Earlier this year, we asked students, alumni, faculty and staff to chip in 150 words on their Doane experience. Entries ranged from not-at-all-inhibited memories of student life (we see you, Stop Day) to the university’s lasting imprint on them today.
For many, campus was the setting for their coming-of-age story. For others, it’s a dichotomy between fondness and regret.
We thought it might prove difficult to succinctly summarize what Doane means to each individual. But of course, as graduates and employees of a liberal arts university, the essays are creative, mini time capsules back to each author’s days — or into the future — as a Doane Tiger.
All entries are published here, as well as a couple poems from early 20th century graduates.
Want to share your own essay? Use our online entry form or share with us by emailing [email protected].
I Want to Remember
Poem by Leora Carlson Anderson, Class of 1929
Published in Tiger Lilies, 1930
Memory is a funny thing;
It means so much — so little.
When I think back through all the years,
The million years I’ve lived.
I have forgotten so many things
That once I surely knew.
And the things I do recall
Are commonplace and small:
Fear of a cat,
A doll with a broken leg,
A scratched piano bench,
Red-topped shoes —
What early good — these memories;
And yet — I cannot give them up.
Four college years!
They mean so much to me.
I want to remember friends.
A few heartaches — all the happy days.
But what I probably shall remember are these:
A tarnished radiator,
The steep hill to Gaylord,
Spinach,
A professor’s pointed shoes.
Why can’t we play safe
And keep all memories.
Ali Clendenin ’22B
Being a Doane Tiger means being a leader to me. As I sat amongst my fellow grads last month in the cool morning mist, Dr. Hughes’ emphasis on how Doane builds leaders resonated with me as I quietly reflected on the journey to my MBA over the past year. Tigers symbolize strength, and leaders need it more now than ever amidst uncharted waters. I am grateful for the well-rounded business education I received in the online program, from both my professors and colleagues alike. This experience and degree has been and will continue to alter the trajectory of my life. I will take the knowledge and practical applications with me to lead with integrity and always recognize the strength that comes with teamwork. I might be in California, but being a Doane Tiger goes beyond city limits, impacting our greater community in a multitude of positive ways.
Daniel Jackman ’89 (Member of Doane’s Board of Trustees since ’06)
Doane College, now Doane University, “the College on the Hill’ is a place to grow, learn and explore. My family history with Doane goes back to when my grandfather graduated in 1908. We now have four generations who have graduated from Doane. The distinct advantage of being a small liberal arts school is the connection and learning opportunities with faculty, administration, and classmates (and even Trustees). All of my family members who attended Doane have these experiences.
My favorite memories from Doane included the support from faculty and the administration to pursue international experiences. I enjoyed a semester in Copenhagen and two trips to the Soviet Union. Whether it was parties in Quads or the lectures from [Bill] Gleason, [Ned] McPartland, [Chris] Masters and [Marcia] Freer or wandering Moscow, Russia with my classmates over interterm, Doane expanded my mind, gave me confidence and a foundation to explore the world. May Doane’s tradition live on!
Payton Schelin ’23
Being a Doane tiger is more than just being an undergraduate college student. You become the strongest and most confident person in any room. I have learned from my experiences so far at Doane that there is more to myself and more that I can do. Doane helped me find my hidden talents and helped me bring those traits out. All so in the future, I will be able to walk into any room and own it like it’s my own, and owning it in the best way possible.
Amy Slama ’98
Doane symbolized many “firsts” for me in my coming of age. I was a first-generation college student, studying an array of subjects within the Doane Plan. There were new diverse friendships in the making, and I was exposed to fresh ideas and concepts. A first-ever jet ride for the Africa study abroad was the catalyst for future trips by other students led by Dr. Levitov to the continent. It was at Doane that I fell in love and experienced heartbreak. In Gaylord Hall, I discovered a new-found calling for writing. In fact, I was the first student with freshman status to covet one of the Owl’s writing awards. Lastly, Dr. Brubacher’s New Testament Bible class proved to be a foundation for spiritual growth and understanding as I did not have that growing up as a kid. For me, Doane was pivotal and magical…and it remains that way today.
Daniel DePasquale ’67
As we celebrate Doane’s sesquicentennial, I would like to share two thoughts that come to mind.
First, the author Joseph Wambaugh, in one of his books has a character sum up life in two words – Regrets and Remembrances. Those two words can also express our many experiences at Doane. We all have done things we wish we could do over while attending Doane – the Regrets. However, as we age and move through life we also can reflect on the wonderful experiences, the good professors and the great people we interacted with at Doane – the Remembrances.
Second, I’m reminded of an article I read about a woman who removed her grass and planted a variety of perennials and native plants. It struck me that Doane is very much like this woman. Each of us brought a variety of experiences and differences to Doane. Doane did not try to change who we were, but rather like the woman, nurtured us and allowed us to grow in our own unique ways. Perhaps this is the reason so many Doane graduates have been so successful in life.
Joshua Johnson, executive assistant for financial affairs and human resources
When does Doane’s Future begin? Does it begin with the adoption of a new strategic plan? Perhaps the approval of next year’s budget? Is it when the next academic calendar drops?
Or does Doane’s future begin with you - at this very moment, right now? This was the wisdom that St. John Paul II left us when he declared that, “the future begins today, not tomorrow.”
For me, the future began in 2020 when I experienced firsthand the lengths to which our team will go for our students. When we, together, shifted as a community to ensure that Doane would survive and thrive during the pandemic. In particular I recall the many interactions with members of our facilities team during this time. At great personal risk to themselves and often without fanfare; they went above and beyond to answer the call when our community needed to be kept safe and our campus beautiful.
Brooke Burianek Harms ’14
Doane. One name to evoke countless memories of friendship, fun, and laughter. A place where
opportunities abound and the tools to excel are at your fingertips. A place where help is always
available if you ask. A tight-knit community proud of its roots and excited for the future. Native
Nebraskans and others from around the country and globe coming together in one unique place.
Evenings on the quad balconies, the Caf, Butler Dances, Homecoming, Stop Day, Greek Week.
126,227,704 (approximately) seconds spent on the campus that go by in the blink of an eye. Where
5 days a week on campus was never enough and you wanted to spend weekends there too because
0 other places like it exist in the universe.
Thank you to all who have made Doane home to many over the past 150 years. Happy birthday Doane and cheers to 150 more!
Richard Terrell, professor of art (Emeritus)
Taught at Doane from 1970-2009
I taught almost my whole 39-year career in the Whitin building, originally the college library and converted into an Art building in 1971. Eventually razed to make way for the Hixon-Lied Art facility, part of its Renaissance Revival facade is framed in the entrance arch at the west end of Hixson-Lied/Chab Weyers. Whitin had fluid spaces for different studio activities, and this enabled a unique kind of interaction and communication between students working in different media. Many students have told me that the place was a great home for them, and loved it. A maintenance staff person, who knew the building well, told me once in all seriousness that the building had a ghost, and that he and a co-worker had both seen it! Whitin was old, rough, creaky, and a sometimes frustrating place, but in memory the place was like an old friend.
Alyssa (Fetzer) Dennis ’11
I’m frequently nostalgic for Doane.
There are the obvious things; campus is unbelievably beautiful, professors are real people who care about you, and you know the students sitting next to you in class.
And then there are the things that take up residence in your heart and create the individual Doane experience. I get to wake up every morning next to the boy who stole my heart in the Quads; he’s now my husband and the father of my three babies. I have an old Gamma sweatshirt that wraps me in so many sweet memories of friendship, fun, and laughter with the best girls. I can vividly picture CM02 where I wrote all my papers. I’ve been chased by swans and stood at the top of Merrill Tower. There were Stop Days and Interterms - and also ordinary days, which all made you count your blessings that you could be there.
Ron Osborne, adjunct professor and adviser to the Agribusiness degree program
As an advisor to the Agribusiness program, Doane University has helped me to give back to a wonderful community that gives the world the food, fiber, and fuel that it needs to prosper. Agriculture is the most important industry in the world and helping to develop the skills necessary for our future agribusiness leaders is deeply rewarding.
John H. Jones ’70
My parents spoke of Doane College with fondness, mentioning cherished friendships and respect for the leaders and faculty they knew. My life was affected by their Doane experience, as I was born shortly after my dad graduated. He had left Doane for Navy wartime service after training in the V-12 program. They were married upon his return, and I was born after Mom graduated. Dad needed another year to graduate, and then they raised four boys who all graduated from Doane. His Navy experiences led me to enter the Navy after I graduated, and I served for a career with my Doane bride helping others as we traveled the globe. Now, our son-in-law has made Doane University a foundational part of his resume after completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Doane’s tradition of excellence, based on cherished values and a commitment to make our world better, continues in our family.
Kaylene Vieselmeyer Hawkins ’05
Doane. Oh, the places you have gone! The places you have been, the faces that you have seen. Some have gone far, some have gone near, some have gone here and some have gone there.
Oh, the amazing things you know! Your tower stands above all. Merrill will ring tonight here and there.
Oh, the places you have been! Some studied hard, some partied hard, and some will never know. There can never be a place like you. You enlighten generations. Your beauty is not only in your autumn canopy, but above all else its students are beautifully rehearsed. Some become teachers, doctors, leaders, or business owners, yet they know their work is not unnoticed. They stand out above the rest.
When asked where are you from they swell with pride and say, “Doane!” “Oh, I see!” You stand out above the rest. Because there is no place like Doane!
A Toast (50 Years Out of College)
Poem by Helen Perry Curtis, Class of 1911
Published in Tiger Lilies, 1930
A toast to our college days, my lads,
The best of our days, in truth;
When hand gripped hand, and eye met eye,
With the fearless faith of youth;
When the earth was ours for the taking, lads;
The sea was ours to fill;
When the whole wide world with its wealth and fame,
Must bend to our conquering will.
Come, throw dull care to the winds, my lads!
Arm in arm, as in days of yore,
Let the old hall ring
With the songs we sing,
For tonight we are young once more!
But now we are bent and old, my lads,
And, it may be, cumbered with care,
And the only crown of our world-wide reign
Is a crown of silvery hari.
Our wealth may be only in friends, my lads,
Our fame in their loyal hearts,
And our faith in life may be shaken a bit
As year after year departs.
But throw dull care to the winds, my lads!, etc. . . .
And our conquering wills? — You smile my lads. —
We have conquered our wills, please God.
We have learned that greatness is only to serve;
That to reach the heights, we must pld.
Is it fifty years? Ah, no, my lads,
It seems but as many days,
For the spirit of youth is with us yet.
Thank God for our college days!
So throw dull care to the winds, my lads! Etc. . .
