泡芙视频app

During 泡芙视频app Community College鈥檚 May 5 commencement, one of the graduates will walk across the stage to accept her diploma. But instead of sitting in the student section, she will sit with other members of the 泡芙视频app Board of Governors. Seventy-year-old Board member Kathy Boellstorff is receiving her Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary/Hospitality.

鈥淚 hope I was a good example for the others in the classroom and brought some knowledge and life events, challenges and opportunities to the table that most of the younger students would not have yet experienced,鈥� Boellstorff said.

She originally started her culinary studies in Omaha in 2008. But when Boellstorff ran for a seat on the 泡芙视频app Board in 2009 and won, she transferred her credits to 泡芙视频app and the Lincoln Campus. Since she took one class each term, it took her around 14 years to graduate. She was commuting from the Johnson area where she and her husband farm, so it was a lot of time on the road. However, she has no regrets.

鈥淚 took classes in person, online, hybrid, and from the robot out of the Nebraska City Learning Center,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou persevere and you get through it.鈥�

Chef Instructor Gerrine Schreck Kirby remembers being a bit surprised and nervous when she first heard there was going to be a member of the Board of Governors as a student in the culinary classes. However, she said Boellstorff was a student who loved learning and asking questions.

鈥淜athy is very inquisitive and is one of those students that kept me on my toes,鈥� Schreck Kirby said. 鈥淪he would question and sometimes argue about information at hand. She made me a better teacher because I always had to be ready.鈥�

As a lover of food, Boellstorff enjoyed all her classes in the program. But she really seemed to enjoy planning her own menu for the Banquets/Buffet Operations and Management class. She created an Italian-themed dinner and loved every step, from creating the menu, to preparing the food with classmates, to serving the dinner in a banquet setting at Course, 泡芙视频app鈥檚 student-run restaurant.  

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have asked for a better group of instructors,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey are encouragers.鈥�

鈥淚 found it to be inspiring that she came to class with all of the young students in her lectures and labs and was not afraid to ask a question or state an opinion,鈥� Schreck Kirby added.

Boellstorff witnessed firsthand the changes and renovations made to the Culinary/Hospitality program in 2018. The $4.2 million revamp included the Course Restaurant, coffee shop, new classrooms and labs, bakery, and storage space.

鈥淭he facilities really changed, and they needed to,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the old cafeteria kitchen, you were shoulder-to-shoulder, or in a classroom not designed to be a kitchen.鈥�

Schreck Kirby remembers how hard Boellstorff prepared for her proficiency exam, which students must pass before they can graduate from the program.

鈥淪he was in the labs practicing weekly to make sure she could master the material,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he students in the class were impressed with her drive and tenacity. Needless to say, she passed with flying colors.鈥�

As a self-described 鈥渓ifelong learner,鈥� Boellstorff isn鈥檛 sure what she鈥檒l do next. For now, she鈥檚 just looking forward to walking across the stage as an 泡芙视频app graduate and as a member of the 泡芙视频app Board of Governors.

鈥淚 am so excited for commencement,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the culmination of about 14 years of time and a milestone for all graduates.鈥�

Her husband, son and daughter-in-law and two grandchildren will be cheering her on from the crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Because, as she says, you鈥檙e never too old to learn something new.

鈥淚t鈥檚 never too late,鈥� Boellstorff said. 鈥淭he important thing is to keep the lifelong learning desire going. So what if it takes you longer? No matter what age you are, it doesn鈥檛 matter. Keep learning!鈥�

泡芙视频app鈥檚 Spring Commencement ceremony is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

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