FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2017, 12:00 p.m., CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State, College Marketing and, Communications, 402-872-2429
Peru, Nebraska - On Tuesday, June 20, 2017, Peru State College held an all-day celebration of its
charter and 150th anniversary. Activities for children, a speaker series, historical
re-enactors associated with Nebraska City's Chautauqua event and a dinner were all
hosted as part of the celebration.
On June 20, 1867, the fledgling state government of Nebraska named Peru, Nebraska,
as the home of the state’s first college. The college was founded as a normal school
dedicated to training teachers. June 20, 2017 will be the 150th anniversary of Peru
State College’s charter.
Children's Activities
Deborah Solie and Rebecca Jewell with the Peru State Foundation register the grandchildren
of Peggy Groff for the Charter Day Children's activities. 
Marie shares a strawberry with her mother, Kimmie Vogt.
Lori Broady, Peru State alum and member of the Charter Day Planning Committee, places
a bonnet on a visiting child. Bonnets and aprons were made by volunteers for all
girls participating in the 1867 themed activities. Boys were given straw hats and
suspenders. 
Quinlee Sayer working on Nebraska-themed string art with 4-H Extension Office volunteer
and Falls City teacher, Alison Mullins.
Nikki Hayes, in a traditional bee-keeping outfit, explains her work at Aunt Bea's
Apiary as children inspect a hive and other bee-keeping equipment.
Amy Mincer, assistant to the President, leading children in song.
Lucille Sharp leads visiting children in traditional songs and poetry in a special presentation at the Peru State Charter Day reception.
Charter Day Speaker Series
Dr. Dan Holtz performs from his album, "All Original, All Nebraska."
Dr. Justin Pfeiffer speaks about Phi Theta Alpha's work to create a sesquicentennial
oral history documentary. 
Dan Sullivan presenting on his new history book about Peru State College with an image
of the cover behind him. 
Dr. Spencer Davis spoke about prohibition.
Dr. Bill Clemente presented on birds and poetry in his presentation, "Feathers and
Verse."
Charter Day Reception
Marty Mincer plays ragtime piano during the Charter Day reception.
Dan and Elaine Hanson arrive by horse-drawn carriage to deliver a special 150th anniversary
proclamation from Governor Pete Ricketts. 
Todd Simpson, CEO of the Peru State Foundation, welcomes guests to the Charter Day reception.
Doug Friedli, co-chair of the Nebraska City Chautauqua, speaks about the upcoming
Chautauqua events and introduces the historical re-enactors.
Actors portraying W.E.B. Du Bois, Jane Addams, William Jennings Bryan and Edith Wharton visit the Peru State campus as the first official act of the Nebraska City Chautauqua.
President Woodrow Wilson (also an actor) speaks to the Charter Day reception crowd.
Charter Day Dinner
Belles-A-Peelin' performs at the Charter Day Dinner.
Joyce Douglas, vice-president of the newly re-named Main Street Bank, speaks on behalf
of the Peru State Sesquicentennial Presenting Sponsor. 
Dan Sullivan, Omaha World-Herald writer, speaks about his experience writing the new
Peru State College history book.
Neal Clayburn, associate executive director of the Nebraska State Education Association
and descendant of former Peru State geography professor and namesake of Clayburn Hall,
A.B. Clayburn, speaks about the NSEA's own 150th anniversary and his family's love
of Peru State. 
Dr. Sara Crook and Dr. Dan Holtz asked the crowd Peru State trivia questions.
Senator Dan Watermeier speaks about the importance of Peru State in the region and on economic development.
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