Mortar Board

Watch our Mortar Board Video recapping the 2016-2017 year and get a feel for what Mortar Board is all about

APPLY FOR MORTAR BOARD!

Calling all UNK Juniors!!

The Xi Phi Chapter of Mortar Board at UNK is a prestigious honor society built upon a foundation of excellence and leadership. Open solely to those who will be seniors in fall 2017, admittance into our organization is a high distinction. Based on a process of careful evaluation and selection, only individuals who demonstrate remarkable scholarship, involvement, and community service are considered for membership. 

The application requirements are as follows:

·A minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA

·88 credit hours completed by May 2017

·Full-time status

·Will be a full-time student at least one semester during the 2017-18 academic year

·An expected graduation date of no sooner than December 2017

·An ability to attend regular meetings and participate in events

Additional materials must also be included along with the application:

• Please provide an updated college resume. Be sure to include your accomplishments in the areas of scholarship (academic achievement), leadership, and service.

• Please have a letter of reference addressed to Mortar Board Selection Committee sent to the address below. A faculty, staff member, or employer who knows you well is a good choice to write the letter. The reference should speak to your accomplishments in the areas of scholarship (academic achievement), leadership, and service as well as your capability to be an involved, contributing member of Mortar Board. Letters must be received by 5:00pm Friday, February 3rd, 2017

• Please provide a copy of your 2017 Spring semester class schedule including the days, times, location, and instructor of each class.

https://unk.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_4YCgLYKcYEsxfr7

The application for membership is linked above. It and all supplementary materials are due by Friday, January 27th, 5:00pm, either emailed to hunzekernp@lopers.unk.edu or mailed to 

Mortar Board 

Box 128,

UNK, Kearney, NE 68849

which is located in the UNK mailroom (MSAB 133). Any other instructions are in the link.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you!

-Nathan Hunzeker, Mortar Board, Xi Phi Chapter, Membership Selection Chair

Mortar Board in the Community

What has Mortar Board been up to?!

  Mortar Board has been busy this semester and here is what we have been up to!

Campus Clean Up

Both new and old Mortar Board members teamed up to clean up UNK's campus.

September Department of the Month: Communication Disorders 

Each month Mortar Board nominates a department that has gone above and beyond in everything they do. This month, Communication Disorders was nominated and presented with donuts for their hard work. Thank you to the Department of Communication Disorders!

Kristen Benner and Morgan Prochnow present the award to the department.

 

October Department of the Month: Psychology

Each month Mortar Board nominates a department that has gone above and beyond in everything they do. This month, the Psychology department was nominated and presented with donuts for their hard work. Thank you to the Department of Psychology!

Bailey Lehmkuhler and Sydney Miller present the award to the Psychology department.

 

Veteran's Day Letter Writing Event 

November 8-11, 2016 

Our Veterans have given the ultimate sacrifice through their service to our country and Mortar Board wants to take the opportunity to thank them for everything that they have done for us and our country. We set boxes around campus and set up a booth in the Union, asking students to write a quick letter, thanking the Veterans for their service. We had an amazing turn out and a bountiful amount of letters that were sent to the Grand Island Veteran's Home.
 

Veteran's Day Thank You Letter Drop Off

Megan Kreutzer hands out lifesavers

Faculty Appreciation Dinner 

November 9, 2016 

Each year, Mortar Board holds a dinner to thank the faculty and staff at UNK for their hard work by each students getting the opportunity to invite one faculty member that has influenced them on their journey through UNK. Through all the hustle and bustle of the school year, especially at this time of year, it is easy for the students to get caught up in the work and not convey the amount of appreciation that they have for their faculty members. For this reason, we take extra measures to make sure that the faculty knows they are truly appreciated! Students would not be where they are without their help and they have clearly made an impact. The night was full of laughter, fun and good food!

Cait Graf and her faculty member Krista Fritson

President Trevor Wiegert gives a warm welcome

 

November Department of the Month: Health Science Department 

Each month Mortar Board nominates a department that has gone above and beyond in everything they do. This month, the Health Science department was nominated and presented with donuts for their hard work. Thank you to the Department of Health Sciences!

 

Fuel Around the Fountain 

December 7, 2016 

In the midst of finals and dead week, the Mortar Board students handed out donuts, pastries and hot chocolate at the fountain to students to brighten up their day and help to fuel them up for Finals Week!

Mortar Board members Beth Morris and Siera Becker hand out donuts and hot chocolate

Meet Mortar Boards New Members!!

This Spring semester 24 outstanding students were inducted into the Mortar Board Society. Each of them have helped make UNK the great campus that it is in their own way.




Miguel Baeza Aguilera
Major: History and English as a Second Language Education
Hometown: Grand Island, NE
Involvement: President of Multicultural Greek Council, Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc., Thompson Scholars Learning Community, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society, Hispanic Student Association, Nebraska Cultural Unity Conference Planning Committee 



 


Siera Becker
Major: Exercise Science - Pre-Occupational Therapy
Minor: Health Science
Hometown: Hartington, NE
Involvement: St. Jude Up Till' Dawn Executive Board (Co- Executive Director), Volunteers Around the World (Executive Board - Fundraising Director), Study Abroad, Gold Torch Society, Loper Leader, Newman Center, Muscular Dystrophy Camp Counselor





Kristen Benner
Major:  Communication Disorders
Hometown:  Central City
Involvement:  Alpha Omicron Pi (Currently serve as Vice President of Education), Panhellenic Council (Currently serve as Vice President of Scholarship), Order of Omega, Gold Torch Society, KSSLHA (Kearney Student Speech Language Hearing Association), Phi Eta Sigma







Veronica Bunach
Major: Elementary Education and Early Childhood Inclusive,
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Involvement: Honors Program, Kappa Delta Pi Honors Society, Phi Eta Sigma, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, and Order of Omega.







 

Gregory Christen
Major: Industrial Technology
Minor: Business Administration
Hometown: Anselmo, NE
Involvement: President of Phi Delta Theta, Order of Omega, Honors Program, Newman Center Ministry Council, Chancellor's Ambassadors, Chief of Staff for Student Government









Rachel Feddersen
Major: Computer Science
Minor: Mathematics and Spanish
Hometown: Kearney, NE
Involvement: Alpha Omicron Pi, Blue Gold Brigade, Christian Student Fellowship, Phi Eta Sigma, and Association of Computer Machinery.





 
Rachel Flaugh
Major: Chemistry Comprehensive, Health Science Emphasis (Pre-Med)
Minor: Political Science
Hometown: Hartington, NE
Involvement: Student Government (Former Speaker of the Senate, Curent Student Body President/Student Regent), Undergraduate Chemistry Research, HelpCare Free Clinic Volunteer, Chancellor's Ambassador, Student Diplomat, National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), Residence Hall President (Men's Hall).







Cait Graf
Major: Psychology
Minor: Sports Management
Involvement: Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Thompson Scholar Learning Community, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Psi Chi Honor Society, Study Abroad, Psychology Club Officer, Gold Torch Society, St. Jude Up 'Til Dawn, Mortar Board Officer





Nathan Harms
Major: Biology w/ Health Science Emphasis/ Pre-Medicine
Minor: none
Hometown: Crete, NE
Involvement: INBRE Research Assistant, Health Science Club, Kearney Health Opportunities Program, Phi Eta Sigma, Honors Program, Honors Program Mentor, HSAB.






Megan Humlicek
Major: Social Work
Minor: Psychology
Hometown: Columbus, Nebraska
Involvement: Phi Eta Sigma (elected Senior Advisor), Student Social Work Organization, Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society, UNK Students for Life (elected Chair of Recruitment), Undergraduate Research Fellows, Summer Student Research Program, Gold Torch Society, Catholic Newman Center, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, Loper Leaders



 
Nathan Hunzeker
Major: Information Technology with an emphasis in Systems Administration
Minor: Information Networking & Telecommunications minor and a Music minor
Hometown: Minden, Nebraska
Involvement: President of Phi Gamma Delta, and the Music Minor Representative for the UNK Music and Performing Arts Student Advisory Committee. Also, I'm a part of the Campus Lutheran Youth Group and Loper Programming and Activities Council (LPAC)



Emma Keele
Major: Biology with an emphasis in Wildlife
Hometown: Hastings, NE
Involvement: Biology Club, Undergraduate Research, Phi Eta Sigma, Resident Assistant



Paige Kordonowy
Major: Business Administration & Economics
Minor: Health Care Management
Hometown: Haymarket, VA
Involvement: Honor's Program, ΑΦ Director of Formal Recruitment, Student Diplomat, New Student Enrollment Team Leader, Chancellor's Ambassador, Student Body Vice President





Megan Kreutzer
Major: Elementary and Middle level education
Endorsements in Math and English
Hometown: Holdrege, NE
Involvement: Resident Assistant, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma, Swing Dance club





 
Bailey Lehmkuhler
Major: Exercise Science, Pre-PT
Minor: Health Sciences
Hometown: North Platte, NE
Involvement: UNK Cheerleading, Alpha Phi Sorority, Honors Program, Volunteers Around the World Organization, Chancellor's Ambassador, Order of Omega Greek Honor Society






Mitch Long
Major: Business Administration with a management emphasis from Hometown: Hastings, NE
Involvement: Sigma Phi Epsilon - philanthropy chair, Chancellor Ambassador, Student Diplomat, a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society,




 

Sydney J. Miller
Major:  Psychobiology, Pre-Physical Therapy 
Hometown:  Arlington, NE
Involvement: Mortar Board Director of Communication, Order of Omega Honor Society, Psi Chi Honor Society, Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society, Alpha Phi Sorority (Social Media Chairman), Honors Program, Friends Program Mentor, Biology and Health Science Club, volunteer for my local church.





Elizabeth Morris
Major: Psychobiology (Pre-Medicine)
Minor: Healthcare Management
Hometown: Aurora, NE
Involvement: Alpha Phi Sorority President, Chancellor's Ambassador, Alpha Epsilon Delta - Health Professionals Honors Society, Friends Program, Honors Program, KHOP Scholar, Phi Eta Sigma, & Health Science Club.





Marissa Nutter

Nolan Pribnow
Major: Music Education, Piano Performance
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Involvement:  Director of Music and Liturgy at the Newman Center.  Serve as a music minister at the parishes of St. James and Prince of Peace in Kearney.  I am a member of UNK's collegiate chapters of the National Association for Music Education and Music Teachers National Association.  I maintain a private studio of piano and voice students.  I am also involved at the Community Theatre this summer serving as music director for Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific.
 





Amanda Slater
Major: Language Arts 7-12 Education
Hometown: Clay Center, NE
Involvement: Chancellor's Student Ambassadors, Honors Program, Honors Student Activities Board (HSAB), Newman Center Ministry Council, Undergraduate Research Fellows, and Gold Torch Society.





Anna Wagemann
Major: English
Minor: Women's and Gender Studies
Hometown: Omaha
Involvement: Honors Program, Organization of Research and Creative Activity, Honors Mentor, Office of Multicultural Affairs Scholar,  Undergraduate Research Fellows, Summer Student Research Program, Queer-Straight Alliance, Wind Ensemble, and Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society


     

Ben Wagner
Major: Computer Science
Minor: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Hometown: Columbus, NE
Involvement: Newman Center, Student Government, UNK College Republicans, Knights of Columbus, Association of Computing Machinery (ACM)

Trevor Wiegert
Major: Social Science 7-12 Education
Hometown: Fremont, NE
Involvement: Cross-country, Track, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Honor's Program, Chancellor's Ambassadors, Volunteer at Northeast Elementary





 

Dr. Matthew Bice 
Mortar Board Advisor

The Xi Phi Chapter held its 2016 initiation ceremony at the Museum of Nebraska Art on Friday, April 8. Twenty-five amazing UNK students were officially made members of the Xi Phi chapter and the 2015-16 group was initiated as alumni members. Additionally, Mortar Board presented the Outstanding Freshman scholarship to Nolan Harrington and the McKenzie & Rosenlof Outstanding Sophomore scholarship to April Maschmann. Congratulations to all!

Mortar Board Application

If you are interested in applying for Mortar Board, please fill out the attached form.  A hard copy of all materials must be received at the on-campus mailbox (Box 128) located in the UNK Mailroom (MSAB 133) or emailed to lempkejp@lopers.unk.edu by 5:00pm Friday, January 29th, 2016.

*Copy and paste the below link into a web browser
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6GN1VUEoXNrTmJKWEg4aDJsX1U/view?usp=sharing

2015-2016 New Mortar Board Member's Introductions

Welcome new Mortar Board members of 2015-2016!  We have an excited year planned ahead with many activities and events.  Here is a quick bio for each new member so that you can better get to know them.

Kelsey Bonta

Major: Psychobiology (Pre- Physician Assistant)

Minor: Health Science

Hometown: Plainview, NE

Involvement: Honor's Program, Undergraduate Research, Health Science Club, and Alpha Phi Sorority.

Mallory Ritthaller 

Major: Exercise Science/Pre-Physician Assistant

Minor: Health Science

Hometown: Fremont, NE

Involvement: UNK Cheer Squad Captain, UNK Student Government Senator, Chair of the Facilities and Campus Development Committee, Chancellor’s Student Ambassador, Executive Vice President for Panhellenic Council, Vice President for Mortar Board, and a Historian of the AED Health Preprofessional Honor Society, Gamma Phi Beta sorority, Order of Omega, Phi Eta Sigma, and Christian Student Fellowship.

Shelby Rust

Major: International Studies

Minor: Public Health minor

Hometown: Gretna, NE

Involvement: Amnesty International President, Alpha Omicron Pi, and Global Ambassador.

Adam Ripp

Major: Political Science & Spanish

Hometown: Pleasanton, NE

Involvement: Chancellor’s Ambassador, Chief of Staff in the executive cabinet of student government, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, founding president of GAMMA (Greeks Advocating for the Mature Management of Alcohol), Honors Program, Order of Omega, and volunteer for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Mallory Placek

Major: Organizational Communications & Spanish

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Involvement: Alpha Phi, International Justice Mission, the Honors Program, HSAB, Christian Student Fellowship, Alpha Mu Gamma, and Pi Chi Recruitment Counselor.  

Kaitlin Hehnke

Major: Psychobiology (Pre-Med)

Minor: Health Science

Hometown: Dannebrog, NE

Involvement: Chemistry and Psychology tutor, Health Science Club, and volunteer at HelpCare Clinic.

Breann White

Major: Exercise Science and Pre-Nursing 

Hometown: Kearney, Ne

Involvement: St. Jude Up 'Til Dawn, Alpha Phi, and Order of Omega.

Ryan Matzen

Major: Exercise Science

Minors: Biology, Chemistry, and Health Science and a pre-dental emphasis.

Hometown: Fremont, NE

Involvement: Phi Gamma Delta-Fraternity, Intramurals, Alpha Epsilon Delta President (Health Honor Society), Mortar Board Secretary, and Health Science.

Nicole Potthoff

Major: Exercise Science (Pre-Physical Therapy)

Hometown: Kearney 

Involvement: Women's Soccer, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Athlete Advisory Counsel, Real Truth Ministries, and Mortar Board.

Joshua Lallman

Major: Biology (Pre-Med)

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Involvement: Sigma Phi Epsilon, New Student Enrollment, Chancellor’s Student Ambassadors, Undergraduate Student Research, and Volunteers Around the World.

Joshua Edgar

Major: Chemistry

Hometown: Bennington, NE

Involvement: Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Order of Omega, Chemistry club, Reasonable Faith UNK, Alpha Mu Gamma foreign language honors society, and tutor in the UNK learning commons.

Holly Hartman

Major: Psychobiology Pre-Med

Hometown: Columbus, NE

Involvement: Alpha Omicron Pi, Honor's Program, Undergraduate Research, Health Science Club

Molly Osterberg

Major: Family Studies

Minor: Early Childhood

Hometown: Kearney, NE

Involvement: Membership Vice President for Gamma Phi Beta, Alumni Chair for Mortar Board, Community Outreach Chair for Council on Family Relations, Order of Omega, Gold Torch Society

Tyson Lanka

Major: Business Administration Comprehensive

Emphasis: Finance

Hometown: Ogallala, NE

Involvement: Chancellor's Ambassador, Resident Assistant, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Mortar Board, Order of Omega, Beta Gamma Sigma, College of Business and Technology Student Advisory Board. 

Audrey Grant

Major: Political Science

Hometown: Columbus, NE

Activities: Kearney Area Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Locke and Key Society, Model United Nations.

Kelsey Martinsen

Major: Business Administration

Minor: Economics

Emphasis: Accounting

Hometown: Primrose, NE

Involvement: Mortar Board, Enactus, and Brewed Awakening Board of Directors.

John Lempke

Major: Music performance 

Emphases: Composition and piano performance with pedagogy

Involvement: Phi Gamma Delta, Society of Composers Inc., Delta Omicron Professional Music Fraternity (secretary), Music Teachers National Association, Music Department Tutor, Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society, Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and UNK New Music Ensemble.

John Rech

Major: Exercise Science Comprehensive Wellness & Fitness

Hometown: Seward, NE

Involvement: Cross Country, Track & Field, and Exercise Science Club.

Lindsay Klassen

 

Major: Family Studies

Hometown: Columbus, NE

Involvement: Gamma Phi Beta, and member of Council on Family Relations.

Estefania Perez

Major: Politcal Science & Spanish Translation/ Interpretation 

Minor: Criminal Justice 

Involvement: President of Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. 

Vice President of Multicultural Greek Council, UNK Liaison Chair for the Nebraska Cultural Unity Conference, Order of Omega, Alpha Mu Gamma, Hispanic Student Association 

Bailey Rainforth

Major: Communication Disorders 

Hometown: Doniphan, NE 

Involvement: President of Alpha Phi, Alpha Phi Executive Board Member, Undergraduate Research, Kearney Student Speech Language Hearing Association, Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society, and Gold Torch Society.

Taylor Kittle

Major: Elementary Education & Early Childhood Development Unified

Hometown: Aurora, Nebraska

Involvement: Mortar Board, Loper Liasions, student diplomat, New Student Enrollment Leader, Loper Leader, Intramurals, Buddy Bowling, Alpha Phi Sorority. 

Daniel Connor

Major: Exercise Science

Hometown: Bennington, NE

Involvement: Chancellor's Ambassador, Cross Country, Track, and Honors Program

Dana Slaymaker

Major: Philosophy

Minor: Spanish

Hometown: Atkinson, NE

Activities Currently Involved In: Social Activities Chair for Newman, Student Ministry Council, UNK Newman Center Resident, Writing Center Tutor at UNK Learning Commons, Honors Program, Thompson Scholar, 2nd Grade Religious Education Teacher