Fuel Around the Fountain

In order to help keep students energized through Dead Week, Mortar Board sponsored their annual Fuel Around the Fountain event on Wednesday, December 10th.

The free donuts were quite the hit, drawing many students throughout the morning.

Mortar Board members took different shifts to help pass out donuts, hot chocolate, and apple cider to students as they walked to and from class.  The members also had information available for students who were interested in applying for Mortar Board membership for the next school year.

Mortar Board members Sarah Maginnis, Morgan Kristensen and Maggie Jackson converse with a friend as she stops by for some delicious hot chocolate.

Once again, the event was a success and many students found their morning walk to class a little more enjoyable.  

Christmas Party Finishes the Semester

Members (from left) Matt Lenagh, Jon Hess, and Dan Carlson
enjoyed the delicious  soups Dr. Messersmith had prepared.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, Mortar Board members gathered at Advisor Dr. Amber Messersmith's house for their last meeting of the semester.

The Christmas Party was a way to celebrate all the success Mortar Board has had so far this semester, as well as say farewell to a few of the members who will be graduating, studying abroad, or student teaching after December.

In tune with the holiday spirit, each Mortar Board member also brought a children's book to donate to a local charity in support of the national philanthropy, Reading is Leading.

After dinner, the members gathered for a short meeting to discuss plans for the upcoming semester.

Second Department of the Month Recognized

On Friday, November 21st, Mortar Board members Katie Liberty and Tessa Mannlein delivered donuts to the second Department of the Month winner, the Office of Facilities Management and Planning.  The monthly award was given to the Facilities department for their continued service to provide high quality living, learning, and working environments across campus. Their work truly keeps UNK safe and looking beautiful. 

Xi Phi Chapter Receives Recognition at Final Football Game

Several of the Mortar Board alumni were able to join current Mortar Board members for the recognition ceremony during half-time at the last football game of the season on November 15th.

UNK's Xi Phi Chapter of Mortar Board was honored during half-time at the final football game of the season.  During the ceremony, Mortar Board was recognized for the awards they recieved at the national conference in August (see earlier post). 

In addition to the half-time recognition, past and present Mortar Board members were invited to a special pre-game lunch hosted by Chancellor Kristensen and the President of the University of Nebraska system, Dr. James Linder. 

Thanking our Veterans and Active Service Members

Veteran's Day was celebrated on Tuesday, November 11th.  Mortar Board members celebrated the national holiday by hosting letter writing stations where students could write short notes thanking veterans and active service members for their sacrifice and dedication to our country.

Two booths were set up, one in the Student Union, and another in the Health and Sports Center, and staffed by Mortar Board members from 10:00am to 2:00pm.  Each booth was able to collect thank you cards from many different students throughout the event.

Members Morgan Kristensen and Jon Hess display some of the creative thank you cards that were created as part of the Veteran's Day event.

Professors and Mentors Honored at Faculty Appreciation Dinner

Mortar Board members hosted their annual Faculty Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, November 5th at the UNK Alumni House.  Each member invited a professor or faculty mentor who has helped form them into the leader they are today.

Mortar Board member Kelsi Post is pictured with her faculty mentor,
Dr. Amanda Glass,  an assistant professor in the Chemistry department.

The evening started with a welcome by Brette Ensz, the Junior Advisor for Mortar Board, and then moved into the dinner hour.  Afterwards, President Maggie Jackson provided an overview of the events Mortar Board has planned for the 2014-2015 school year, as well as some of the national recognitions Mortar Board has received over the past few months.

Historian Jessica Albin then provided a brief history of Mortar Board, as well as some of the updates recently made to the Xi Phi Chapter's blog.

The hi-light of the evening was when each Mortar Board member was able to introduce their faculty guest and detail how much their mentor has meant to them throughout their years in college.

Mortar Board member Jon Hess introduces his faculty mentor,
Dr. Krista Forrest,  a professor in the Psychology department.

Senior Advisor Dr. Amber Messersmith made the closing remarks for the evening, further thanking all of the faculty members for their dedication to their students. 

The Mortar Board members and their faculty honorees were as follows:

Members                Guests

Haley Gunnink        Heather Wolf
Kelsie Post              Amanda Glass
Billie Kunzman       Chris Jochum
Katee Rocheford     Amy Nebesniak
Britt Jensen             Brady Bonsall
Carly Wollman        Tom Knott
Jon Hess                  Krista Forrest
Tessa Mannlein       Jan Moore
Katie Liberty           Miechelle McKelvey
Sarah Maginnis       Jennifer Harvey
John Gibbs              Brad Green
Heidi Hostert          Todd Bartee
Rachel Wemhoff     Paul Twigg
Kelly Messbarger    Janet Steele
Lindsey Eubanks     Liz Stout
Bethany Lueck        Chris Exstrom
Matt Lenagh            Rod Flanigan
Maggie Jackson       Joseph Carlson
Morgan Kristensen  Peter Longo
Jessica Albin            Jake Jacobsen
Rachel Nozicka        Denys Van Renen
Summer Liu             Jason Combs
Cole Manhart           Beth Wiersma
Megan Brown          Patys Bruner
Chesany Eberle      Theresa Wadkins
Connor Schulte        Amber Messersmith
Dan Carlson             Chuanyao Zheng

Mortar Board Honors First Department of the Month

On Friday, October 31st, Mortar Board members Katie Liberty and Tessa Mannlein delivered donuts to the first Department of the Month winner, the College of Education.  The monthly award was given to the COE for their outstanding service to their students and their contribution to developing teachers and other service professionals.  Members of the COE were surprised at the award and were very grateful for being recognized. 

Mortar Board Kicks off True Blue Game Days

The Xi Phi Chapter kicked off their year long True Blue Game Days Campaign on Tuesday, September 16th at the Volleyball Game against Fort Hays State University.  True Blue Game Days was created to help foster school spirit and promote student attendence at home sporting events.  Throughout the day, Mortar Board members passed out flyers to students wearing "loper blue" or other UNK appearal.  At the game, students could turn in the flyers at the Mortar Board booth for a chance to win raffle prizes donated from community businnesses.  Mortar Board will team up with other campus organizations to sponsor six more True Blue Game Days throughout the school year.

Mortar Board members Rachel Nozicka, John Gibbs, and Kelsie Post help staff one of the booths at the first True Blue Game Day event. 

Meet the New Members!

Margaret Jackson (Red Cloud, NE)
President
Major: Criminal Justice and Political Science
Involvement:  Resident Assistant, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and Locke and Key Society.

Matthew Lenagh (Omaha, NE)
Vice President
Major: Industrial Distribution
Minor: Marketing and Management
Involvement: Wrestling Team, Thompson Scholars, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Rachel Nozicka (Ravenna, NE)
Secretary
Major: English, emphasis in Writing,  and Philosophy
Involvement: Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, Honor's Program, and Undergraduate Research Fellows.

Lindsey Eubanks (Cambridge, NE)
Treasurer
Major: Exercise Science
Minor: Public Health and Pre-Dentistry
Involvement: Health Science Club, Undergraduate Research Fellows, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and American Student Dental Association.

Billie Kunzman (Alliance, NE)
Director of Communications
Major: Business Administration, emphasis in Marketing
Minor: Spanish
Involvement: Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, Order of Omega, and Student Senate.  

Jessica Albin (Lincoln, NE)
Historian
Major: English, emphasis in Writing
Minor: Professional Communication
Involvement: Honor's Program Mentor, Undergraduate Research, Antelope Newspaper Editor, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and National Residence Hall Honorary.

Morgan Kristensen (Minden, NE)
Membership Selection Chair
Major: Political Science
Minor: Public Health
Involvement: Alpha Phi Sorority, Chancellor's Ambassador, and Student Diplomat.

Britt Jensen (Fremont, NE)
Alumni Chair
Major: 7-12 Biology Education
Minor: Chemistry
Involvement: Track and Cross Country Teams, Chancellor's Ambassador, and Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.

Megan Brown (Scottsbluff, NE)
Major: Elementary Education
Involvement: Honor's Program, Psychology Club, Student Education Association of NE, and Elementary Educators Club.

Daniel Carlson (Grand Island, NE)
Major: Music and Organizational Communication
Involvement: Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, Pride of the Plains Marching Band, and Thompson Scholar Peer Mentor.

Chesany Eberle (Seward, NE)
Major: Psychhology
Minor: Biology
Involvement: Alpha Phi Sorority, LPAC, Special Olympics Volunteer, and ARC of Buffalo County.

Haley Gunnink (Crookston, NE)
Major: Early Childhood, emphasis in Communication Disorders
Involvement: Panhellenic Council, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Order of Omega, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and Cornerstone.

Jonathan Hess (Imperial, NE)
Major: Psychology, emphasis in Marketing and Management
Involvement: Chancellor's Ambassador, Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, Order of Omega, and Asian American Student Association.

Heidi Hostert (O'Neill, NE)
Major: Exercise Science
Minor: Public Health, Marketing, and Management
Involvement: Alpha Phi Sorority, Honor's Program Mentor, and Undergraduate Research Fellows.

Kaitlyn Liberty (Omaha, NE)
Major: Communication Disroders
Involvement: Alpha Phi Sorority, Honor's Program, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.

Summer Liu (Qingdao, China)
Major: Physical Science and Geography Education
Minor: Music
Involvement: Student Education Association of Nebraska, International Student Association, and Resident Assistant.

Bethany Lueck (Arcadia, NE)
Major: Chemistry, emphasis in Biochemistry
Involvement: Sigma Xi, Friends of Socrates, Chemistry Tutor, and Student Summer Research Program.

Cole Manhart (Highlands Ranch, CO)
Major: Criminal Justice
Involvement: Criminal Justice Honor Society, Football Team, and Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Tessa Mannlein (Kearney, NE)
Major: Communication Disorders
Involvement: Alpha Phi Sorority, Kearney Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, Order of Omega, and Gold Torch Society.

Kelly Messbarger (Kearney, NE)
Major: Biology and Pre-Pharmacy
Minor: Health Science
Involvement: Cross Country and Track Teams, Health Science Club, Honor's Program, and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.

Kelsie Post (Beatrice, NE)
Major: Pre-Pharmacy
Involvement: Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Cornerstone, and Order of Omega.

Connor Schulte (Kearney, NE)
Major: Organizational and Relational Communication
Minor: Advertising and Public Relations
Involvement: Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Panhellenic Council, Student Body President, and Nebraska State Student Association.

Katee Rocheford (Howells, NE)
Major: Elementary and Special Education
Involvement: Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Student Diplomat, St. Jude Up Till Dawn, and Martin Hall President.

Rachel Wemhoff (Columbus, NE)
Major: Biology
Minor: Women's Studies
Involvement: Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, Health Science Club, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and the Honor's Program.

Carly Wollman (Omaha, NE)
Major: Communication Disorders
Involvement: Alpha Phi Sorority, Student Senator for Student Government, Order of Omega, and Gold Torch Society.

John Gibbs (Lincoln, NE)
Major: Sports Administration, emphasis in Coaching
Involvement: New Student Enrollment Team, Newman Center Council, and Thompson Scholar Mentor.

Sarah Maginnis (Odell, NE)
Major: Mild-Moderate K-12
Minor: Language Arts 7-12
Involvement: Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, and Student Diplomat.

Senior Advisor Amber Messersmith Recieves National Award

Mortar Board Xi Phi Chapter Senior Advisor Amber Messersmith won the prestigious Excellence in Advising Award at the Mortar Board National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia last week. The recognition was awarded to the top three advisors from more than 230 chapters across the nation.

Messersmith's students nominated her for her dedication to the organization.  She takes the time to get to know each member and fosters a sense of community within the chapter.  Students also noted that she is present at all chapter activities and continuously encourages them to go above and beyond, always proving to be an inspirational force. 

Mortar Board Earns National Recognition

Xi Phi Chapter President Maggie Jackson and Senior Advisor Amber Messersmith, second and third from left respectively, received the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award at Mortar Board National Conference.  Also pictured are Section Coordinator Kristi Okerlund from the University of North Dakota, far left, and president of Mortar Board National Council Martha Starling, far right.

The Xi Phi chapter of Mortar Board won the organization’s highest national honor, the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award, at the Aug. 1-3 Mortar Board National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.  The award is presented each year to the nation’s single most exceptional chapter.

The Xi Phi chapter of Mortar Board also received the Golden Torch Award, which is awarded to 24 chapters that contribute meaningful scholarship, leadership, and service to their institutions. UNK has received the recognition 15 out of the last 16 years.

In addition, Xi Phi won nine Project Excellence awards, given to chapters for notable achievements in scholarship, leadership, fundraising, service, and involvement. The recognized projects were: Faculty Appreciation Dinner, Campus Cleanup, Freshman and Sophomore recognition event, Fuel Around the Fountain, Last Lecture Series, Outstanding Freshman and Sophomore Awards, Reading is Leading program, True Blue game days, and Veteran's Day letter writing event.

2013-2014 Outstanding Sophomore Sends Appreciation

Sophomore Mallory Placek was awarded the Rosenlof and McKenzie Outstanding Sophomore Scholarship during the new member initiation last April.  After receiving her award, Mallory wanted to send her thanks to all of the Mortar Board Alumni who made this scholarship possible.  

Dear Alumni,

Thank you for your generous donations that help fund the Mortar Board Outstanding Sophomore Scholarship that I received this last spring.  I was humbled to receive such an honorable scholarship.  Thank you for all of your encouragement and support that you give to the students of UNK. 

This upcoming fall I will be a junior at UNK studying both Spanish and Organizational and Relational Communications.  I will be participating in the Peru Study Abroad trip this spring to further my Spanish major and enhance my Spanish speaking and listening skills, as well as experience an entirely new culture.  I am excited to spread my wings and be pushed outside of my comfort level.  I know that Peru will offer me new and sensational opportunities that I will never forget. 

Again, thank you for supporting me.

With appreciation,

Mallory Placek

Mortar Board Receives University Awards

On Thursday, Apr. 25, the Office of Student Life and Division of Student Affairs hosted the 3rd annual Applauding Excellence event. Mortar Board and those affiliated with the group proudly took home multiple awards!

First, the group was honored with Outstanding Collaborative Program for its True Blue Game Days campaign.

Members of Mortar Board on hand to accept the Outstanding Collaborative Program Award, many of whom were nominated and received other awards during the program as well (l-r): Jordan Bloesser, Karlee Nuttelman, Amanda Swenson, Nicole Connor, Michael Christen, Chaney Black, Adam Kahle, Blair Youngs, and chapter advisor Amber Messersmith

Second, Chapter President Michael Christen was honored as Outstanding Organization Leader. This marks the second time (in the three years of this event's existence) that this award has gone to a Mortar Board member! All leaders in nearly 200 UNK student organizations are eligible to be nominated for this award.

Michael (left) accepts his award from Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Joseph Oravecz (right)

Finally, the chapter's senior advisor, Dr. Amber Messersmith was humbled to win the Outstanding Student Organization Advisor award, for which the chapter surprised her with their nomination. 

More information about the other award winners may be found at the following link:

http://unknews.unk.edu/2014/04/25/unk-student-leaders-honored-at-applauding-excellence-event/

Initiation 2014

The Xi Phi Chapter held its initation ceremony on Friday, Apr. 11 at the Museum of Nebraska Art. This formal event is always bittersweet, as we say goodbye to the outgoing class as well as welcome the new group.

Thanks to all of the family members, friends, and members of the UNK community who joined us to celebrate Mortar Board!

A great looking group of new and outgoing Mortar Boarders!

We wish the 2013-2014 group all the best as they graduate and begin the next chapter of their lives. Thanks for all of your hard work this year!

The torch has been passed to this capable and accomplished 2014-2015 group (plus a few individuals are not pictured). We have 27 terrific students who exemplify scholarship, leadership and service entering the group.

Check back next school year to see how they continue serving the UNK and Kearney communities!

Congratulations to the newest members of Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, 2014-15

New Member Xiaojun Liu with Michael Christensen and Michael Bohn

Jessica Albin

Megan Brown

Daniel Carlson

Chesany Eberle

Lindsey Eubanks

John Gibbs

Haley Gunnink

Jonathan Hess

Heidi Hostert

Margaret Jackson

Britt Jensen

Morgan Kristensen 

Billie Kunzman

Matthew Lenagh

 Kaitlyn Liberty

Xiaojun Liu

Bethany Lueck

Sarah Maginnis

Cole Manhart

Tessa Mannlein

Kelly Messbarger

Rachel Nozicka

Kelsie Post

Connor Schulte

Katee Rocheford

Carly Wollman

Kenneth Trantham, Ph.D.

Mortar Board supporter, Dr. Trantham, received a surprise tapping
from members Mary Ann Pelc and Adam Kahle

Outstanding Freshman & Outstanding Sophomore Scholarship

Mortar Board, the Senior Honor Society at UNK, is awarding one Outstanding Freshman scholarship and one Outstanding Sophomore scholarship, each of which will be applied to the Fall 2014 semester.  Winners will be selected on the basis of their proven leadership, scholarship, and service.  In order to apply for the freshman scholarship, you must have completed 24 credit hours by May 9, 2014 and sophomores must have 48 credits done by May 9, 2014.  Finally the last requirement is that your cumulative GPA must be at or higher than a 3.3. 

You are able to pick an application up at the Student Union Welcome Desk or from any Mortar Board member.  It due on Friday, March 14^th to the Mortar Board on-campus mailbox.   If you have any questions, please contact:  Mortar Board Member MaryAnn Pelc at pelcmm2@lopers.unk.edu or Mortar Board Advisor Dr. Amber Messersmith at messersmitas@unk.edu

Good luck to all who apply!

Freshman Application:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzNLkN-NMDKlRkFGOEtrVzdvY1Z0THBrZExIMmRxSjA3OGJJ/edit?usp=sharing

Sophomore Application:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzNLkN-NMDKlWjd5MmFiUVBDaWJSZ210Ti05cU1VMnZhQnpn/edit?usp=sharing

Last Lecture Series

Mortar Board members were honored to present UNK's past Athletic Director Jon McBride as the Last Lecturer of 2014.

http://flash.unk.edu/vod/unkmedia/john_mcbride/John_McBride.mp4

Jon McBride initially stated that the Last Lecture was an intimidating speech; yet, he delivered advice, humor, and inspiration flawlessly to the audience. Jon discussed some common traits of leadership that he lived and learned from his colleagues and experiences throughout his life. Common sense, honesty, communication, a sense of humor, confidence, a positive attitude, creativity, intuition, the ability to inspire, and humility are all qualities of great leaders according to Jon McBride. Additionally, Jon expressed his sense of humor with a variety of Dilbert comic strips like this one about leadership:

A special thanks to the Last Lecture Committee
(Nicole Connor, Kara Stevens, Chaney Black)

Afterwards refreshments were served