study and be happy in 糖心传媒,鈥� she wrote.

Thanks to Ethel, Howard, and Homer鈥檚 generosity, generations of 糖心传媒 students have had the opportunity to do the same.

By Carrie Brosman, a senior history and political science major from Aurora, Nebraska, and history professor Dr. Catherine Biba.

Harriott lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Marisa Mendez, a postpartum doula and chef, and their seven year old son, Alton.

This story originally appeared in the 2024 HC Today.

1. When a client reaches out to Gray V for music curation, what are they seeking? What issues are they solving for that online platforms like Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube cannot provide?

A client who reaches out to Gray V is looking for curation with a personal touch. If you run a restaurant, you can call someone specifically about your silverware issues, but you can’t call Spotify or YouTube and ask them to take the explicit version of “Still D.R.E.” out of its 鈥�90s Hip Hop playlist because it’s playing during Sunday brunch. The music and the atmosphere of the space has become just as important to the branding of these spaces as the food, architecture and staff these days.

2. How does a typical week at work play out for you?

I’m in charge of making sure that we have enough interesting music for clients who have very unique and specific genre requests, so I spend most of the day pouring through music catalogs鈥�”looking for the perfect beat,” so to speak.

For example, one of our favorite clients is the world famous sushi restaurant Makoto. The location in Miami plays nothing but reggae music made between the years of 1965 and 1980. In the evening, the music switches, and they want it to sound like “a club scene in an episode of 鈥楳iami VIce.鈥�” I’m the guy who hunts for that music.

I have hundreds of clients like that around the world, so on any given week, I’ll get an update from work that will say something to the effect of “Makoto needs more rock steady 70s reggae and 80s synth pop music that isn’t Madonna. Can you find 6 hours worth of music?”

Yes I can. 馃檪

3. Describe your music selection process.

For brand new clients that are onboarding with us, I put together sample lists for them to make sure that we’re on the same page. From there, I expand the lists and build them out.

We’re typically shooting for 3 or 4 days of music without repeats. It’s a lot of hours, especially if it’s a hotel or a retail store. We do that so employees don’t go crazy.

Because of people having more access to music thanks to the streaming services, people’s tastes have expanded. When we get unique musical direction, it’s really cool to be able to execute it and then see the client and the customers react to it in a positive way.

4. How do you keep your music selections fresh? What keeps you inspired?

I’ve been obsessed with music since I was eight years old, and that’s carried on into my adult life. That cliche about finding a job you’d do for free and then get paid for it? That’s basically me. I’m a living testimony of that old chestnut.

5. What experiences at 糖心传媒 and elsewhere prepared you for this career?

My experiences at 糖心传媒 were the reason I was able to go to NYC mere WEEKS after my graduation to start work in the music industry. I was the music director of KFKX (RIP), did a ton of theatre, was a member of the prestigious forensics team, wrote record reviews for the Collegian and booked some punk rock shows on campus in the 鈥�90s. (We were THIIIIS close to getting Weezer to play HC for $8,000 in 1996.)

When I wanted to intern in NYC the summer of ’95, my resume stood out from the pack, and I wasn’t intimidated by the workload once I got to New York. By the time I came back to finish my senior year in the fall of ’95, CMJ offered me a job as a writer and booker of talent for their prestigious four-day music festival in 1996. This offer came to me before I even got my fall class schedule! Luckily, It was waiting for me six months later when I graduated.

There aren’t a lot of colleges that are dedicated to pushing hands-on experience to you like 糖心传媒, and it paid off when it came time to shift to a professional career.

6. How does your lucrative side hustle 鈥� DJing 鈥� feed into your work? How does your work feed into your side hustle?

My side hustle was actually my full-time hustle for a long time. I started DJing in New York around 1997 as a fun hobby, and it just so happened that Lenny Kravitz was at the second gig ever did in New York. He approached me, said he loved my music and asked if I wanted to play the album release party for his breakout album “5.”

Someone at that party asked me to DJ his club the next week. I accepted, and so went the next 20 years of my life!

Once I got married and had a child, I didn’t really want to be on the road as much. This opportunity to work for Gray V full time came up, and I jumped at the chance.

DJing is basically curating a night for a bunch of crazed dancers night after night, so the transition from DJing to music curation wasn’t a large stretch. It helps to be curious, respectful, a scholar and, most importantly, completely in love with ALL types of music from every genre and era.

7. If you were curating a playlist of your life, what 5-10 songs would it include?

This changes daily, but as of this moment, I’d say:

• Digable Planets – 鈥滼ettin’鈥�
• Stevie Wonder – 鈥滼esus Children of America鈥�
• Crazy P – 鈥淥ne True Light鈥�
• Jems! – 鈥滷lights鈥�
• John Coltrane – 鈥滸iant Steps鈥�
• Sault – 鈥漌Ildfires鈥�
• Eurythmics – 鈥滲eethoven (I love to Listen to)鈥�
• Brenda Russell – 鈥滾ucky鈥�
• Yaya Bey – 鈥滳hasing the Bus鈥�
• AC/DC – 鈥滱 Shot in the Dark鈥�

By Alicia O鈥橠onnell 鈥�96

Felton said her fondness for poetry began when she attended her first 鈥淪lam Camp鈥� in 2015 where she met some of her few favorite contemporary poets: Sierra Demulder and Neil Hilborn.

During her time at 糖心传媒, she also organized her first open mic night on campus and hosted a weekly poetry club during her first year.

At Hastings Public Library, she鈥檚 the librarian experience assistant and is responsible for managing adolescent summer reading programs, organizing books for displays, stocking the summer reading cart for kids and covering story time. Felton said she has plenty of recommendations to choose from if someone is ever in need of a new book genre or new to leisure reading.

Felton said she takes pride in helping kids in her programs find books they enjoy reading or helping them discover a new and unexpected genre.

鈥淚 love helping people because it makes me happy. So when kids come to the library, it’s my goal for them to walk out feeling satisfied and curious with the books they take home,鈥� Felton said.

She also developed the theme for this summer鈥檚 community reading program: All Together Now.

鈥淎ll Together Now focuses more on acts of kindness the kids can partake in their communities. All it takes is to be kind; whether it鈥檚 big or small, it’s the little things that make the most difference,鈥� Felton said.

Her experiences with English classes on campus, specifically a Beowulf analysis class, inspired Felton to learn more about contemporary pieces and implement contemporary poetry in her programs.

鈥淚 am also forever grateful to Carissa Uhrmacher at Career Services for reaching out to me about the Hastings Public Library job. I had no clue about the position until Carissa sent the application to me. Who knows where I would be without that act of kindness,鈥� Felton said.

Felton said she has big plans for the next year as she pushes for a reading and writing workshop and an official library poetry club. She continues to spread her passion for programs to the rest of the library community and urges community members beyond the library to get involved.

鈥淚 want students to be more curious. If you鈥檙e at 糖心传媒 and curious about a class, take that chance and try it out,鈥� said Felton. 鈥淣ever doubt or sell yourself short, you might surprise yourself.鈥�

By Cecilia Velarde, a junior marketing and communication studies double major from Loveland, Colorado

鈥淲e鈥檙e doing a sort of renegade reunion,鈥� the writer of the play, Paige MJ Erickson 鈥�00, said, as the director and almost all of the cast are alumni. Cast members include Amber Wormington 鈥�00/MAT ’05, Tim Steffensmeier 鈥�97, Carly Spotts-Falzone 鈥�19, Miranda Miller-Klugesherz 鈥�15 and Nancy Koch 鈥�02, with Darren Epping Fuentes ’04 directing.

Almost the entire cast were also members of the Forensics team, which is how many of them met and stayed connected after their time at 糖心传媒.

Erickson started writing plays during her time at 糖心传媒, after urging by her then writing professor and now Executive President Dr. Rich Lloyd 鈥�85. Yet, 鈥淪trong City鈥� is her first play in 20 years. For the last 12 years while teaching for Purdue University Global, Erickson has been traveling around Europe. Then in 2020 she was sent home because of Covid-19.

鈥淲hen I came home, I decided I needed to do stuff that kind of scared me. I knew I was just going to have to keep doing different things until I came back to writing. I knew in my heart that that was a really important part of who I am,鈥� Erickson said.

The inspiration for 鈥淪trong City鈥� came from Erickson鈥檚 travels in Europe and also from her love of both rural and urban areas. Together they allowed Erickson to create a story about going home. 鈥淥verall it鈥檚 about finding a sense of purpose. I think that鈥檚 a much harder thing than people seem to want to communicate. I feel like a lot of people know it鈥檚 hard; you鈥檝e got to find something to live for, find some meaning,鈥� Erickson said.

“Strong City鈥� follows Andrew, estranged from his ranching family but soured on life in the city, as he encounters upbeat do-gooder Liesl while on his way home to Strong City, Kansas.

Through the unlikely duo鈥檚 road trip across Colorado and Kansas, and with the help of Andrew鈥檚 mother, sister and ailing father, Andrew and Liesl discover that the answers to their biggest questions have always been waiting in the calm of the Kansas Prairie.

In January 2021, she held her first reading of 鈥淪trong City.鈥� Of the current cast members Steffensmeier, Wormington and Spotts-Falzone were a part of this first reading. Erickson used this opportunity to actually hear the play since she found it hard to get a sense of the play when she was just reading it. During the reading she found that she had left out the main character from almost the entire second act. After working further on the play, Erickson held another reading in December 2021, which she believed to be a much sharper version of the play.

Erickson knew exactly who she wanted to cast for her play.

鈥淚 wanted it to be a sort of Hastings reunion,鈥� Erickson said. She had all plenty of connections from her time as a forensics competitor, and then her time as coach. Wormington, Steffensmeier and Koch all competed on the Hastings Forensics team with her. Erickson met Spotts-Falzone when she came back to campus to do a reading of her book, 鈥淭he Nice Thing About Strangers,鈥� and she had seen Miller-Klugesherz at competitions, but it was Spotts-Falzone who actually introduced the two. Erickson knows Zac Ralston, the only non-alumni in the show, from her time at Kansas State University for her masters degree.

While Erickson was happy to make the play a reunion, she recognized the struggle that doing so presented.

鈥淗alf of my cast has kids, and everybody has a full time job. If we were going to do a traditional play, where we have three months, no one could do it,鈥� she said. Instead, they decided to meet up when they could online, memorize lines on their own and then the day before the first show they would show up and block everything out.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just really hard to make it work, but we鈥檙e gonna make it work,鈥� Erickson said.

Everyone a part of the show has been longing to use the creative skill they learned during their time in forensics, but more than that, they鈥檙e all excited to see each other again. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 going to just cry my eyes out when I see these people on stage. It鈥檚 so moving to see these performers again,鈥� Erickson said.

鈥淪trong City鈥� will have three performances at Kansas State University’s Purple Masque Theatre (780 Denison Avenue, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas). Two of these performances will take place on Saturday June 25 at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and the third on Sunday, June 26 at 1:00 pm.

By Ally Banks, a junior english major from Shawnee, Kansas

The project began during the 2020 holiday season, with the goal being to write feature articles on multiple small businesses to increase publicity just as community members began their holiday shopping. The articles would run with a photograph in the Tribune, and also be included on the newspaper鈥檚 website, daily news emails and social media.

The project was such a success among local businesses that Banks had no doubts that she鈥檇 continue it again in 2021.

鈥淚n January 2021, Dave texted me and told me that every business I featured experienced a boost in sales, and that means additional revenue for the business and also an increase in sales taxes, which is good for the city. So when they contacted me about continuing the project this year, I knew I wanted to do it,鈥� said Banks, who is majoring in English.

The most rewarding part of the project for Banks is getting to see the positive impacts the articles have on the small businesses she features, and the business owners she has come to know on a personal level.

鈥淚 love getting to write about businesses and then also seeing how happy the business owners were with the boost in customers,鈥� Banks said. 鈥淚 remember Chelsey (Morten), who runs Lemon & Co. Juicery, got in touch with me and told me, 鈥楯ust so you know I saw so many new faces in my business today. And I just want to say thank you.鈥�

Banks said getting to be able to tell other people’s stories is exciting, and then seeing the success that those businesses get on the other end 鈥渋s really cool.鈥�

A Kansas City native, Banks has also seen her perception of Hastings and small town living in general change throughout the project. Banks said she鈥檚 become an advocate for involving yourself in the local community to see all that Hastings has to offer.

鈥淭hrough all of these interviews, it’s been so interesting to learn just how much there is available in a small town, that even the local people aren鈥檛 even always aware of. At least six businesses from last year told me they would get all kinds of people coming into their store who had lived here for a while saying they didn’t even know that this business existed,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o I think the articles are really important for exposure and then just fostering that sense of community.鈥�

For the 2021 holiday shopping season, the project expanded past Banks鈥� articles and involved other members of the Scott Scholars program using their skills to promote small businesses. Sophomore Mady Ludwig has taken on most of the business interviews, while sophomores Kenzie Whitlow and Mickayla VanNatter began assisting businesses with social media and graphic design.

鈥淚 think these partnerships are really valuable because for some of the small businesses, social media is more of a challenge, as is creating professional looking pieces with some graphic design. We noticed that, and so we just decided to provide a little bit more for some businesses this year,鈥� Banks said.

This also benefits the 糖心传媒 students by providing more real world experience. Though she is not sure if journalism is a career path she will pursue long term, just having the opportunity to work with business people in a professional setting is an opportunity that Banks said believes has benefitted her and the other students.

鈥淧rofessionally, I have learned a lot about deadlines, especially for writing. Having to meet those last year was a challenge. We were writing every single day, so I had to complete a new story every day, which was a lot,鈥� Banks said. 鈥淭his year, it was a little bit more flexible. Time management was definitely an important skill to learn, and I know that will help me move forward in whatever career path I choose to take.鈥�

Though Banks isn鈥檛 sure if the project will continue or evolve later this year, she remains passionate about the project鈥檚 purpose and open to ideas. Ultimately she said she wants the project to continue showing how much these small businesses owners care about the people they are serving and encouraging others to shop small.

鈥淪omething that comes up in every interview is that these people really care about the Hastings community. The reason why they keep their business going is because they care about the people they’re servicing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just here to make money, but because they can provide something for the community. And I think that giving back to those people who care by shopping locally is really important because small businesses are the backbone of any small town.鈥�

By Landry Hinkson, a sophomore majoring in Communication Studies from Bazaar, Kansas.

1. A college with strong academics,
2. A college focused on students鈥� success and
3. A college with a growth mindset.

She chose 糖心传媒.

And though thousands of students have studied literature in the College鈥檚 McCormick Hall, one aspect of Fuller鈥檚 experience sets her apart from the rest. She鈥檚 also a member of the inaugural Bronco Women鈥檚 Wrestling team. In fact, at one point during the 2020-21 season, she was ranked #10 nationally at 136 lbs.

Finding her way to the wrestling mat

Only a few years ago, competing in wrestling seemed unfathomable to Fuller.

Track and field had been her home for until she moved at the start of her junior year of high school. Looking for a community at her new school well before the spring season, she met a friend who enjoyed boxing and wanted to experience a contact sport.

鈥淔or any person who has never attempted a combat sport, simply put, there is absolutely no way to describe it,鈥� Fuller said. 鈥淚t is liberating to know you gave something all of your strength, energy and emotions.鈥�

Soon thereafter, she knew she wanted to join the girls鈥� wrestling team to push herself and establish friendships.

鈥淢y mom wouldn鈥檛 even hear of it at the time, but my dad understood right away and together we hatched a plan,鈥� Fuller said.

A former high school wrestler himself, her dad made Fuller promise she would commit to three practices. Trying her first moves on the mat, without wrestling shoes, proved interesting.

鈥淗oly cow, did I feel awkward! I felt like a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time. And I worried I would never get the hang of it,鈥� Fuller said. 鈥淏ut I had committed to three days, and three days it would be. Before the end of my third practice I had been consumed by the sport. It filled every inch of me with energy and ambition.鈥�

Her passion for the sport brought her to 糖心传媒, which announced in 2019 it would offer women鈥檚 wrestling for the first time in its history.
鈥淏eing a part of a brand new athletic program has allowed me to establish and build a culture that will have effects for years and years to come,鈥� Fuller said.

Members of a small, new team face unique trials, too, such as practicing with the same people and few spectators.

鈥淧eople can see that. But some of the struggles that people can’t see weigh more heavily on a person than the visible,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he indescribable and suffocating pressure you feel at times, mostly self-inflicted, can be difficult to carry. I have to constantly remind myself that I have already done well.鈥�

Finding her way through literature

As passionate as Fuller is about wrestling, her love for literature exceeds it.

鈥淢y favorite authors seem to have a way of pulling the curtain back on life and displaying it for how it truly is,鈥� she said.

Among her favorite books she counts Charlotte Bronte鈥檚 鈥淛ane Eyre鈥� and Oscar Wilde’s 鈥淭he Picture of Dorian Gray.鈥�

鈥溾�楯ane Eyre鈥� made me more empathetic, and I felt less lonely in my deepest despair because of it,鈥� Fuller said.

She enjoys contemporary authors Orson Scott Card and J.K. Rowling as well, citing appreciation for their attention to detail and use of intricate plots.

Finding her vocation

Once she completes her 糖心传媒 degree, Fuller currently plans to attend law school and apply her growth mindset to a career serving underprivileged communities.

Where does wrestling fit into Fuller鈥檚 future?

鈥淚 see myself coaching young girls in the sport I have fallen in love with,鈥� she said.

The North Platte, Nebraska, native was unsure about what he wanted to do after graduation, but realized an English degree can point you in many directions, as English majors don鈥檛 get a certain job, they get many jobs.

With that in mind, he chose to major in English with an emphasis in writing and literature, and then added a minor in religion.

鈥淎s you think about your future career, there are so many different options and things you can do, and you have to be okay with not knowing all the answers,鈥� he said.

During his time at 糖心传媒, Jewell participated in the band, theater and the Collegian, and even hosted a radio show called 鈥淭he Moon Dog Jazz Show.鈥� He said he enjoyed how much he could do at 糖心传媒 and still focus on studying English.

After Hastings, Jewell went on to earn an MA at the University of Missouri-Columbia and his PhD at UNL. He鈥檚 had several items published, including 鈥溾�楥ounted Out at Last鈥�: Text Analysis on the Willa Cather Archive鈥� in The American Literature Scholar in the Digital Age. He is also a co-editor of 鈥淭he Complete Letters of Willa Cather,鈥� a digital archive that will include all of Cather鈥檚 more than 3,000 known letters by 2021.

He said 糖心传媒 professors Dr. Dwight Marsh and Dr. Rich Lloyd helped him find a sense of identity and confidence.

鈥淚 learned a lot from the English faculty at 糖心传媒, but the greatest gifts they gave me were respect and encouragement,鈥� he said.

By Claire Nelson, a sophomore from Bagley, Minnesota, majoring in communication studies, and Courtney Hanson, a junior from Brookings, South Dakota, majoring in communication studies and philosophy and religion

Pete Ferguson 鈥�96, coordinator of the Youth Development Team at Lincoln (Nebraska) Public Schools, has built a career lifting up and giving voice to underrepresented youth. He and his team counsel dropouts and youth affected by the juvenile justice system, locate resources for homeless students, ensure equity for scholars of color and make sure all students, no matter their background or life experience, can reach their potential academically and personally.

鈥淥ur pillars are to enrich, empower and advocate for our various scholars, many of whom have ability and all the potential in the world,鈥� said Ferguson, a 1996 糖心传媒 graduate with degrees in English and communications. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 use the term 鈥榓t risk.鈥� A colleague of mine once said that every person is at risk of somebody not giving you a chance. That鈥檚 why you need to have advocates.鈥�

The 6鈥�3鈥� former Bronco basketball star is a towering presence in Lincoln for his work in youth development and social justice. Last year, the Lincoln Journal Star lauded Ferguson as one of the community鈥檚 鈥�30 Most Influential Men.鈥� His numerous honors include the Fulfilling the Dream Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for promoting the goals and vision of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the NAACP Community Service Award and the Lincoln Area YWCA Mentors and Allies Award.

While Ferguson appreciates the accolades, he is more interested in empowering others, especially the 43,000-plus students enrolled in Lincoln Public Schools. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an ever-growing, diverse district in regard to ethnicity, where students are from and languages spoken,鈥� he said. 鈥淔orty-five percent of students are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program.鈥�

In addition to managing six student advocates, Ferguson trains teachers and staff on diversity and oversees the Multicultural Equity/Diversity Cadre, a district-wide group of 35 high school students who represent and advocate for their peers.

Promoting diversity in the community

Fresh out of college, Ferguson sold advertising for 鈥淔roggy 98,鈥� a country radio station in Lincoln, and coached and refereed youth basketball. Seeing Ferguson鈥檚 rapport with kids, a fellow referee encouraged him to pursue a career working with youth.

鈥淚 have to give him credit for reinforcing and seeing something in me that I didn鈥檛 see in myself,鈥� Ferguson said.

After landing a position directing the Lincoln/Lancaster County Youth Advisory Council, Ferguson was case manager for Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters and program coordinator and vice president of Leadership Lincoln, where he directed the Youth in Action Center and Youth Leadership Academy. He joined Lincoln Public Schools in 2009.

The son of a teacher and a military man, Ferguson has a work ethic and drive that compel him beyond the normal nine to five. Through his company BHS Productions, he speaks to and trains audiences ranging from 8th graders to corporate CEOs on diversity and inclusion, personal and professional development, leadership and athletics. (BHS stands for Brown Hornet Stinger, referring to the black superhero on the television cartoon Fat Albert. 鈥淲hen I was young, that was the only cartoon that had a person who looked like me on it,鈥� Ferguson said.)

For 22 years, Ferguson has helped coordinate and lead Lincoln鈥檚 annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Rally and March, which promotes King鈥檚 life and dreams through positive youth action. Other community involvement includes speaking on behalf of the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association in memory of his mother, who died from the disease last year, and coaching for and directing the Nebraska Supreme basketball program for 5th and 6th grade girls.

Ferguson鈥檚 daughter Jaden, an all-state scholar-athlete for Lincoln Southwest High School, is now a 6鈥�0鈥� outside hitter for Northwest Missouri State volleyball. Spouse Stephanie Emry is a preschool teacher at Rousseau Elementary in Lincoln.

Building a foundation at 糖心传媒

Although initially uninterested in 糖心传媒 (鈥淚 went because my mom fell in love with the school when we went on the tour,鈥� Ferguson said), he became a scholar-athlete and campus leader. He was a tour guide for the Public Relations Council and a resident assistant, elected Homecoming King his junior year and named to Who鈥檚 Who his senior year.

The English and communications graduate counts among his influencers Dr. Darrel Lloyd, professor of English who died in November 2019, and Mike Trader 鈥�74, former head coach of the Broncos men鈥檚 basketball team who serves as associate vice president for athletic development.

鈥淔or scholars of color, they not only made the connection as a professor and coach but formed meaningful relationships. They made sure that I and my peers at a predominantly white institution had an advocate even when we didn鈥檛 realize we needed one,鈥� Ferguson said.

Trader remains a mentor and friend. Ferguson was a starter on the 1995 men鈥檚 basketball team inducted into the 2019 糖心传媒 Athletic Hall of Fame, along with Trader. The team tied the College record for most wins in a season and reached the Elite Eight of the national tournament.

鈥淚 got the advantage out of 糖心传媒,鈥� Ferguson said. 鈥淚 tell people it was the best fit for me. You should never close the doors on opportunities.鈥�

By Judee Konen 鈥�85, Associate Vice President for College Advancement