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WAYNE — The Wayne State College Foundation is adding a new group of voices to help keep Wildcats connected long after graduation.
The Foundation has announced the formation of the Alumni and Friends Board, a new collaborative group dedicated to strengthening alumni engagement and supporting the mission of the Wayne State Foundation.
The Alumni and Friends Board brings together a team of alumni and supporters who are committed to fostering meaningful connections among graduates, friends and the college community. Working closely with the Wayne State Foundation, the group will assist with alumnicentered events, reunions, volunteer opportunities and broader engagement initiatives that celebrate Wayne State pride and service.
The Wayne State Foundation and Alumni Office works with the college in its mission of student development, regional service and keeping alumni connected. The office also helps coordinate alumni activities and events while working with donors to support scholarships, programs, campus projects and other initiatives that benefit Wayne State students and the college community.
Those connections reach well beyond the Wayne campus. Wayne State College reported 4,623 enrolled students for 2025-26, with students coming from 80 Nebraska counties, 35 states and 57 countries. The college also reported 45 percent of degree-seeking undergraduate students are first-generation students, making alumni involvement and scholarship support an important part of the college’s broader mission.
The members of the Alumni and Friends Board are Tracy Allgood, 1990; Jeff Carstens, 1982; Mary Carstens, 1978 and 1982; Vicki Engelen, 1976; Dr. Ron Holt, 1989; and Adam Smith, 2021.
Together, these members will serve as ambassadors for Wayne State, helping to create opportunities for alumni and friends to stay connected, give back and remain actively involved with the college.
“The formation of the Alumni and Friends group represents an important step forward in our commitment to meaningful alumni and community engagement,” said Hannah Lindsay, director of alumni relations and annual campaigns. “Their collaboration, experience, and enthusiasm will help strengthen relationships and enhance events and volunteer efforts that support Wayne State students and programs.”
The Alumni and Friends Board will begin working with the Wayne State Foundation immediately, with plans to support upcoming events and reunions and to expand alumni involvement in the months ahead.
