The NBC Foundation supports numerous opportunities throughout the school year and summer for the students of North Bend Central Public Schools. Among the opportunities in 2023-24 were visits to UNL's Morrill Hall for second graders and fifth graders. Here, NBC fifth graders learn how paleontologists search for fossils on a simulated dig at the museum.

Thanks once again to the generosity of our contributors, the NBC Foundation was able to provide a tremendous amount of support for students and staff at North Bend Central Public Schools this coming year.  For 2024-25 approximately $50,000 has been budgeted for Foundation activities by the NBC Foundation Board.  That figure includes $30,000 in Foundation scholarships and family memorial scholarships administered by the Foundation,  approximately $17,000  in new and ongoing teacher project grants.   Details on the scholarships and teacher project grants approved in April can be found on this web page.   The recent growth of the Foundation has been tremendous and it’s all because YOU – our generous contributors – have come through for our school. 

Every $25, $50, or $100 donation generates full or partial matching funds and directly benefits North Bend Central Public Schools students and teachers.   Contributions are fully tax deductible because of our affiliation with the Fremont Area Community Foundation.  The NBC Foundation is NOT a governmental unit and receives no tax support. 

Contributions can be sent to the Foundation via the NBCPS Superintendent’s Office.  A donation form is provided below for your convenience.  Your support for the Foundation’s scholarships and project grants will be greatly appreciated. 

Cash isn’t the only way to contribute to the NBC Foundation -- sometimes giving a commodity makes good economic sense.   Farmers can make an “above the line” (ie. before adjusted gross income) charitable donation of grain to the Foundation.  When sold by the Foundation, the proceeds can be used to fund our scholarships or teacher projects.  Recently, a local farm family endowed a long-term scholarship with a gift of corn.  For further information on how to make a Gift of Grain, contact Foundation Board Chairman Jim Havelka at (402) 620-1705 or email Jim Havelka.

The Fremont Area Big Give was very successful for the NBC Foundation in 2024, yielding more than $3,700 to support Foundation scholarships and teacher projects.  Thanks to all who donated, including: Mick Tank, Ken/Pat Beebe, Deanna Wolf, Katy Bode, Platte Valley Bank, Fred/Lois Lambley, Steve/Mary Le Arneal, Jim/Ann Minarick, Jerry/Cecilia Hall, Steve/Cheryl Wietfeld, Havelka Educational Services, Steve/Sharen Minarick, Neil Hines, Jim/Brenda Robinson, Linda Havelka, Steve/Bev Grueber, Don/Deb Andrews, Mark/Patrice Hines, Mark Flamme, John/Mary Buller, Gary/Robin Widhelm, Drew Hines, Emily Hines, Cara Hines, Janice Vopalensky, Christina Minarick, Adeline Hines, Bob Feurer, Rick/Jan Hobza, Carol Emanuel, Paul/Margie Emanuel, Melissa Powell, Jeff/Randi Mimick, Brent Karnatz, Tom/Marlene Johnson, Rich/Melissa Samuelson, Christina Liekhus, Larry/Pat Ruzicka, Jim/Diane Hines, Lon/Carol Bohling, Melissa Cody, Eric/Laura Chvatal, Patrick/Laurie Ningen, John/Nancy Hines, Amy Reznicek, Barbara Soukup, Jordan/Kelli Emanuel,  Leigh Feala, Larry/Cheryl Feala, and thanks for employee matching funds from First National Bank of Omaha and Pinnacle Bank.

     Click on the button below for the NBC Foundation’s Spring Newsletter.  We hope you’ll enjoy reading more about NBC Foundation activities and that you’ll consider a contribution to further the Foundation’s work for North Bend Central Public Schools.

The NBC Foundation Board would like to thank all the families who endow memorial scholarships administered by the Foundation.  This year’s new scholarship is the Thomas E. Wolf Memorial Scholarship targeted toward students majoring in business/finance or agriculture and who plan to build their careers in rural Nebraska.      

Establishing a memorial scholarship is a great way to recognize a beloved family member or classmate.  If you are interested in establishing one, please contact Board Chairman Jim Havelka at (402) 620-1705 or email Jim Havelka.

The NBC Foundation is proud to support the Prowling Pen, NBC’s literary magazine produced by Seniors in Suzy Morgan’s English class.  The poems like the one below reflect some of the best thoughts of our Seniors.   Your donations allow us to fund printing of the Prowling Pen.

     The NBC Foundation Board approved teacher-initiated project grants totaling nearly $11,000 at its meeting in April and renewed ongoing grants totaling another $6,600.  This year’s project grants  include: 

• Prowling Pen Literary Magazine (Suzy Morgan)

• Girls on the Run (Marissa Ortmeier)

• MathCounts Competition (Aubry Miller)

• Middle School STEM Camp (Aubry Miller)

• Central Honors Institute (Jennifer Karnatz)

• Robotics (Becky Streff)

• Learning Outside of Class (Becky Streff)

• Birds of Prey (Kinsey Wemhoff)

• Tornado Preparedness (Becky Streff)

• Morrill Hall Trip (Amy Ferguson)

• Future Problem Solving (Melissa Cody)

• College Visits (Chris Gaughen)

• Scholarship Advising/Writing Nights (Chris Gaughen)

• Traveling the Oregon Trail (Katie Scholl; Jana Post)

• Wildlife Encounter (Katie Scholl; Jana Post)

• Bird Sanctuary (Katie Scholl; Jana Post)

• Scholarship Writing Nights (Chris Gaughen)

Carry-Over and Continuing Grants:

• Greenhouse Grant (DJ Mottl)

• Appcentri Scholarship Software (Chris Gaughen)

• Dean Jacobs Goal-Setting Program (Brenda Petersen)

• "Tall Cop Says Stop" (Beth Vrana)

Funding for some of the grants comes from the Kay Eveland Memorial Fund and the Steve Richardson Teacher Fund, and the NBC Teacher Fund administered by the Foundation.

A recent donation of $10,000 to the NBC Foundation by a local donor allowed the creation of the NBC Teacher Project Fund. The NBC Foundation Board plans to set aside $2,500 a year for the next four years to fund innovative teacher projects. Among the projects proposed for grants from the new fund are tuition assistance for students attending Central Honors Institute at Platte College this summer.

Several years ago,  the family of Kay Eveland established an endowment within the NBC Foundation to support teacher professional development and supplementary curriculum materials for teachers.  Among the 2024 projects supported by the Eveland Fund, the second annual NBC MathCounts competition organized by NBC Math Teacher Aubry Miller. Students from NBC, Douglas County West, and Fremont Middle School participated. NBC students won 7 of the 10 individual awards and first and third place team awards.

Recently,  Mark and Jessica Richardson created the Steve Richardson Teachers’ Fund within the NBC Foundation to promote academic and student activities teacher projects. A focus of the Richardson Fund is Science learning opportunities. Here, an NBE Fourth Grader holds an alligator during a Wildlife Encounter presentation. A Richardson Fund Grant made this project possible. Fourth Grade Teachers Jana Post and Katie Scholl taught a unit on animal defense mechanisms and organized the wildlife visit.   

A generous donation by the family of the late Dean Cunningham, former North Bend Elementary School Administrator (1994-96) led to the creation of "Mr. Cunningham's Corner," a portion of the elementary school library dedicated to recreational reading. NBE Media Specialist Sarah Castillo found relaxing furniture, decor, and reading materials to promote the love of reading that Mr. Cunningham inspired. Mark and Mike Cunningham represented the family at the dedication of the Corner in November.

The NBC Foundation is governed by a local Board of Trustees with fiscal oversight from the Fremont Area Community Foundation. The members serve four-year terms. Members are: Back): Patrick Ningen, Superintendent; Mick Tank, Mark Flamme and Jim Havelka, Board Chariman; (Front): Robin Widhelm, Patrice Hines, Secretary; Jan Hobza, and Carol Emanuel. Not pictured: NBCPS Board of Education representative Bob Feurer.