The watches were presented by Student Senate
President Matt Bloomingdale, who said there was little he could
say that would express the gratitude Dana students feel for
the retiring first couple. Bloomingdale and Tyler Mohr, Student
Senate president-elect, emphasized the Christophersons’ devotion
to supporting students through their presence at countless
athletic competitions, fine arts performances, honors presentations
and many other student events. To the students, they said,
the First Couple is seen as a team — almost surrogate
parents — to make students’ experiences at Dana
the best they can be.
The watches’ engraving references Colossians 1:9-12,
verses from the Apostle Paul to Timothy and the followers of
Christ. The verses are words of comfort and support saying,
for example, “we have not ceased praying for you and
asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s
will.... endure everything with patience while joyfully giving
thanks to the Father....”
The Christophersons were deeply touched by the gift and the
sentiments expressed by the engraving.
“ These are all reassuring words for Anne and me as
we look back on our years of service to Dana and look toward
retirement years,” Myrvin Christopherson said. “No
recognition for educators is more meaningful than that given
by students. Anne and I are so very grateful for the privilege
that has been ours to serve Dana’s wonderful students.
They make us very proud as they graduate and share their learning
and other gifts generously in homes, communities, churches,
and businesses.”
Myrvin and Anne Christopherson will retire from their posts
as president and director of special projects on June 30. Their
19-year term has been extremely successful for Dana. During
that time, Dana has grown from 396 to 622 full-time students.
This fall Dana reported its highest enrollment since 1970 when
scores of students enrolled to escape the Vietnam draft.
During Christopherson’s presidency, the endowment has
grown from about $1 million to more than $12 million today.
In total nearly $100 million has been secured in current and
deferred gifts for scholarships, endowment, and campus improvements.
Buildings completed include the Margre Henningson Durham Center
and Trinity Chapel, the Art addition to the Madsen Fine Arts
Center, the Gardner-Hawks Center and the Cooperman Atrium,
a new all-weather track, a competition soccer field, football
and soccer practice fields, significant upgrades of science
and art facilities, and many renovation and beautification
projects. During his Presidency Dana has taken a lead in technology
enabling Dana to advertise “the most wireless campus
in Nebraska.”
Academic programs have also grown under his leadership. He
facilitated creation of the annual presidential scholarship
competition, the Morton Scholars Program for honors students,
new or revised academic programs in accounting, psychology,
criminal justice, special education, computer science, graphic
design, e-studies, interactive media, and sports management.
Sports programs have also grown during the Christopherson administration
with the addition of both men’s and women’s soccer
and women’s golf.
Dana’s world of special events and projects has also
grown under the 15-year leadership of Anne Christopherson,
especially the college’s annual holiday festival, Sights & Sounds
of Christmas. Anne Christopherson’s exacting and elegant
touch has elevated events such as Commencement, Opening Convocation,
Arbor Day, Opening Dinner and many others to new levels of
class and decorum.
Dana College is a place where all students actively participate.
They make things happen — in their own lives and in the
lives of others. Through a highly supportive faculty and campus
community, Dana students develop interpersonal skills, leadership
abilities, and other important values and knowledge as they
make choices about their future. Dana’s outstanding academic
programs in business, education and social work, among others,
ensure that students have the knowledge, skills and experience
necessary to pursue challenging careers or placement in graduate
school.
Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution in Blair,
Neb. To learn more, visit www.dana.edu.
Dana College: Develop talents, Take charge, Build a future — We’re
with you all the way.
— END—
For more information contact:
Sarah Cavanah
Communications Coordinator
Dana College
(402) 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu |
