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

2015 Initiation

The Xi Phi Chapter held its 2015 initiation ceremony at the Museum of Nebraska Art on Friday, April 10. Twenty-four amazing UNK students were officially made members of the Xi Phi chapter and the 2014-15 group was initiated as alumni members. Additionally, Mortar Board presented the Outstanding Freshman scholarship to Aatiya Ahmad of Auburn and the McKenzie & Rosenlof Outstanding Sophomore scholarship to Cait Graf of Kearney. Congratulations to all!

The 2015-16 group who will continue the Xi Phi legacy of excellence!

We wish the 2014-15 group all the best! These soon-to-be UNK alumni are off to pursue professional roles such as sales representatives, public relations practitioners, and educators. A large number of the students pictured here are off to graduate school (English, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, Audiology, Higher Educational Administration, Student Affairs). We also have Mortar Boards in this group who off to dental school, law school, and medical school in the fall!

24 Students Tapped Into Xi Phi Chapter

Billie Kunzman and Rachel Noticka tap Josh Lallman  during his
basketball practice at the Health and Sports Center

        Mortar Board is pleased to announce the 2015-2016 class of 24 UNK students who got tapped during the week of March 2nd through the 6th. These students were selected based on their scholarship, service, involvement and leadership during their time here at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Congratulations to all of the new members:

Kelsey Bonta

Daniel Connor

Josh Edgar

Audrey Grant

Holly Hartman

Kaitlin Hehnke

Taylor Kittle

Lindsey Klassen

Josh Lallman

Tyson Lanka

John Paul Lempke

Kelsey Martinson

Ryan Matzen

Molly Osterberg

Stefanie Perez

Mallory Placek

Nicole Potthoff

Bailey Rainforth

John Paul Rech

Adam Ripp

Mallory Ritthaler

Shelby Rust

Dana Slaymaker

Breann White

Current Mortar Board members surprise Dana Slaymaker in class
to tap her into the Xi Phi chapter of Mortar Board

Current members Connor Schulte and Kelsie Post get dressed
to tap a future member into Mortar Board

February Department of The Month

L to R: Sharon Pelc, Jamie Emal, Laura Matthies, Katie Liberty, Tim Danube

        On February 26th, a few Mortar Board members dropped off donuts at the Student Life Office at the University Student Union. This was in recognition for receiving February Department of The Month. This department got recognized for their outstanding work on the UNK campus. Not only do they do so much on this campus but they are also friendly and personable as well. The staff members in the Student Life Office do so much beyond their job such as aiding with LPAC, Greek Life, Cheer/Dance, St. Jude, Order of Omega, Student Government and many others. Not only do you see them Monday through Friday, but you often see them around working on the weekends as well. We are all very grateful for their contribution to this campus and would like to thank you for all you do.

Dr. Dennis Potthoff: Featured Speaker at UNK's 2015 Last Lecture

UNK Mortar Board Members and Advisor Dr. Amber Messersmith featured
here with the speaker of the evening, Dr. Dennis Potthoff.

     Mortar Board had the honor of hosting the annual UNK Last Lecture on February, 17th. The purpose of the last lecture is to honor a UNK faculty or staff member who are looked up to by not only students, but also faculty. Dr. Dennis Potthoff, Associate Dean of the College of Education, is one of these UNK faculty members and that is why he was chosen to be this years featured speaker.
     Dr. Potthoff's topic was entitled, "Life Lessons: What Teaching Teachers Taught Me." He shared many stories to help highlight his four premises for life and living which he experienced over his 23 years of working in the university setting. If you want more insight on what he talked about, you can Click Here to watch his lecture. You can also see an attachment of his powerpoint over the topics that he covered by clicking Here.
     The night was full of words of wisdom, many laughs and some sweet treats. On behalf of the UNK 2015 Mortar Board Members, we want to thank Dr. Potthoff for taking time out of his day to share some wonderful life advice.

Member Britt Jensen welcomes the packed house to Last Lecture and introduced
the speaker of the evening, Dr. Potthoff

Dr. Dennis Potthoff's topic was entitled "Life Lessons: What Teaching
Teachers Taught Me"

2015 Freshman & Sophomore Scholarship Recognition

         

          On February 11th, the Xi Phi Chapter held their 4th annual Freshman & Sophomore Scholarship Recognition at the University of Nebraska Kearney Student Union. This reception is held to honor those freshman and sophomore students who have held high scholarship achievement during their time here at UNK. This year we had around a hundred students and faculty attend.
          The evening started with a social hour where students were able to mingle with fellow students and faculty members in their field of study. We were then fortunate to have John Falconer, Director of Honors Program, speak to impart some words of wisdom to those in attendance. Following, the night ended with certificates being distributed to those students in attendance.
          Once again, Mortar Board would like to congratulate those who have reached this accomplishment and we look forward to see what you do in the future!

John Falconer was the guest speaker at the recognition

Mortar Board member, Kelsie Post, hands out certificates to UNK Freshman & Sophomores

Psychology Department Named as January Department of the Month

For the month of January we were pleased to deliver donuts to the third Department of the Month winner, the Psychology Department.  The monthly award was given to this department, in particular, for their continuous time they have devoted to providing students with dedicated faculty, unique research opportunities, and state of the art facilities. The Xi Phi chapter also wanted to recognize them for their commitment to providing quality teaching and advising to many students here on campus. Departments such as theirs makes a positive difference in our UNK Community. 

Giving Back to End the Year 2014

The Xi Phi chapter at the University of Nebraska-Kearney spread some holiday spirit to end their Fall semester. Earlier in the semester the members had a Panera Bread fundraising event in which they raised $183.00. This was accomplished by having people in the community and surrounding areas bring in a flyer to get a percentage of the bill to go towards the chapter. They used this money to give back to the community through the Adopt-a-Family organization. Mortar Board members picked three teens in the community between the ages of 13-15 to buy presents for. They got one girl a jacket, make-up holder, perfume, two nail polishes, and some baby lips. Two boys got a winter coat, sweatshirt, movie, Adidas cologne pack, and one of the boys asked for body wash, which he also received.

Above, Mortar Board members show gifts that were bought for 3 teens around the community. They had a fun time shopping for them and were able to purchase almost every items on each of the kids stars.



Not only did the Xi Phi Chapter give to Adopt-a-Family, the members also got to give back to the S.A.F.E. Center during the Holiday Season in December. The chapter voted on donating $100 to the organization. Below is a picture of Cole Manhart and Jonathan Hess presenting a check to the S.A.F.E Center here in Kearney, NE.