Delta Tau Delta - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Delta Tau Delta Page 3 nebraskadelts@gmail.com L ife has taken Father Steve Thomlison '90 across the globe, but even after a career in politics, two hazardous duty tours overseas, and becoming an ordained Catholic priest, he still values his Beta Tau experience. Q: Why did you decide to join Delta Tau Delta? A: I thought the Greek/fraternity experience at UNL would be a good one. I was impressed with the leadership qualities of the Delts and had many friends who were Delts. Troy Larsen '89 invited me to join! Q: What did your undergraduate experience at Beta Tau mean to you? A: I made a lot of great, deep friendships, which continue to this day. I valued the opportunities to encounter different types of leadership experiences. We had a saying in the house, Delta Tau Delta: some men have higher aspirations than others! Beta Tau helped me to aspire to become a better person and to give back to the community. I tried to take the pillars of the fraternity seriously— especially faith. Q: What are some of your favorite memories? A: M*A*S*H, as well as serving on the House Corporation board and as chapter adviser. Consistently earning a Hugh Shields award was a lot of hard work, but traveling to the fraternity conferences to receive it was very rewarding. Q: How did the fraternity prepare you for life after college? A: There were great opportunities to build leadership skills, as well as working together as a team. Additionally, a focus on the importance of academics and having older brothers in the house who were mentors helped me to appreciate the importance of lifelong learning and investing in others. Q: What advice would you give to undergraduates or to younger alumni who are early in their careers? A: Stay involved in the chapter. Be serious about your academic preparation. Take advantage of opportunities offered by the fraternity both at the chapter level and nationally. Be sure to list Delta Tau Delta Fraternity on your resume so alumni can recognize you when you're applying for internships and jobs. Reach out to the alumni network for career opportunities. Q: Where do you work now, and what do you do specifically? A: I am a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska. I serve as the pastor of St. Stephen's Church in Exeter, Nebraska, and also St. Wenceslaus Church in Milligan, Nebraska. I am a chaplain with the U.S. Army National Guard in Nebraska and also the command chaplain for the Nebraska State Patrol. Q: What are some highlights from your professional career? A: Immediately after UNL, I spent 15 years working in politics, including serving as a chief of staff for a U.S. congressman in Washington, D.C., and serving as a strategy consultant for three international races in Canada, Chile, and Russia. In my 27 years of wearing the Army uniform, I have had five deployments, including humanitarian relief work in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch and two hazardous duty tours overseas. I was ordained as a Catholic priest in May of 2010. I greatly enjoy helping others to achieve the potential for which God has created them and laboring to make our communities better places to live and raise families. Q: What are some of your hobbies, and what do you do in your free time? A: Most of all, I enjoy time with good friends – usually spent in joint activities such as: marksmanship shooting, chess, reading, watching movies, and, of course, prayer. Q: Do you keep in touch with any of your fraternity brothers? If so, who and how? A: I keep in touch with Scott Berryman '89, Mike Zauha '89, Mike Dorn '89, and many undergraduates. Facebook and social media are great ways to stay in touch. Q: Why do you believe it is important for all alumni to reconnect or stay in touch with the chapter? A: Friendships are gifts from God, which serve to support and inspire us to be our very best. Our brothers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us in the midst of life's joys and sorrows. Father Steve can be reached at: E-mail: fr.thomlison@gmail.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/Fr_Thomlison Facebook: facebook.com/fr.thomlison LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/frstevethomlison Q&A with Father Steve Thomlison '90 Fred Allen IV '80, John Allen '06, Father Steve Thomlison '90, and Stephen Allen '11 in Nebraska City. Chapter eternal Stanley L. Portsche '47 of Lincoln entered Chapter Eternal on March 31. He was a WWII Navy veteran and a Nebraska state senator from 1956 to 1959. Stan had a 60-year career in real estate and was the founder of The Portsche Company. He served as a director of National Association of Realtors, president of Nebraska Realtors Association, president of Lincoln Board of Realtors, and was elected State Realtor of the Year. He also severed as commander of American Legion Post #3, board officer of Pershing Auditorium, and was a lifelong Lutheran Church member. Stanley married Grace Znamenacek in 1951 and they raised four children. Colin Hays '10 entered Chapter Eternal on November 5 after a battle with a rare form of cancer. He graduated as the valedictorian from Beatrice High School in 2010 and graduated from UNL with a degree in biological sciences. He had been accepted into the UNMC College of Dentistry. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, and watching sports. He especially enjoyed going to every game possible in which his beloved Nebraska Cornhusker football team played. He loved traveling throughout the country, as well as abroad with his family and friends. Keaton Klein '11 entered Chapter Eternal on July 14 in the Czech Republic. Keaton was born to Curtis and Julie Wiedeman Klein in 1992 in Lincoln. He attended Lincoln Lutheran Middle/High School and was a member of Christ Lutheran Church. Keaton was beginning his senior year at the UNL in the College of Business and worked for the Atlas Group. Keaton had a love for family and friends and a passion for adventure. He was living his dream as a part of a group of UNL students traveling and studying abroad. alumni inVolVement (Continued from page 1) of Nebraska with a full Shelter. The efforts of the recruitment chairmen brought 40 great new members! For the first time in many years, we had more members wanting to live in the Shelter than space available. We look forward to our growing success and the excitement to the year ahead. I look forward to seeing you soon. Fraternally, James Loach, Epsilon Omega '67 House Corporation President jaloach@yahoo.com

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