Peters Remembered as Ultimate Professional

Funeral services were April 20 for Alexander R. "Bob" Peters, professor of mechanical engineering and member of the UNL faculty since 1967, who died April 18 after a 14-year struggle with cancer. He was 63.

A native of Pender, Peters earned his bachelor's with distinction (1959) and master's (1963) degrees at the University of Nebraska, then earned his doctorate at Oklahoma State University (1967). He had a NASA traineeship at OSU for his Ph.D. study and began his engineering career as an aerodynamist on the S-II stage, Saturn V rocket.

Peters joined the Nebraska faculty as an assistant professor in 1967 and was promoted to associate professor in 1970 and professor in 1975. He was chair of the mechanical engineering department from 1975 to 1985.

He spent a year's leave as manager of design and development at the Brunswick Defense Lincoln plant, where he had 30 employees. Over the years, he helped perfect the radar-reflective camouflage cloth manufacturing process for Brunswick in DeLand, Fla., resulting in a $14 million start-up contract and a $58 million follow-up. He redesigned autoclaves for Brunswick in Marion, Va., used to cure the SR-71 nose, the C-17 wing flaps, and jet fighter nose cones. He also perfected the curing process for Brunswick in Willard, Ohio, on the Gulf War chemical warfare gloves. He had a one-year Ford Foundation Grant in Dearborn, Mich., as an executive understudy and wrote a user manual for Ford's new wind tunnel.

Since he taught on a nine-month appointment, he worked summers as a forensic engineer studying aircraft accidents, fires, product liability and other issues. He and a partner built a VW-powered homebuilt airplane in the basement of the old ME building, where the students were able to see aerodynamics at work first-hand.

"Everybody looked at Bob as an engineer's engineer," said Bill Weins, associate professor of mechanical engineering and a long-time colleague of Peters. "He was probably the most professional person I've ever been around. He was especially helpful to other people whenever they had questions other ethical situations they weren't sure how to deal with.

"Bob always looked forward to every semester and a new crop of students because he saw them as the future. He did a lot of product liability work, but he always said the only way you're ever going to change the world is by educating students to always do things in professional manner."

Peters' interests in farming and defense came naturally, as his grandparents came to Nebraska in a covered wagon and homesteaded in Custer County. Bob owned and operated the family farm land in northeast and southeast Nebraska and was vice president and on the board of directors of the First National Bank in Bancroft. He was a Marine pilot (1959-62) and loved to fly his Cessna 150 whenever time would permit. After a successful battle with lymphoma and a 14-year struggle with basal cell, which cost him an eye, he went on to regain his pilot's license and to play golf.

He received numerous teaching awards; Pi Tau Sigma Gold Key award (four times), was the national president of Pi Tau Sigma national honorary mechanical engineering fraternity (1980-1983). He served on the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology by evaluating programs at other universities.

He published numerous technical papers and wrote many company proprietary reports.

He was a member of Triangle Fraternity and was its scholarship adviser. He was also a member of the Country Club of Lincoln.

Jane Spence Peters, his wife; Marie Catherine Jendrysik, daughter and husband Stephen; Jane Louise Peters, daughter; and Marie Anne Jendrysik, granddaughter, survive him.

Memorials are suggested to the Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Fla., or YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center, Estes Park, Colo.

Doerr, Embree Win University Kudos

A longtime campus pastor and a UNL employee were recognized with University Kudos Awards for April.

Larry Doerr, who died on Feb. 24, was director of United Ministries in Higher Education, a multi-dimensional campus ministry, for 26 years until his retirement in 1996. He was noted for his work in human rights and peace.

"Everyone in the university community was a student of Larry Doerr's ­ students, faculty and staff alike," wrote Doerr's nominator. "Everyone mattered and had equal value to Larry, whether it was the president of an institution or a first-year student. Larry exemplified courage, compassion, integrity, and high ideals. He role modeled for others a lifestyle of peace, inclusion and social justice. Larry was on the cutting edge of working for civil rights with those who are marginalized by society. He shared the irony and pain of life with others; he provided others a partnership in life and in faith; he challenged others softly until they arrived at their own conclusions; and he taught others about the importance of taking a hard stance for what they believed in. Larry moved spirits, challenged minds, and supported the personal endeavors of all."

C. Anne Embree, is a financial and business operations specialist in University Services. She was awarded the Business and Finance EEVACS (Effective, Efficient, Value-Added, Cost Savings) Award for the second quarter. She received the award for her part in collecting outstanding credit memos for the University Bookstore. Follett Bookstore attempted to collect on these credit memos but was unable to get the money returned to the University Bookstore. Embree took on the project of contacting each of the vendors and was able to collect $130,000 of the $152,000 owed. Her nominator praised her persistence and diligence.

Hensarling Named Director of Landscape Services, BGA

Robert Hensarling has been appointed as the director of Landscape Services, Botanical Garden and Arboretum. Hensarling will join UNL on May 1.

Hensarling has served in a variety of operational positions related to parks and recreation, landscape management, and commercial contracting. Hensarling worked as the Parks Operations Supervisor for the City of College Station, Texas, and most recently, as the Parks Superintendent for the Woodlands, a planned community outside of Houston, Texas. After moving to Lincoln, Hensarling worked for the Lancaster County Engineering Department as the manager of the Right-Of-Way-Division. Hensarling received his bachelor of science in parks administration in 1987 from Texas A&M University.

Spirit of Service Awards Presented to Volunteers

The university and Student Involvement recently recognized three students, one staff member, and one student organization for their outstanding contributions to the community, as part of the annual Spirit of Service Award.

Award recipients were recognized at the Student Involvement Volunteer Services/Service-Learning Luau Celebration and at the Chancellor's Leadership Recognition Reception. Student winners were also recognized by the United Way during its recent recognition celebration.

Staff recipient of the Kim A. Hobson Staff Award for Volunteer Spirit was Sriprakash Mayasandra. An an international student adviser in International Affairs, Mayasandra is highly involved in many different areas of the community. He has dedicated every evening from 4:30 to 9 p.m. for various service activities. Mayasandra has been involved in hospice care, caring for the terminally ill by spending at least one evening during the week and a few hours during the weekend with his patients. He is also involved in helping prison inmates. Two days a week, he visits a group of inmates at the State Penitentiary. He has also volunteered to take students from a criminal justice class to the penitentiary for eight to nine weeks to meet with a group of prisoners to learn from their side of the story.

In addition to making his time available to others, he also makes his home available. He opens his home for the prisoners when they are released and transitioning back into everyday life. Mayasandra also opens his home to homeless people without a place to stay warm on cold nights.

He has demonstrated the spirit of service in every part of his life. One of his nominators for this award writes: "There are very few among us who divide a day into three equal parts ­ one for professional work, one for necessary daily living chores, and the other for service. Sri is one of these few."

Group winner was Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In its commitment to service in the community, Pi Kappa Alpha has chosen to partner with Belmont Elementary School, through the Ventures in Partnership program, facilitated by the Lincoln Public Schools. Pi Kappa Alpha has initiated a mentoring/tutoring program for students in grades one through six. Members also contributed 60 wrapped gifts of school materials and supplies to Belmont students. The members of Pi Kappa Alpha have planned large community-focused events in the Belmont neighborhood, including a Halloween haunted house and trick-or-treat celebration at Belmont, which over 700 students and family members attended.

Pi Kappa Alpha members have set a goal of reaching 6,000 service hours for the year. Fraternity members had performed approximately 3,500 hours of service by the end of the first semester, with each member averaging 50 hours of service.

The fraternity's nominator for this award explains why the group exemplifies the spirit of service by writing, "The enthusiasm shown by the individuals in this organization is infectious. Fraternity members come into the building with smiles on their faces and spring in their steps. Their commitment has extended beyond the role of volunteers ­ they willingly and passionately have become active members of the Belmont community."

Student winners were Dan Alexander, Jodi Hall and Shea Troia.

Alexander has worked extensively with the Lincoln Public Schools, serving as a member of the Ventures in Partnership Outreach Council and as a speaker at numerous events promoting education, such as the School is Cool Jam and National Education Week. He has also volunteered with the People's City Mission and visits patients at St. Elizabeth Burn Center. Alexander is also active in volunteer activities with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and with his church.

Alexander is also a member of the NU football team. He has received the Brook Berringer Citizenship Award for Dedication to Community Service the past four years, and he was a member of the NCAA Coach's Association Citizenship Team in 1999. Alexander is a junior business administration major.

For the past two years, Jodi Hall has volunteered at the Lincoln Regional Center, working on a one-on-one basis with clients and serving as a mentor and role model. In addition to her work as a mentor, she assisted in implementing a music program for the adolescent clients of the Center and organized a volunteer program for the youth. For the past year, she has also served as a mentor for a 12-year old girl through Parent Aide Support Services. Other volunteer positions that Hall has held include positions with the Daisy Scout Girls and with the Eastside Pet Clinic. Hall is a junior social work major.

Shea Troia has been involved with the English Conversation Program, which pairs NU students with international students new to the university. Troia met with her Turkish partner to help him improve his English skills and to become a part of the Lincoln and the NU communities. She also works with Catholic Social Services as an English as a Second Language tutor, helping a group of recent immigrants improve their English skills in hopes of obtaining American citizenship. A senior anthropology and English major, Troia hopes to volunteer abroad with the Peace Corps after graduation from the University of Nebraska.

Mallett Named Interim F&PA Dean

Lawrence Mallett, (shown at right) director of the School of Music, has been named interim dean at the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.

Mallett's interim appointment, pending NU Board of Regents approval, is effective July 1, 2000, according to Richard Edwards, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.

The appointment follows dean Richard W. Durst's resignation from the Hixson-Lied College to become dean of the College of Arts and Architecture and executive director of University Arts Services at Pennsylvania State University.

Mallett was named director of the UNL School of Music in 1993. He is a clarinetist and conductor, earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa, a master's from Ohio State University, and a doctorate in music from the University of Iowa, earning Iowa's first ever doctorate in conducting. He was a recipient of awards for teaching excellence and has chaired regional and national evaluation teams, and held memberships in state arts councils. He is also the conductor of the Lincoln Community Concert Band.

Chris Calkins Named Prime Promoter

Chris Calkins, professor of animal science, is the latest recipient of the Prime Promoter Award, presented by the Nebraska Beef Council. The award recognizes Calkins' work as a researcher and educator toward strengthening demand for beef. According to NBC director of marketing, Ann Marie Bosshamer, beef muscle profiling research headed by Calkins, and his guidance of the Young Adult Beef Team promotion project, are just two examples of service and dedication worthy of the Prime Promoter Award.

As beef cattle professor of animal science, Calkins still teaches, but as overseer of the Meats Chemistry Laboratory, nearly 75 percent of his time is devoted to research.

"I teach an undergraduate course in 'Fresh Meats,' work with graduate students and certainly a bright spot in teaching has been the opportunity to work with the Beef Team," said Calkins. "It's a project where everybody wins. For the students, it's a terrific learning experience as they interact with beef-buying consumers. They answer questions, assist in selection and provide recipes suited to cuts the buyer has chosen. The consumers become better informed and their reaction to the Beef Team has been overwhelmingly positive so it's a win for the store too. And it's a big win for the beef industry."

Calkins says ongoing research includes muscle profiling research which stemmed from a broad effort to measure and improve the value of beef, study of beef color as a potential indicator of tenderness, and the study of cattle feeding strategies and their ultimate effect on beef eating quality.

Leadership Lincoln Award to Honor Melvin Jones

Leadership Lincoln invites nominations for the Melvin W. Jones Mentoring Award. The award has been created to honor Melvin W. Jones, educational and civic leader, who died Sept. 27, 1999. Jones was an extraordinary mentor, and was dedicated to the support of mentoring at all levels of the community.

This award will recognize individuals whose mentoring relationships empower those they mentor, and whose efforts positively impact individuals of all generations. Criteria for the award include: development of significant relationships to assist others in career, personal, and community growth issues; impact on others' lives; encouragement of mentoring relationships; service as an inspiration and role mode to proteges; and demonstration of community trusteeship through a commitment to mentoring relationships.

Jones, who at the time of his death was UNL vice chancellor for business and finance, was chair of the United Way Board, a member of the Leadership Lincoln Board, and a mentor of many students, professionals and community members.

Nomination letters should address how the nominee's actions relate to the criteria, and should be mailed to Leadership Lincoln, 920 O St., Suite 300, Lincoln, NE 68508 by May 8, 2000. The recipient will be honored at Leadership Lincoln's annual recognition luncheon on June 8, 2000.

Contact the Leadership Lincoln office at (402) 441-4661 with questions or to request further information.

Awards, Fellowships and Honors Lists on Web

The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs calls attention to a new feature on its web page: a list of awards, fellowships and honors that are used by the National Research Council in faculty rankings. The list includes application deadlines, if applicable, and websites for the sponsoring organizations.

Senior Vice Chancellor Richard Edwards urges faculty to look at the site for more information and to consider application for these types of fellowships and awards. Among the organizations listed: National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, Fulbright Awards, American Council of Learned Societies, and many others.

The URL is: http://www.unl. edu/svcaa/faculty/nationalaward.htm.

McDowell Returns to Parking and Transit Services

Tad McDowell will return to UNL as the director of Parking and Transit Services effective May 8. McDowell previously served in this position for UNL from August 1993 through August 1999.

Construction Technology Students Place 3rd

A team of construction systems technology students from the College of Engineering and Technology's Omaha campus won the regional championship and placed third nationally in the Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition.

Coached by associate professor James Goedert, the team ­ Alan Walters, Jeff Glasgow, Tim McGill, Joel McWilliams, Chris Neal and Brett Wallace, all of Omaha ­ scored top marks in the Commercial Building Division. It was the second consecutive year that Goedert's team placed first in the regional event.

"Winning the region two years in a row and then placing third in the nation really shows the high quality of students in this program," Goedert said.

Two construction management teams from the Lincoln campus also placed at the regional event. One coached by associate professor Linda Swoboda finished third in the Commercial Building Division and one coached by assistant professor Charles Berryman placed third in the Heavy Highway Division.

Using plans and data from real projects that have been constructed, teams simulate construction management activities such as cost estimating and scheduling. Students also must anticipate issues that could arise during construction and develop solutions for resolving the problems. Teams then present their findings to a panel of judges comprising the owners, architects, contractors and engineers involved in the real-life projects.

Twenty teams from 10 colleges competed in the regionals at St. Louis. The national competition was staged at the Associated General Contractors convention in Seattle in March.

Joern New President-Elect of Sigma Xi

At the annual Sigma Xi banquet on April 18, Anthony (Tony) Joern, professor, School of Biological Sciences, was elected president-elect. Anne Vidaver, professor and head, plant pathology, and director of the Center for Biotechnology, received the Outstanding Scientist Award. Lisa Sutton, research technologist, horticulture, received the Support of Research Award. Tiffany Heng-Moss, graduate student, entomology, received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award, and Doug Kramer, graduate student,electrical engineering, won the Student Paper Competition. Twenty-three new associate and five new full members were initiated into Sigma Xi, the scientific research society.

---

Music Student Advances to Semi-Finals of Tilden Competition

Andy Strain, a senior at the School of Music, has advanced to the semi-final round of the 2000 Tilden Trombone Solo Competition. He will travel to New York City in May to compete in the semi-finals and finals. The Tilden is one of the most prestigious brass solo competitions in the United States.

Strain is also one of three trombonists to be accepted into the 2000 Scotia Festival of Music in Halifax, Nova Scotia. National auditions were held throughout the spring, and Andy was awarded a position in the summer orchestra. He will study with international trombone soloist Alain Trudel. Strain is a student of NU professor Scott Anderson.

Strain is currently working toward a bachelor of arts degree in performance with minors in Spanish and communications. He won the 2000 Arapahoe, Colo., Philharmonic Orchestra Solo Competition and performed the Symphony for Trombone by Ernest Bloch with the Arapahoe Philharmonic Orchestra. Strain is principle chair in the University of Nebraska Wind Ensemble, First trombonist in The Plymouth Brass, and a member of the Golden Key Honor Society. He was awarded the College of Fine and Performing Arts Alumni Student Leadership Award in 1999 and is a member of the Student Alumni Association and FarmHouse Fraternity.