September 2025 Central Connection
August 29, 2025
Metallica renews relationship with CCC
Central Community College has been invited to join Year 7 of the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI), supported by a $5,000 grant aimed at enhancing the criminal justice program.
“CCC is extremely proud to continue our positive relationship with the Metallica Scholars program in supporting outstanding women and men going into the critical areas of law enforcement, security and corrections,” said CCC President Dr. Matt Gotschall. “Now, as much as ever, we are grateful for their dedication and decision to serve our communities.”
All Within My Hands (AWMH), the nonprofit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, recently announced Year 7 of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its largest grant to date, totaling about $3 million. MSI now has a presence in 75 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam and is expected to reach approximately 10,000 students.
“I could not be any prouder of our Metallica Scholars,” said Metallica band member Robert Trujillo. “We know that our country needs millions of skilled tradespeople, and it warms my heart to know that our foundation’s efforts are making a positive impact and putting hard-working people on the path to careers in the trades. Whether it’s a school visit or a meet and greet before a show, there is no better feeling than meeting our Metallica Scholars in person and hearing their stories of grit and determination firsthand, along with their pride and commitment. It is truly inspiring.”
Launched in 2019 by AWMH in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), MSI began with 10 colleges focused primarily on manufacturing programs. The workforce initiative has since expanded to offer opportunities in diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages.
To evaluate the program’s efficacy, the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy independently researched and quantified MSI’s impact on the skilled trades and the return on investment (ROI) earlier this year. The research extended into all Year 6 community colleges, covering more than 350 fields of study at these institutions, measuring the cost of completion and anticipated salaries post-graduation. The key observation is that the ROI across all MSI-supported programs is a very high and cost-efficient 8.3X. This means that on average, MSI graduates can expect to earn 8.3X the upfront cost of their program during their first year in the workforce.
“If we extrapolate these ROI numbers over a career, it demonstrates how effective and profitable learning a trade can be for the individual and how society as a whole also benefits from community college graduates,” said Peter Delgrosso, AWMH executive director,
Year 7 also marks the renewal of AWMH’s partnership with the Lowe’s Foundation, which has provided $1 million in support as part of its five-year, $50 million commitment to prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.
Continued support is provided by many long-time corporate partners, notably workwear manufacturers Carhartt, Wolverine, and CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment, as well as from the extended Metallica family of fans.
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Support Raider athletics, raise awareness for suicide prevention Show your Raider spirit by purchasing the 2025 Raider Suicide Awareness/Prevention T-shirt. T-shirts can be ordered through midnight on Sept. 7 here: https://thecccfoundation.org/how-to-help/raiders-suicide-awareness.html. Orders will be fulfilled by Sept. 15, and the T-shirts must be picked up at the Raider Athletic Department at Central Community College-Columbus. The Raider Awareness Walk is Sept. 18. All proceeds go toward mental health programming for Raider Athletics. |
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Central Community College-Grand Island had a strong turnout for its part-time job fair on Aug. 28. |
CCC-Grand Island holds part-time job fair
Individuals swarmed into Central Community College-Grand Island on Aug. 28 for a part-time job fair.
The 19 employers represented “an array of different industries from healthcare to education to nonprofit,” said Allie Remm, career and employment services (CES) specialist.
Remm said it’s difficult to determine how many individuals attended the job fair, “but I heard from Bosselman that they gave 35 job flyers to students and were very happy with the turnout.”
She added that the employers left job flyers with the CES office for students unable to attend the job fair. Those flyers are now posted on the job board that is located across from the Academic Success Center.
Employers at the job fair were the Army Reserve, Associated Staffing, Bosselman Enterprises, Bryan Health/Grand Island Regional Medical Center, Chick-fil-A, Eagle Distributing, Good Samaritan Society, Grand Island Casino Resort, Grand Island Department of Labor, Grand Island Public Schools, Hands of Heartland, Pizza Hut, Stuhr Museum, Tabitha, Tiffany Square Rehabilitation and Care Center, Willow Rising and CCC’s Academic Success Centers, admissions office and apprenticeship program.
News Briefs
Students named Leaders of Promise
Central Community College students Jessica Braun of Holbrook and Chloe Smith of Kearney have been named 2025 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars. They will each receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The Leaders of Promise Scholarship, which is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, recognizes 200 Phi Theta Kappa members with awards totaling $200,000. A panel of independent judges selected this year’s recipients based on outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated leadership potential.
The Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program was launched in 2001 to assist new Phi Theta Kappa members obtain an associate degree and encourage participation in society programs.
Volunteers help adult education program
Volunteers are a major component of Central Community College’s adult education program. Becky Fausett, adult education director, shared figures from the 2024-25 academic year.
Areawide, 81 individuals volunteered 2,751.25 hours to the program, serving 1,886 people in the process. The breakdown by location is as follows:
Columbus: Three volunteers, 290 hours, 428 students.
Grand Island: Four volunteers, 187 hours, 1,085 students.
Hastings: Seventy-three volunteers, 2,267.75 hours, 211 students.
Kearney: One volunteer, 6.5 hours, 162 students.
Raiders earn NJCAA academic honors
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has recognized a record 53 Central Community College student-athletes for academic achievement during 2024-25. The 53 CCC honorees surpasses the previous record of 42 in 2023-24.
Student-athletes who earned a 4.0 GPA were named NJCAA All-Academic First team, while those who posted a GPA of 3.80-3.99 were named NJCAA All-Academic Second Team. The NJCAA All-Academic Third Team is comprised of student-athletes who finished with a GPA of 3.60-3.79.
The number of student-athletes were: men’s soccer, 19; softball and women’s soccer, eight each; shotgun sports, volleyball and women’s basketball, five each; golf, three; and men’s basketball, two.
Five teams earned NJCAA Academic Team of the Year honors for posting a combined 3.0 GPA or better: volleyball, 3.58 GPA; men’s soccer, 3.54 GPA; softball, 3.50 GPA; and women’s basketball and women’s soccer, 3.20 GPA.
In tribute
Sam Royce Cowan, 82, of Stromsburg, died Aug. 2 at his home in Stromsburg.
Services were held Aug. 8 at Dubas Funeral Home in Stromsburg with inurnment in the Stromsburg Cemetery.
He was born June 6, 1943, to Byron F. and Edna Ruth (Lavene) Cowan in Little Rock, Ark. The 1961 Kearney High School graduate went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics from Wesleyan University in Lincoln. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at both Kearney High and Nebraska Wesleyan.
On June 6, 1965, he married Kathleen Ann Krueger in Lyons. To this union three boys were born.
His career included setting up systems to manufacture hard drives for many years, teaching at Central Community College-Columbus in the early 1990s; and training BD employees from 2002 until being elected to the CCC Board of Governors in 2008. He served on the board from 2009 through 2024.
He was a HAM radio operator with the call sign of W0OAJ and was the author of two books.
Survivors include his wife, three sons, three sisters and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Dubas Funeral Home of Stromsburg and Osceola was in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the family.
Employee news
Administrative Office
Ryann Perkins has been promoted from accounts payable specialist to college accountant.
Tracy Watts has been promoted from Faculty Resource Center instructional design consultant to instructional technology administrator.
Columbus Campus
Michelle Evert has been promoted from registration and assessment technician to enrollment specialist.
New employees include Theresa Hiner, administrative assistant for the facilities management department; Arun Chary Karnakanti, service center coordinator; and Allison Spencer, associate dean of career and technical sciences.
Grand Island Campus
Beverly “Bev” Wolfe, 87, of Grand Island, formerly of Wolbach died Aug. 14.
Services were Aug. 20 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island with burial at Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach.
She was born Dec. 10, 1937, in Wolbach to Harold and Viola (Swanson) Rother. She graduated from Wolbach High School and continued her education, ultimately earning a master’s degree through Nebraska Kearney College.
She taught at rural country schools and Centura and Grand Island public schools, retiring in 1998. She taught GED courses at Central Community College from about 2002 through 2013.
She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi International and Alpha Delta Kappa and a past president and active member of the Platt Deutsche.
Survivors include two children, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter and two siblings.
All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island was in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the Rother Family Farms Scholarship Program.
Hastings Campus
Cierra Hauserman has resigned as administrative assistant for the career and technical sciences department.
Margaret Treffer has been promoted from assistant registrar to college registrar.
Wanda Cloet, dental hygiene program director, has received the American Dental Hygiene Association’s 2025 Standout Seven Educator Award winner. The award stated: “Dr. Cloet brings incredible dedication to shaping future RDHs (registered dental hygienists). Her passion for education and commitment to advancing our profession through innovative teaching truly exemplifies excellence in dental hygiene education.”