Salute to a great year

April 24, 2018

NCTA Dean’s Column by Ron Rosati, Ph.D.

 This final week of April brings the 2017-2018 academic year to a close for the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. And what a year it has been!

We have been fortunate to have another group of enthusiastic Aggie students on campus this spring, with highly dedicated faculty leading their academics.

A stellar support staff in all areas of campus function keeps us on track and operating smoothly in classrooms, residence halls, food services, facilities, business offices, and student services.

I appreciate the extra effort each employee makes to assist students in their college livelihood and academic success.

Thank you, also, to the Curtis community for creating a warm and hospitable environment for our Aggie students. We all value the relationships that are created and nurtured in this small community.  Our success means student success – a win-win for all.

National Reserve Champs

Aggie success was on display late last week at a national agricultural contest in Norfolk, Nebraska. Twenty five NCTA students and three faculty members attended the 2018 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Contests at the campus of one of our Nebraska counterparts, Northeast Nebraska Community College.

Your NCTA Aggies were named 2018 Reserve Champions among two-year colleges in the NACTA sweepstakes of 13 contests testing agricultural knowledge and skill. Congratulations to the Aggies for high achievement at this pinnacle of academic endeavor.

All of us at NCTA are tremendously proud of our industrious students. These contests document that NCTA students have a high degree of competence in a variety of agricultural skills.

I appreciate their hard work and dedication to academic excellence. I also appreciate the guidance and mentorship they received from their faculty to lead them to this high level of expertise.

Dr. Brad Ramsdale, Dr. Doug Smith and Professor Mary Rittenhouse coached these students to outstanding excellence. Kudos, also, to all faculty at NCTA who instruct our students each day and assist in developing strong work ethic, workforce skills, leadership, and communications traits.

Finals Week and Graduation

Final projects are underway now, with final exams given Thursday through Tuesday.  The pre-graduation activities occur next week.

First, however, awards and academic honors are presented April 26^th.  The third annual NCTA Belt Buckle Ceremony is at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Education Center, when commemorative buckles are awarded. The ceremony is open to the public.

The Animal Science Department and its academic enhancement teams (rodeo, shotgun sports, livestock judging, and ranch horse) host the Steak and Shake Awards Banquet at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited, with advanced ticket purchases.

Student induction into the academic honorary Phi Theta Kappa will be at 2 p.m. on May 2, followed by the graduation rehearsal, a family picnic, and at 7 p.m. the 2018 Awards Night.

Join us for the 2018 Commencement at 1:30 p.m. on May 3 at the Curtis Community Memorial Center. University of Nebraska Regent Bob Phares, University of Nebraska Vice President Mike Boehm, and State Senator Dan Hughes are the speakers.

We ask that individuals come early as seating is limited. The community center is one level and easily accessible to accommodate guests in wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Pets are not allowed in the building, unless they are certified service animals. Contact the Dean’s Office at 367-5200 for special arrangements at the ceremony.

Our Rwandan visitors will arrive in Curtis on May 12. Community members wishing to be involved with their three-week visit should contact Erika Arambula at 308.367.5247.

Come and join any of these public events and celebrate the scholarship and academic success at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture!

Upcoming Events:

26 – Final exams begin

26 – NCTA Belt Buckle Ceremony, 5 p.m., Ed Center

26 – Animal Science “Steak and Shake” dinner and program, 6:30 p.m., Community Center

27-28 - Aggie Rodeo at Hastings College

29 – NCTA Horticulture Club Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

May

2 - Phi Theta Kappa installation ceremony, 2 p.m., Ed Center

2 - NCTA Awards Night, 7 p.m., Ed Center

3 - NCTA Commencement, 1:30 p.m., Curtis Memorial Community Building

3 – NCTA Horticulture Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

12 - Rwanda students arrive in Curtis

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