WNCC Alumni & Friends

10/15/2026

Gary “Charlie” Person learned the value of hard work growing up on a farm and ranch in Banner County. That work ethic has stayed with the 1975 Nebraska Western College (NWC) graduate throughout a career spanning more than 50 years. After graduating from Banner County High School in 1973, Person attended NWC to pursue his interest in journalism. He balanced his studies with several jobs, including overnight shifts at the Great Western Sugar Factory and sportswriting for the Scottsbluff Star-Herald.

While attending NWC, Person served as editor of the student newspaper and received recognition in Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. He continued his education at Kearney State College, earning his journalism degree in 1977. At just 22, he became one of Nebraska's youngest newspaper editors. He later returned to western Nebraska to work for the Sidney Telegraph and Scottsbluff Star-Herald.

His journalism career eventually led him into community and economic development. In 1988, Governor Kay Orr appointed him director of the Western Office of the Governor. He later spent 25 years working for the City of Sidney and Cheyenne County, including serving as Sidney's city manager from 1999 to 2015.

Since 2015, Person has served as President and CEO of the North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corporation. During that time, North Platte has experienced significant economic growth, with new businesses, housing developments and downtown improvements. His work has earned him numerous honors, including the Nebraska Community College Association Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996 and the University of Nebraska at Kearney Distinguished Alumni Award in 2026.

In 2025, Person shared a special college milestone with his grandson, Austin Svitak. The two graduated exactly 50 years apart, with Person earning his NWC degree in 1975 and Austin graduating from WNCC in 2025. They also graduated from high school 50 years apart. Person graduated from Banner County High School in 1973 and Austin from Scottsbluff High School in 2023. Austin's WNCC graduation took place on the same day as the 50-year reunion for the NWC Class of 1975. Austin is now studying medicine at UNMC in Omaha.

Outside of his career, Person and his wife, Joyce, have two daughters and five grandchildren. The couple celebrates their 50th wedding anniversary this October. Throughout his career, Person has remained connected to his western Nebraska roots and the education that helped him get his start at NWC.

10/12/2026

Check out the KNEB News Extra with Alumni Director Mary Sheffield as she dishes on the fun things coming for Homecoming Week and the rest of October.

Listen by clicking below!
https://p.ftur.io/knebam/4281

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10/12/2026

Did any of our Alumni followers play tennis for the college? Take a look as we share some memories below!

🎾 A Legacy on the Courts

From 1930 to 1983, tennis was part of the story of what is now Western Nebraska Community College, building a legacy of competition, determination and Cougar pride.

Over the decades, Cougar tennis celebrated Region IX championships, sent student-athletes to the NJCAA National Tournament and created opportunities for generations of competitors.

Even as the varsity program neared its end, students continued to find a way to compete. In 1982–83, four women formed their own club team, and Sheli Edwards and Ingrid Schumacher went on to qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament in both singles and doubles — raising their own money to make the trip.

Though competitive tennis ended in 1983, its more than 50-year history remains part of WNCC’s first century. 💙💛

10/08/2026

WNCC’s Powerline Construction and Maintenance program began in May 2006 at the Alliance campus, following years of planning and collaboration between Western Nebraska Community College and the City of Alliance. From securing funding and developing a training facility to recruiting instructors and building a curriculum, the goal was to create a hands-on program that would prepare students for careers in the powerline industry.

The program welcomed approximately 15 students in its first class, many of whom were adults looking for new career opportunities. John Corum, the program’s first instructor, helped build the program from the ground up. Beyond providing valuable career training close to home, the program brought new families to Alliance, supported local businesses, and made a lasting impact on the community.

This year, WNCC celebrates 20 years of Powerline.

10/06/2026

Tamera Leeling’s interest in journalism started when she was young. As a child, she would pretend to be a news anchor and give updates on her own make-believe television channel using stories she created herself. Her mother noticed that interest and encouraged her to take journalism classes in high school. Leeling went on to work as a reporter for her high school newspaper during her junior year and as a design editor for the yearbook during her senior year.

In 1982, Leeling decided to continue her education close to home at what was then Nebraska Western College. She majored in journalism and liked the smaller class sizes and the one-on-one attention from her instructors. She remembers them taking a real interest in their students and wanting to see them do well. Leeling also joined the staff of “The Spectator,” the college newspaper, serving as feature editor during her freshman year and editor during her sophomore year.

Mr. Pospisel was one instructor Leeling remembers especially well. He took her under his wing and helped her become a stronger writer. He also taught her a lot about leading a team. The journalism program introduced her to new writing techniques and new technology in the field. Leeling did not end up becoming a professional journalist, but the skills she learned at WNCC stayed with her and showed up again and again throughout her career.

Her first adult career was with the National Park Service at Scotts Bluff National Monument, where she worked as a seasonal interpretive park ranger. She wrote press releases, researched topics, and created programs for visitors. She later worked at the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, where she helped edit and prepare the sheriff’s weekly newspaper column and other correspondence. When Leeling later joined Gering Public Schools, she once again found herself using the writing and communication skills she had learned years earlier.

At Gering Public Schools, Leeling helped prepare the superintendent’s weekly newspaper column, managed the district’s educational cable channel, and created informational handbooks for substitute teachers. Later, as an elementary school secretary, she took over the school newsletter and wrote short stories that were both educational and fun for students. She also maintained the school website. Leeling later served as city clerk and office manager for the City of Terrytown, where she managed the city website and created a monthly newsletter with community events, safety tips, local history, and other useful information for residents.

Leeling now works as an office specialist with the Nebraska State Patrol at Troop E in Scottsbluff. In Fingerprint Services, she assists with background checks, works with members of the public, and creates instructional materials for coworkers and informational handouts for others. The influence of her WNCC journalism education can be seen throughout her career. Writing, editing, interviewing, and sharing information have all remained part of her work. More than four decades later, the skills she gained as a journalism student are still part of what she does every day.

10/05/2026

🍎 Happy World Teachers’ Day!

Great teachers do more than teach a subject. They encourage us, challenge us, believe in us and sometimes change the direction of our lives.

As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, we want to hear from our WNCC alumni: Who was a teacher or instructor at WNCC who made a lasting impact on you?

Share their name in the comments and tell us what made them memorable. Let’s give a little recognition to the educators who helped shape generations of Cougars!

10/02/2026

The Sidney Sun-Telegraph provides news, information, and advertising for residents of Cheyenne County through our award-winning weekly newspaper and our website.

10/02/2026

Scottsbluff Junior College celebrated its first graduating class on May 17, 1933, with 16 graduates. Since then, thousands of students have crossed the stage, closing one chapter of their lives and stepping into the next.

🎓 100 Years of WNCC: The 1930s

As we celebrate WNCC’s centennial, we’re continuing our look back at the people, places and moments that shaped our first 100 years. This month, we’re stepping into the 1930s — a decade that brought one of the most important milestones in our history.

On May 17, 1933, 16 members of Scottsbluff Junior College’s first graduating class received their diplomas in front of family, friends, faculty and administrators at the Orpheum Theatre.

It was the first of many graduation days to come. In the decades since, generations of students have crossed the stage carrying big dreams and looking toward what comes next.

Pictured is Scottsbluff Junior College’s first graduating class — the first students to begin a tradition that continues at WNCC today.

Follow along throughout October as we share more stories from the 1930s and continue our journey through 100 years of WNCC. 💙💛

09/30/2026

Back in 1984, technology was coming to NWC and benefiting journalism students.

Electronic journalism was the new trend the “Spectator” used to save time in typing stories and proofreading.

Rochelle Matzke is pictured below entering a news story into the CompuEdit typesetter. The typed information was recorded on a magnetic tape and transferred onto photo paper for use in pasteups of the newspaper.

What do you remember about the early days of this technology coming to the college?