We are appreciative Aggies!

May 15, 2019

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Dean Ron Rosati, Ph.D.

It’s been a whirlwind in Curtis as the end of the semester and graduation arrived on May 1 and 2 for the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

Thank you to all of the community members who helped welcome families and friends of our Class of 2019 graduates.

Everyone speaks of how tight-knit small communities are in rural areas of Nebraska.  It is true!

The residents of Frontier County and our neighbors in nearby communities certainly brought that to bear for all of our NCTA students, once again, in the 2018-2019 year.

We are deeply appreciative of all gestures of hospitality, assistance and celebration of our NCTA graduates and campus community.

Once again, we had standing room only as 76 graduates walked across the stage of the community center to receive a diploma or program certificate.

Guests heard Joan Ruskamp, our keynote speaker, share how special the personal relationships with students and community became for her as she first stepped foot on campus as a veterinary technology student in the fall of 1978. She knew no one, and developed lifelong friendships.

To all here in Curtis and elsewhere, we thank you for your ongoing support and contribution to the success of NCTA Aggies.

Campus transitions

We are also celebrating new opportunities for some of our college colleagues. We bid a fond farewell and best wishes to several of our staff and faculty:

Tee Bush, associate professor of math and horticulture, who also led other campus responsibilities since joining NCTA in September 2010, is leaving for other teaching opportunities.

Meredith Cable, assistant professor of animal science and experiential learning coordinator and also served as faculty sponsor for several student clubs, is pursuing other agriculture-related opportunities.

Josi Arnold, an NCTA alumna and staff assistant at Veterinary Technology, coordinated the facilities management program each semester at the Vet Tech complex. She will remain involved as an Aggie alumni class representative, while employed in a new position in North Platte.

Kenny Russell, longtime “cog” of the NCTA maintenance and facilities operation, has retired to tinker on more of his special projects here in Curtis. Kenny had been a valued University employee for over 19 years when he retired earlier this year.

Julianna Kroeger, assistant recruiting coordinator who has been based at Dannebrog, is leaving us at the end of June to teach agriculture and lead the FFA program at Palmer High School.

Taylor Rossenbach, Aggie rodeo team coach, plans to step down and continue his business here in Curtis with insurance and financial services.

We appreciate the commitment and dedication shared by each of these valued employees.  NCTA is a better campus because they had been a part of the Aggie family.  Thank you to each!

Summer programs at NCTA

Our summer programs began this week with the arrival of 50 students from Rwanda who are part of the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Undergraduate Scholars Program.

The CUSP students have completed their first year at UNL and will be part of our Curtis community until the end of June.  Join us in welcoming them to Curtis as you did in the summer of 2018. 

We are so glad to host these students in experiential learning again this summer! Please let us know if you wish to be involved with their summer programming. You can contact my office at 308.367.5200 or call 1-800-3-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, and related industries. The college provides open access to innovative technical education resulting in associate degrees, certificates, and other credentials.

Upcoming events:

May 20 – Frontier County 4-H Council, 7 p.m., Ed Center

May 22 – Standard of Excellence Livestock Judging Camp

May 23 – West Central Youth Animal Science Field Day

May 27 – Memorial Day (offices closed)