Holiday hat tip to Aggies, friends

Dec. 18, 2019                                                         

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

Student leadership and service-oriented mindsets contribute a significant difference to our institution and to the lives of our campus community.

The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is a unique place, most certainly, due to the emphasis we place on experiential learning. But, it’s also a very special place because we’re like family.

We strive to know each other well.  We care about each individual. Faculty and students, our staff and administrators, and those we interact with in the Curtis community watch out for one another.

Our small rural campus reflects what many of us experience in our homes and families – a tightly-knit culture of caring and service.

Over the past five months as interim dean I have appreciated witnessing our Aggie students step up to assist one another in many ways.

Someone have an injury and need a lift across campus? No problem. Car and driver on the way.

Experience a pickup or car that wouldn’t start due to freezing temperatures? Jumper cables and a jump start quickly appear.

Struggling with pre-test jitters? Aggies in residence halls and commons areas of campus buildings shared impromptu study sessions.

Random acts of kindness were evident in helping each other navigate slick parking lots, or getting across campus from point A to point B.

Student leaders in clubs and organizations were keeping their classmates in festive modes during the stress of exam prep.  A campus dance at “The Barn” last week featured students decorating apparel or donning holiday clothing for the “ugly sweater” contest.

Also last week, gifts of toys and clothing for youngsters were delivered to Curtis Hometown Christmas.  The campus community was generous in partnering with the Toys for Tots and Clothes for Children collections in Frontier County.

Generous hearts and hands also pitched in all across the campus to bring some merriment to classes, dinner tables, and dormitories.

We are grateful to all who shared with holiday festivities to enhance camaraderie on campus particularly the NCTA Food Service team which operates our Aggie Dining cafeteria and Chandie’s Castle Deli.  Thank you to our food service employees!

Snacks provided by the University of Nebraska Foundation and prepared by NCTA Food Services offered a study break for students, particularly those who live off campus and found short-term respite at the student union.

Our campus and the entire Curtis community will be much quieter the next two weeks during the University’s holiday break.

Those who are leaving campus - particularly those who reside on the far reaches of the U.S. - found friends and local residents to help do chores in feeding and caring for their animals, such as horses boarded at private facilities in Curtis.

Our student workers and volunteers at the Veterinary Technology complex and NCTA Farm are taking shifts during the break to ensure all livestock and animals at campus are fed, cared for and their facilities maintained during the holiday. Thank you to each of these individuals!

Most of our Aggies are completing final exams by Thursday of this week, with many leaving campus and headed to their homes by Friday. We wish them very safe travels to their year-end destinations.

From the NCTA Dean’s Office, I wish each of you a joyous holiday season. May your time with family and friends be safe, healthy and bright!

NCTA is devoted to a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology, and related industries. The college provides open access to innovative technical education resulting in associate degrees, certificates, and other credentials.

Upcoming events

Dec. 23-Jan. 2, 2020 – University campuses closed

Jan. 13, 2020 – Spring Semester begins