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dana college  ALUMNI and Friends ASSOCIATION





Homecoming 2024
October 4th and 5th

News

Alumni Association Names Award Recipients

The Dana College Foundation and Alumni Association is pleased to announce our two new Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. They will receive the honors at this year's Homecoming celebration on Saturday, October 5th. Location will be the Atrium between Gardner Hawks gym and Borup Coliseum. This year's recipients are:

TOM VAN STEENHOVEN, Class of 1972
Tom has been a playwright, author, director and producer in his years since Dana. He has authored 11 novels, directed several short films, produced a blues liturgy, and donated the production of a breast cancer film, among his many accomplishments. His profile can be found in the Harvard Business Book. While at Dana, Tom competed on the cross country team and was part of several student productions.

RYAN JACOBSEN, Class of 1998
Ryan was an Academic All American in cross country and track while attending Dana. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University, and has gone on to teach at the University of Iowa Pharmacy School where he earned the Faculty Preceptor Excellence Award. He also received the Excellence in Innovation Award from the Iowa Pharmacy Association, and was recently named Pharmacist of the Year. He has authored 18 professional papers and founded a junior development cycling team.

Please join us in October to honor these outstanding individuals who carry on the Dana College legacy!

News

Dana Digital History Project Announces New Additions, Including Audio Recordings!

Recently the Dana Digital History Project launched its YouTube channel, providing newly digitized videos of Viking football, basketball and volleyball games dating back to the 1960s. These game films were discovered and preserved by the Dana College Foundation and a committee of former Viking athletes.

This discovery of hundreds of films and videotapes inspired the creation of the Dana Digital History Project. It’s a laborious endeavor to digitize all of them, so the videos will be released in three batches over the course of 2024.

The Project is pleased to announce that the second batch of videos are now available to view on the YouTube channel, free of charge! More games to view, more memories to relive! Just click on this link, or click on the button on this page to reach the channel.

In addition to the sports videos, the Project has now included special audio recordings that will interest alumni from all generations. All are now available on the YouTube channel and ALSO for download to your smart phone, computer or other devices! Listen to them wherever you go!

Dana Choir Albums
The audio recordings include three Dana choir albums, digitized from previously unopened, unplayed vinyl records. To access them, click on the link to the YouTube channel. Or if you wish to download them, click on the links below:

Victor Borge Performance!
World famous Danish pianist and comedian Victor Borge gave a benefit performance on the Dana campus in the mid 1970s. Among the hundreds of game films discovered in the Dana library was a single reel to reel audiotape, labeled simply as “Victor Borge.” It may very well be the only recording of that memorable performance!

Thanks to the Dana Digital History Project, it’s now available to you on the YouTube channel AND for download to your electronic device, free of charge! Just click on the link below:

How You Can Help

The Dana Digital History Project is a costly endeavor. The final cost is estimated to be near $25,000. The Project is being underwritten by the Dana College Foundation, which is asking for your help. Committee members have already made financial commitments, and you can, too. You can be a part of this history- and memory-preserving project by supporting the Dana College Foundation with a tax-deductible donation.

Please be generous, and send your check to:

Dana College Foundation
P.O. Box 392
Blair, NE 68008

Go Vikings!

News

2024 Legacy Scholarship Winners Announced

The Dana College Foundation Board of Directors met on April 13th to review applications and select this year’s Legacy Scholarship winners. Two applicants clearly stood out among all others to receive $5,000 each to help them achieve a college experience similar to Dana.

Camille Renken
Camille is from Gretna, Nebraska, and attends Millard West High School. She intends to enroll at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, and study Nursing. She is the daughter of Tyler and Robin Renken. In addition to standout academics, Camille participated in several varsity sports, worked in daycare, and volunteered for Special Olympics. Her father, Tyler, and grandfather, Douglas Renken, are Dana alumni.

Hannah Peatrowsky
Hannah is from Omaha, Nebraska, and attends Mercy High School. Her college choice is Creighton University where she intends to study Biochemistry and Pre-Pharmacy. Her parents are Cory and Laurie Peatrowsky, both of whom are Dana alumni. She also had two aunts and an uncle graduate from Dana. Hannah’s academic credentials were the highest of all applicants. She also participated in varsity sports and several student organizations in addition to working in child care, elderly care, and as a soccer referee.

The Dana College Foundation Legacy Scholarships are awarded to two descendants of Dana alumni, faculty or staff. Applicants must attend a college or university similar to Dana. That is, a private, four-year liberal arts, Christian-affiliated institution.

The scholarships are funded through the generosity of alumni, donors and estate gifts. The application period is announced at the beginning of each year. Students are judged on academic preparation, participation in activities, special accomplishments or honors, employment, volunteering, and an essay.

News

Alumni Attend Dana Village Ribbon-Cutting
by Kori Archbold

The former Dana College Campus was abuzz with activity on Friday, February 9th as people from all across the state filled the gymnasium to see a new beginning. Abundant Dana alumni were present, as well as multiple media representatives, government officials, a great number of LFS staff, and many more from the Blair community and beyond - to see the new ‘Dana Village’ officially come to life.

Chris Tonniges, President and CEO of Lutheran Family Services kicked off the event, welcoming all to the “life altering” ribbon-cutting that the campus has been patiently waiting for after nearly fourteen years. He began with sobering facts surrounding the reality of foster youth and other vulnerable populations in the state, including statistics stating that many end up homeless in as little as six months after their 19th birthday, when they are legally released from the system. He went on to say, “I think you and I can agree that this is not ok—additionally too many of our elderly don’t have resources or opportunities for affordable housing either. These people are Nebraskans, and Nebraskans don’t treat Nebraskans that way. We just DON’T. That’s what makes this place special.”

Ed Shada and Angels Share was given a deserving round of applause and thanked profusely, highlighting their dream and ultimate goal - support for former foster youth who have no where to go. Thankfully they were able to partner with a much more able body to carry on this grand plan. Lutheran Family Service's ten year plan includes much needed connection and benefit to the local community, including job opportunities and career development.

Tenants will be able to move into any of the 61 finished units in Blair and Mickelsen halls by the end of February. Tours were available to the public to view the studio, 1 and 2 bed room units. All quarters are accessible, and have a washer and dryer in-unit. The beautifully updated apartments still share the same views as former students once enjoyed over the campus. George Achola, V.P. and General Counsel of Burlington Capital Real Estate Investment was invited to speak to the renovation of the new units and what their impact will be on the community. “When you open that door, you will know that you are not forgotten…. this day will hopefully be the genesis for a transformation of somebody’s life.”

Mayor Mindy Rump, Senator Ben Hansen, and Governor Jim Pillen also spoke, marking an exciting and incredible day for the city of Blair, and the state of Nebraska. The historic past and the emotional loss of Dana were acknowledged, but not without mentioning future-forward solutions the new village will solve: preventing homelessness, workforce development, and reactivating the beautiful campus. As a last minute gesture, Rump also gifted a symbolic broom to Mr. Tonniges, thanking him and LFS for being stewards of the community — also a nod in jest to the amount of cleaning up that still needs to be done.

Pastor Kip Tyler shared a homily that left no dry eye in the room as he recounted the day that Dana closed. From another pastor friend, he was reminded, “Kip - remember, our God does his best work in death and resurrection.” Those words obviously resonated with the crowd as the tissues came out of their pockets.

As an alum, he quoted portions of the third and fourth verses of “Hail Dana” :

…. “And when we launch our little barks on destiny’s deep sea, as Ivy to thy walls do cling, our hearts will cling to thee…Oh Hail fair Dana, hail to thee, though time thy walls may claim, thy spirit live another throng, rise up and sing our song!”

Other plans moving forward will include intergenerational, community-driven spaces, physical and mental health access, outreach programs, and other sporting and arts events, thankfully revitalizing the campus once again. Eventually, the goal of the village is to be a destination location for the entire region. The launch of a solution for people in need, the city of Blair, the Dana Campus, and the entire state, ultimately was born out of the death of our beloved college. A solution that is hopeful to last for seven generations, and beyond.

For more information, visit:
https://www.danavillageblair.com or https://www.onelfs.org/housing/dana-village


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DANA COLLEGE ALUMNI AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

Address: PO Box 392, Blair, NE  68008  USA

danavikingalumni@gmail.com

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