Peru State College National Alumni Association

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# #ｆｕｎｆａｃｔｆｒｉｄａｙ Robert Curry served as the Principal (President) of Peru Normal from 1877-1883.Curry came to Peru Norm...
10/09/2026

# #ｆｕｎｆａｃｔｆｒｉｄａｙ

Robert Curry served as the Principal (President) of Peru Normal from 1877-1883.

Curry came to Peru Normal from the post of deputy state superintendent of public instruction in Pennsylvania. His wife, Jennie, also joined the staff as teach of language and arts.

The transition from S.R. Thompson was smooth, as Curry's methods and philosophy were nearly identical.

Curry believed that social life was an important part of education. He worked to expand the offerings of the school's literary societies and sponsored receptions in his parlors.

His resignation caught the school by surprise. "He shrank instinctively from the the effort to induce the Legislature to provide better and more commodious buildings," according to a report on public education. "He felt it was his duty to retire give the position to another whose ambition would ... mold the educational life of the state."

The first scholarship posting for the month of October is the Thomas & Marjorie (Kennedy) Dean Scholarship.Thomas and Ma...
10/07/2026

The first scholarship posting for the month of October is the Thomas & Marjorie (Kennedy) Dean Scholarship.

Thomas and Marjorie met at Peru State College and were married while attending college. They graduated in 1942.

Later, the Deans established the Thomas and Marjorie (Kennedy) Dean Scholarship to encourage students who are pursuing a career in education and to give back to their alma mater.

❤️ Okay, we are going back to 1966 for this Memory Monday. Who can remember who the Homecoming Queen candidates were th...
10/05/2026

❤️

Okay, we are going back to 1966 for this Memory Monday. Who can remember who the Homecoming Queen candidates were that wall?

Name them or at least one of them and you might just win a prize!

🖤

There was a new "gateway" to Peru in 1875.A Midland Pacific Railway line reached from Nebraska City to Peru in 1875. T...
10/02/2026



There was a new "gateway" to Peru in 1875.

A Midland Pacific Railway line reached from Nebraska City to Peru in 1875. The railroad improved access to the school, allowing young people from a much wider area to attend the State Normal School.

A horse-drawn dray would carry the students' belongings up and down the steep hill that led from the railroad station to campus.

Peru State College Celebrates Successful 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame InductionPeru State College and the PSC Foundation a...
09/30/2026

Peru State College Celebrates Successful 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

Peru State College and the PSC Foundation are proud to announce the successful conclusion of the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame induction weekend, held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18–19. The event marked the 40th anniversary of the Hall of Fame’s establishment in 1986 and honored a distinguished group of individuals and a championship team for their outstanding contributions to Bobcat Athletics.

This year’s celebration officially inducted five exceptional individuals and one legendary team:
• Bev Harris – Former three-sport star student-athlete
• Alex Malcom – Football standout
• Cornelius Riley – Football standout
• Jim Rosenquist (Posthumously) – Football standout
• Del Stoltenberg (Posthumously) – Former football player and extraordinarily successful coach
• 2000–2001 Women’s Basketball Team – Honored for their historic season and championship legacy

Harris was originally from Table Rock and presently lives in Lincoln, while Malcom is from Tabor, Iowa. A Deerfield Beach, Fla., native, Riley presently lives in Coconut Creek, Fla. Rosenquist hailed from Essex, Iowa, while Stoltenberg was a Nebraska City native and spent many years in Rock Port, Mo.

"This was a spectacular weekend of celebration, nostalgia, and Bobcat pride," said Ted L. Harshbarger, PSC Foundation Director of Alumni Relations. "For 40 years, the Hall of Fame has honored those who defined excellence at Nebraska’s first college. Our volunteer committee of alumni, former student-athletes, coaches, and administrators did a fantastic job selecting a class that truly represents the best of Peru State."

The induction ceremonies brought together alumni, family, and fans to relive iconic moments and honor the long-lasting impact these inductees made on and off the field.

“What was especially meaningful was hearing each of our Hall of Fame inductees reflect on the role Peru State played in their lives,” said Jon Firmature, Executive Director of the PSC Foundation. “Their stories were different, but the message was remarkably similar — the experiences, relationships, and opportunities they found at Peru State helped shape who they are today. That is a powerful testament to the lasting impact of this College.”

For more information on Peru State College Athletics or to view past Hall of Fame inductees, please visit www.pscbobcats.com/honors/hall-of-fame. Information is also available on how to nominate an individual or team for a future induction.

The last scholarship for the month of September is the Jo Davis Scholarship.This scholarship was established by Jo Davis...
09/30/2026

The last scholarship for the month of September is the Jo Davis Scholarship.

This scholarship was established by Jo Davis who was a friend of Peru State College.

Mrs. Davis and her husband made several generous gifts to the College primarily for the music program. Donations allowed the College to acquire a Steinway grand piano and to purchase major equipment for the choral department. She had received many recognitions from different groups for her philanthropy – especially for music.

Later in life, Mrs. Davis began taking piano lessons from the late Dr. Tom Ediger and developed her love for Peru State and its choral department. She had received many recognitions from different groups for her philanthropy – especially for music.

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#ｍｅｍｏｒｙｍｏｎｄａｙ This 2016 picture features an individual who was heavily involved in music while at PSC and still is toda...
09/28/2026

#ｍｅｍｏｒｙｍｏｎｄａｙ

This 2016 picture features an individual who was heavily involved in music while at PSC and still is today!!

Who is this? If you know, comment below and possibly earn a prize!

S.R. Thompson was the Principal (now considered as president) at Peru Normal from 1875-1877.Thompson, a graduate of We...
09/25/2026



S.R. Thompson was the Principal (now considered as president) at Peru Normal from 1875-1877.

Thompson, a graduate of Westminster College in Pennsylvania, was named principal after two previous selections to succeed Thomas J. Morgan failed to last more than a few months each.

He came from the new Agricultural College in Lincoln, where he had served as a professor and the first dean. Thompson brought strict regulation and efficiency to Peru Normal, reorganizing the model school and giving the faculty more systematic direction for their work.

"Each pupil who associated with him realized that he was a true companion and friend of the student, J.L. McBrien said later in a report on public education in Nebraska. "The student unconsciously yielded to his influence."

Thompson succeeded John McKenzie as state superintendent of public instruction.

The next scholarship to be shared in September is the Dawn (Nebola) and Rich Daly Scholarship.Rich Daly established this...
09/23/2026

The next scholarship to be shared in September is the Dawn (Nebola) and Rich Daly Scholarship.

Rich Daly established this scholarship in memory of his wife Dawn (Nebola) Daly. Dawn (1969) and Rich (1968) met as students at Peru State College. Both were elementary majors who pursued successful and fulfilling careers in elementary education in Nebraska.

Dawn taught for 35 years in the Auburn and Grand Island Public School Districts. After retiring in Lincoln, Dawn, who passed in 2016, participated in the Community Women’s Club, Welcome Wagon, and PEO Chapter 9.

Rich continued to attend Peru State events until his passing in 2025. He also taught and was a principal for many years in Grand Island. Rich was extremely proud of his time spent in education and loved to share stories of all the people and children with whom he worked.

This scholarship will support future elementary education majors who seek to follow in their footsteps.

“Platte Passages” Photography Exhibition Brings Wilderness Storytelling to Peru State College’s AV Larson GalleryPeru St...
09/21/2026

“Platte Passages” Photography Exhibition Brings Wilderness Storytelling to Peru State College’s AV Larson Gallery

Peru State College is proud to host “Platte Passages,” a captivating photography exhibition showcasing the incredible, sprawling landscapes and vibrant wildlife of the Platte River Basin. On display through the entire month of September, the collection takes over the AV Larson Gallery, offering visitors an intimate look at the natural world through the lenses of five fanatic conservation and wildlife photographers.

The exhibition highlights the collective work of Dakota Altman, Ethan Freese, Mariah Lundgren, Carlee Moates, and Grant Reiner. All five are deeply rooted producers and storytellers for the Platte Basin Timelapse (PBT) project, a unique initiative founded to put the 90,000-square-mile ecosystem into motion. From alpine trout streams and braided prairie rivers to sweeping grasslands and working ranches, these artists have spent years capturing the remarkable resilience, beauty, and hidden moments of the regional ecosystem.

"Our goal as conservation storytellers is to inspire care for our land and water and connect our neighbors up and downstream through the power of story," the group shared in a joint exhibition
statement.

Each artist brings a unique specialized background to the collection, blending art with empirical science:
• Dakota Altman: A UNL Master of Applied Science graduate specializing in wetland conservation storytelling.
• Ethan Freese: A restoration ecologist and fellow in the Emerging League of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
• Mariah Lundgren: PBT project manager and long-time documentary filmmaker focusing on Great Plains wild landscapes.
• Carlee Moates: An instructor who blends art, agriculture, and journalism to reveal hidden muses in the natural world.
• Grant Reiner: A cinematographer with a focus on science communication and connecting people to outdoor spaces.

Accompanied by deeply personal written reflections, the photos offer a profound passage into each photographer's individual connection to a specific moment in time—whether following the path of a migratory bird or waiting hours for the perfect prairie sunrise.

Exhibition Details
• Location: AV Larson Gallery, Peru State College, Peru, NE.
• Dates: On display through September 30, 2026.
• Gallery Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Admission: Free and open to the public.

For special viewing requests or to coordinate a group visit outside regular hours, appointments can be made directly with gallery director Professor Susan Moore by emailing [email protected].

About Peru State College’s AV Larson Gallery:
The AV Larson Gallery is a premier campus cultural hub dedicated to showcasing a diverse range of artistic mediums, elevating regional narratives, and bringing compelling visual education to the Peru State College student body and the broader Southeast Nebraska community.

Address

600 Hoyt Street, AV Larson
Peru, NE
68421

Telephone

+14028722304

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