DANA RECEIVES SURPRISE GIFT OF POTTERS WHEEL

Brackers Good Earth Clays makes donation in memory of alumnus

On December 1, Dana College received a great surprise: the gift of a potters wheel to the Art Department in memory of William Bracker, Dana Class of 1962.

The gift, valued at around $1,000, was made by Brackers Good Earth Clays, Inc. of Lawrence, Kan., Anne W. Bracker, owner. William “Bill” Bracker established Brackers Good Earth Clays, Inc. His family continues to own and manage the business. They previously established a William Bracker Endowed Scholarship at Dana and contribute to it regularly.

Anne W. Bracker and her daughters, Cindy and Anne M., arranged the arrival of the wheel to be a surprise for the Art Department at Dana, letting only members of Dana’s Advancement staff know that the gift was coming.

The Brackers have been long-time friends to the Dana Art Department. After all of the area’s equipment was destroyed in the Old Main Building fire of 1988, the Brackers agreed to supply the department with new materials at cost. On one of Bill’s last trips to Dana before he succumbed to cancer, he started a fund to help the teachers give “something special” for the students each year to use.

Dr. Milton Heinrich, professor of art, said he always appreciated the Brackers’ support and always made sure his students did as well.

“We try not to create selfish artists around here,” Heinrich said. “We like to create artists who give back to the community. The Brackers are examples of continued good friends and alumni of the college, which shows the best of the Art Department. They continued to be creative artists and continued to help other people, even after Bill’s death.”

The wheel will allow Dana to expand its popular ceramics classes to more students. Even with students sharing the college’s existing wheels, the department didn’t have the space and time to accommodate all the students who wanted to take the class.

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, art 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.

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For more information contact:

Sarah Cavanah
Communications Coordinator
Dana College
(402) 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu