Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration at Peru State College

The Peru State Education Association, PSEA, sponsored by Dr. Judith Ruskamp, once again threw one heck of a birthday party for Dr. Seuss and the lucky children who visited our campus.

All told, nearly 1,300 youngsters--from Falls City to Nebraska City, from Auburn to Rock Port--gathered in the Peru State Theater for three sessions of raucous hilarity. These children, accompanied by 70 classroom teachers, came from 20 area schools.

PSEA worked hard for many months to organize this event, which includes a gift of books to all the youngsters who attended the celebration that took place over two days--with one show at 1:00 pm on Thursday, February 26, and two shows, at 9:30 am and 1:00 pm, on Friday, February 26.

PSEA Cast and Crew of Dr. Seuss' Birthday Celebration

This year's festivities included "The Sneetches," one of Seuss' most-loved stories about tolerance and inclusion.

You can enjoy this skit on You Tube, a video that also includes footage of the very happy youngsters who filled the theater both Thursday and Friday.

I created a slide show of the evenon Flickr--you can download as many images as you like. .

The festivities also included an exciting performance of Yertel the Turtle, a long-time Seuss favorite about a prideful turtle who endures a rather nasty fall.

No one got injured in any of the productions!

As always, the youngsters also took the "Dr. Seuss Readers' Oath" administered again this year by Ted Harshbarger.


This year's show also featured the return after a six-year absence of Dr. Chet Harper's and my antics with the beloved "Green Eggs and Ham." Chet and I hope that the good Dr. Seuss forgives us the liberties taken with his wonderful narrative.

We have engaged in this fun for the past five years at Tarkio Elementary School. And they keep inviting us back; you can view a video of last year's performance" on You Tube.

As always, the students involved with PSEA provided the youngsters a memory-etching experience at Peru State College that will certainly enhance their love of books.

History Day at Peru State College

On Wednesday, February 25, two hundred and fifty students traveled to Peru State College to take part in History Day and to celebrate the event's Twenty Fifth Anniversary.

Accompanied by their eighteen teachers from fourteen schools, the students combined for One Hundred and Fifty Six entrees. These entries included everything from poster sessions to web page presentations. And the festival required sixty six judges, which included quite a few returning Peru State graduates, many of whom posed for the following photograph:


Dr. Sara Crook, Professor of Political Science, started History Day at Peru State College twenty five years ago, beginning with one judge and only a few entrants.

History Day on the campus has grown to become the most successful of these events in Nebraska.

And for her hard work, Dr. Crook received a plaque, pictured in the photograph to the left, from the state's coordinator of History Day events, Dr. Meghan Winchell.

This anniversary year's celebration also ranks as the best-attended event over the past twenty-five years, and everyone anticipates another successful celebration of talent next year.

You can enjoy a slide show from the day's activities and download any photographs that appeal to you.

History Day's acclaim not only draws former students and other members of the college community to the campus but also attracts historic figures of no small reputation as the following image underscores:


Still spry for his 200 years, Abraham Lincoln took part in many activities, including giving a talk and handing out awards. Professor of History Spencer Davis played the role of Lincoln, as he frequently does at schools and events throughout Nebraska.


Chancellor Stan Carpenter addressed the participants of History Day before the presentations. Trevor Shalon stands to Dr. Crook's left--he served as intern for this year's record-breaking event and worked for hours a day over the past couple months to ensure this History Day's success.

Honors Choir at Peru State College

Honor Choir Performs on February 24 in the College Theater

As high school singers did last year, some two-hundred and fifty excellent voices practiced most of Tuesday here on campus, efforts that culminated that evening in a well-attended choral concert that included a performance by Peru State's Misty Blues, whose also danced their way across the stage this past Sunday.

The show also featured Dr. Tom Ediger, the choral director, and Denis Plutalov's piano playing.

The large group of students came from the following Nebraska and Missouri high schools: Weeping Water, Rock Port (MO), Yutan, Ralston, Pawnee City, Nebraska City, McCool Junction, Louisville, Lincoln High School, Johnson County, Friend, Elmwood-Murdock, and Craig (MO).

And as the following couple images indicate, the students enjoyed more than singing at the College of a Thousand Oaks:




As usual, I created a slide show and pictures at Flickr for your enjoyment.

In the evening, the Honors Choir singers joined the Peru State Concert Choir for the culmination of the Choral Festival. With Denis Plutalov on the piano and Dr. Tom Ediger on the director's stand, the group of just under three hundred voices performed a number of pieces.

On You Tube, I published video of the group's performances of both Ludwig van Beethoven's "Hallelujah" (from "The Mount of Olives") and Joseph M. Martin's beautiful "The Awakening." (Clicking "Higher Quality) makes a profound difference.)

Enjoy the festivities.

Spring Choral Concert

Spring Concert Fanfare

This Sunday in the College Theater, Peru State's three choirs--The Concert Choir, The Madrigal Singers, and Misty Blue--directed by Dr. Tom Ediger performed this year's Spring Choral Concert.

Featuring Denis Plutalov on Piano, whose piano playing appeared in a video on a recent blog entry devoted to the Peru State College Music faculty.

As always, I created a slide show of the performances on Flickr for your amusement.

The Concert Choir's stirring rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven's Hallelujah from "The Mount of Olives" opened the afternoon's entertainment.

Peru State Concert Choir Conducted by Dr. Tom Ediger

You can see a video of the Show Choir performance on Your Tube or simply click below--going to You Tube, however, will allow you to see a much crisper performance of all three videos collected on this page.

After the Concert Choir completed its program, the Madrigal Singers began their series of songs, with lots of necessary FA, LA, LA, with Henry Purcell's "In These Delightful Pleasant Groves." I hope soon to publish on You Tube a video of this song but experience, well, technical difficulties. But do check again.


The Misty Blues closed out the afternoon's entertainment in their usual enthusiastic and energetic fashion. This show included two new songs showcased in the following video available to you in high quality on You Tube:

Watch and enjoy the Misty Blues sing and dance "Standing Outside the Fire" and "Louder than Words."

Music Faculty Recital, 17 February 2009

Music Faculty Recital, February 17, 2009

Plutalov, Ediger, Edris, and Meints

This Tuesday evening at 7:30 in Benford, Tom Ediger, David Edris, Kenneth Meints, and Denis Plutalov gave the final Faculty Recital in Benford Hall before the upcoming renovation of the Fine Arts Buildng.

The variety of the music and the excellence of the performances drew enthusiastic applause from those lucky enough to attend.

As usual, take a look at the slide show, this one on Flickr.

The evening began with Aeolian II, Tom Ediger on Piano and Dave Edris on Trumpet. They played Joseph Kaminsky's "Concertino for Trumpet & Orchestra."


I posted on YouTube sections of Aeolian's performing both "Un Poco Vivaldi" and "Tarantella." Give the videos a watch, and in high quality. After Tom Ediger and David Edris concluded their section of the program, Kenneth Meints took the stage with his Trombone.

You can view his playing J. S. Bach (Suite No. 3 BWV 1009) in what sounds like a continuous breath. Ken also joined with Tom for their rendition of Peter Tchaikowsky's Chanson Triste.

After Ken Meints played another solo, Elegy for Mippy II, a Leonard Bernstein (Mippy was a dog) piece, Denis Plutalov took the stage.

His playing Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" thrilled the crowd--Dennis has this piece published on You Tube.

And I recorded his playing for your entertainment his performance for the Benford Recital Hall audience "Sigmund's Love Song."

I hope that you enjoy the music as much as the music faculty members' efforts pleased the appreciative crowd.

Bobcat Basketball and Chili Feed

On Saturday, February 7, the Peru State College National Alumni Association--with assistance from the Peru State College Student Senate--hosted a Chili Feed at the Al Wheeler Center.



The PSC NAA Board hosted the event, with help from Cori Christiansen, PSC Alumni Relations Coordinator. The event aimed to the bring alumni together, support Bobcat athletics, and show off the newly remodeled Al Wheeler Center.

Paul and Arlene Fell, pictured on the left, chair the National Alumni Association.

And the free admission, chili, the beautiful athletic facility coupled with two exciting basketball games guaranteed an evening of fun for all in attendance.

The Pep Band Played--some in beach sand attire--and the PSC Cheerleaders added to the Blue and White fanfare.

On the following Flickr site you cannot download or just look at the fun photographs.

Many members of the Peru State Student Senate helped with the Chili Feed. This special group of enthusiastic and successful students remain active in campus affairs throughout the school year.

Many, for example, take part in the Student Senate's Valentine's Day event and recently took pleasure in the organization's Survival Kits at the conclusion of Fall Term.

Among other things, as these images attest, Student Senate organizes the Homecoming Parade, coordinates Blood Donations, helped with Job Fair, and serves in many other ways the Peru State College Student community.