Dr. Michael Chipps, President of Mid-Plains Community College, presents MPCC Board of Governor’s member Jane Hornung with the Nebraska Community College Association’s 2009 Governor’s Award.
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Jane Hornung, a member of the Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors, recently received the Nebraska Community College Association’s 2009 Governor’s Award. She was recognized during ceremonies conducted during the Nebraska Community College Association’s Legislative Summit held earlier this month in Lincoln.
In his presentation, MPCC President Dr. Michael Chipps stated, “Ms. Hornung is an outstanding Board member, is supportive of Nebraska’s Community Colleges, and is a well respected member of our rural communities. We are pleased that Jane is the recipient of the 2009-2010 Governor’s Award from the Nebraska Community College Association.”
Ms. Hornung was born at Arnold, Neb., and was raised on a ranch four miles west of Arnold. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Consumer Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1967. She spent the next 26 years teaching, mostly in the Arnold area.
She then spent three years serving as the Director of the School-to-Work Partnership. The following four years were spent serving as Superintendent of Schools for Paxton Consolidated Schools. Her educational achievements continued when she earned a Master’s Degree and EdS Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
In 1985, Ms. Hornung was appointed to fill a vacancy on the MPCC Board of Governors. She has since been re-elected six times while running unopposed each election. Since 2004, Ms. Hornung has served on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Community College Association and recently completed her term as chair. She also served on the NCCA Board from 1993-1995. She was the first female member of Rotary International in District 563 and has served as the President of the Arnold Club and the District Vocational Service Chair in 1992. She served on the Arnold Village Board from 1983-1984, as a 4-H Leader in Custer County from 1983-1985, and participated in the Nebraska Community Development Block Grant. She believes these experiences have helped her as an ongoing contributor to MPCC.
In her early years on the Board, Ms. Hornung’s input was instrumental in the development of delivery systems and techniques designed to serve rural needs, such as a Mobile Metals Lab, a Slow Scan system of delayed videos that preceded the current Distance Learning system, Dual Enrollment courses at area high schools, a satellite nursing program, farm and ranch management programs, and a small business assistance center. More recently, she has assisted in the development of the Union Pacific Railroad’s training offerings at the college, online courses, satellite campuses, assessment center offerings, and in expanding and improving MPCC’s Distance Learning programs.
Ms. Hornung also served as a Board representative in the more than 2-year process in the selection, purchase and implementation of the college’s first integrated business and student services computer software. Additionally, she has been active in encouraging innovative educational partnerships with business and industry, such as deepening training partnerships with Valmont in McCook and the Union Pacific Railroad in North Platte.
Ms. Hornung served on the Instructional and Student Services Committee from 1985-1986; was the Chair of the Instructional and Student Services Committee from 1988-2006; and served on the Campus Development Committee in 1986 and 1990. Some of the projects she has been involved in include the renovation of McCook Community College’s Tipton Hall, True Hall gymnasium, Walsh-Brady Hall, McMillen Hall and Brooks Residential Hall, as well as renovation of the McDonald-Belton Welcome Center, construction of the Diesel Shop and the 144-bed Residence Hall Complex at North Platte Community College.
In 2002, Ms. Hornung was among the MPCC Board members who voted to formally identify McCook Community College and North Platte Community College as “Divisions of Mid-Plains Community College.” This action helped to promote a “one-college” concept between the campuses, which ultimately led to greater unification and communication amongst college administration, faculty, and students. During her tenure on the board she also helped in the process of relocating the MPCC Area administration offices from a remote downtown location to the college campuses and facilitated the sale of the old office building.
Ms. Hornung’s vision and actions have been at the forefront in the development of distance learning education in the MPCC Area and thus allow for quality educational opportunities to the over 20,000 square mile service area. She was highly supportive of the MPCC’s vision of growth and expansion when the college established extended campuses in Broken Bow and Ogallala in 2000; when the Valentine Extended Campus was created in 2002; and when the Imperial Extended Campus became MPCC’s fourth outreach location in 2003. All four extended campuses offer a localized Associate of Arts degree program, as well as academic transfer, technical, community service and business and industry training in their respective communities.
She supported the creation of the state’s first Practical Nursing program, taught via satellite to Valentine and McCook – communities that are more than 200 miles apart and who desperately need health care professionals in their areas, and her dedication and leadership were instrumental in the development and construction of the Hormel Center for Advanced Study in McCook.
Ms. Hornung also helped to pave the way for the establishment of on-campus offices and partnerships with Chadron State College and Bellevue University. These partnerships allow students a seamless transition from the two-year Associate’s rank into their respective upper-level educational degree opportunities.
Ms. Hornung’s vision, support and leadership have helped MPCC become the source for quality education and training in the I8-county service area. This has allowed the college to play its part in the stabilization and continued existence of rural economic development in West-Central and Southwest Nebraska.
Ms. Hornung is a staunch advocate for rural communities and students. Her efforts and leadership in helping to develop distance learning delivery methods for students and instructors in outlying areas has been of immeasurable value to the rural population throughout the state. Her roles as teacher, principal, and superintendent have provided Ms. Hornung with valuable expertise in developing curriculum and in serving the needs of area secondary education and her role as “School to Work Director” equipped her with the skills of interpreting and responding to the expectations and needs of employers and industry. Additionally, Ms. Hornung’s dedication to the ideals of vocational education has allowed her to assume leadership roles in Vocations Organizations and Vocational Student Organizations.
Ms. Hornung was actively involved in the year-long process of researching and developing a matrix to be used in proposals for new athletic programs. During this process, Ms. Hornung was often called upon to present program reviews to the board. During her tenure on the board, Ms. Horning has also presented and testified at numerous Legislative hearings. On June 18th, Ms. Hornung gave testimony on behalf of the college regarding LB 1524, at the Coordinating Commission on Post-Secondary Education hearings held in Lincoln. At the June 24th Board of Governors meeting, Dr. Chipps commended Ms. Hornung on her excellent testimony to the commission.
In Dr. Chipps presentation, he stated that “Ms. Hornung is an outstanding Board member, supportive of two-year post-secondary education, and a highly respected member of our community. We are extremely pleased that the Nebraska Community College Association’s choice for the Governor’s Award.”