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Dana Campus Cleanup with Grace University students & staff, Christ Lutheran Church and Dana Alumni & Friends - Sept 24, 2017 |
FALL NEWSLETTER - 2017 |
HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES 2017 |
50-Year Reunion/Venerable Vikings! The Class of 1967 will kick off Dana Homecoming 2017 on Friday, October 6th. Their gathering begins at 11:00 a.m. at Fernando’s Restaurant at 1600 Washington Street in Blair with fellowship and pictures. Luncheon and presentation of Venerable Viking medallions is scheduled for noon. Kathy and Dick Shaw will host the Class of ’67 Social Hour at 5:00 at their home on 2810 Westridge Drive in Blair. Judy Brehm and Lu Brown have been working hard to contact classmates and organize the reunion. Keith Limbo will serve as Master of Ceremonies at the luncheon, Pastor Jim Wilkins will give the invocation of Friday and Saturday and Jim Jorgensen will provide special entertainment at the Friday luncheon. |
Alumni Reunion Softball and Soccer Games! Along with the traditional Mingle & Kringle at the Danish American Archive and Library from 9:00-11:00 and the Charlie Brehm Memorial The Dana Alumni Softball game is back for a second year with former coach, Sarah Graham organizing. The softball reunion game is scheduled for 10:00-11:30 a.m. on the Dana Softball Field. In addition, the Alumni Reunion Soccer Game will be happening at the same time on the Dana Baseball Field with Kourtney Campbell and Shad Beam gathering alumni women and men to play in what may be the first co-ed alumni soccer game. | Homecoming Guest Speakers: Gardner Hawks Atrium will again be the headquarters for 2017 Homecoming activities. Registration and opening of the Dana Bookstore starts at 9:00. The Tailgate Lunch begins at 12:00, Homecoming Ceremonies at 1:30 and the All-Class Alumni Cocktail Reception will take place from 2:30-5:00 . Ed Shada, head of the non-profit Angels Share, will be the special guest speaker at the formal Homecoming Ceremonies beginning at 1:30 in the Gardner Hawks gym. Ed Shada will provide an update on efforts to bring Grace University and other non-profit organizations to the Dana College campus. |
Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Barry Jurgensen, Class of 2006, will receive the Outstanding Young Alumni Award and will also speak during Homecoming Ceremonies at 1:30. The Arlington High School teacher recently completed his second 500-mile Walk Forever Free trek to raise awareness of human trafficking. His high school classes have conducted nationwide research on the Underground Railroad. Jurgensen was named the 2014 Nebraska History Teacher of the Year. Arlington principal, Aaron Pfingsten, will present Jurgensen. | Athletic Hall of Fame Induction: Marcus Sladek, Class of 2009 graduate, will be inducted into the Dana College Hall of Fame. The quarterback was the only Viking to be selected for the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame. The four-year starter broke records for completion, yardage and attempts. Academically, Sladek obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in History, served as president of the History Club, earned Dean’s List honors and was presented with the Distinguished Graduate Award for Leadership at Dana’s 2009 graduation ceremony. Sladek obtained his law degree from Creighton University in 2012 and works in the Douglas County Public Defender’s Office where he spends his days in the courtroom as a criminal defense lawyer. Hank Plugge, Class of 2010, who blocked for Sladek on the football field, will be the presenter. |
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DANA COLLEGE REVITALIZATION PLAN Earlier this year, Blair residents received the announcement of a new plan to refurbish and revitalize the Dana College campus. Ed Shada, through his non-profit corporation, Angels Share, Inc., revealed plans to create a community within a community that would focus on helping society’s vulnerable people become productive citizens. The campus would become the Frank and Jane Krejci Life and Learning Center, named after the developer who currently owns the campus and plans to donate it to Angels Share. The campus would become home to several non-profit entities, each of whom would lease their portion of the campus to maintain the project in a sustainable way. Charitable donations are being raised to refurbish the buildings in an effort to make the leases affordable. The non-profits are being selected on a variety of factors, concentrating on how each may interact and collaborate with the others to create a caring and vibrant community. Possible tenants include Grace University, Christ Lutheran Church, Digg Site Video Productions, and several others to be named in coming months. Some buildings and property will be made available to the Blair community for recreation, cultural events, conferences and other opportunities. Mr. Shada’s organization has worked in conjunction with Creighton University for a number of years on a program to break the cycle of homelessness. The Dana campus project expands the vision to include those in mental health recovery, children who are aging out of the foster care system, and others. |