Huskers Lead Spring Tour of Excellence

The 2006 Spring Break Tour of Excellence kicked off in <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Sidney, Neb., on Monday, March 13, and continued in Grant on Tuesday afternoon.  The group of role model student-athletes and campus leaders traveled to Gothenburg and Cozad on Wednesday.  The Tour completed on Thursday, March 16, in Central City and Seward.  Nine current and former student-athletes along with Kelly Keiser, Miss Nebraska 2005, Herbie Husker, and Stephanie Day, a member of the Cornhusker Marching Band, impacted over 2,500 students across the state over Spring Break.

Garth Glissman stressed the importance of living a life with character, compassion and perseverance.  Two-sport student-athlete Matt Senske of the Nebraska football and track and field teams encouraged students to dream big and understand that anything is possible.  National Volleyball Player of the Year Christina Houghtelling advised students to take responsibility for all actions, both good and bad.  Brigid Kenny from the Nebraska soccer program reviewed the virtues of good character, including trustworthiness, fairness and respect.

Freshman track and field team member James Hopkins from Chicago focused his message on anti-bullying, explaining the three types of bullying: physical, verbal and social exclusion.  Nebraska marching band member Stephanie Day spoke about involvement and the importance of teamwork, followed by a juggling demonstration with track and field athlete Skyler Reising.  Reising spoke about how the choices people make dictate their path in life.  Cross country team captain Aaron Nasers shared his career injuries, noting that adversity in life is inevitable and it is important to focus on positives. 

Brandon Koch, a three-year starter on the Nebraska football team from Gothenburg, detailed his process of setting and achieving goals.  Kelly Keiser, a senior at UNL, spoke about self-respect and then shared her piano piece from the Miss Nebraska talent competition.  Betsy Miller, a cross country scholar from Lodgepole, discussed how she committed herself to her goal of running track at Nebraska and worked tirelessly to make it happen.  Andy Kadavy, a walk-on on the Nebraska football team, spoke about dedication at the Seward assembly in his home town.

The 2006 Tour of Excellence had a distinct western Nebraska flavor with many members of the travel party being from western Nebraska communities.  Also, a number of the Tour of Excellence role models had previously attended similar assemblies when they were in middle school.  The Tour of Excellence will continue during Fall Break of the 2006-2007 school year.