News

From the moment Ron Petsch first walked onto the Southeast Community College Milford Campus as an Architectural Technology student to his final day as chair of the Building Construction Technology program, he demonstrated commitment to education is more than years served. It is measured in lives changed, dreams realized, and futures built one student at a time.

“I learned many things from students and in some ways, I learned to be a better person by observing and practicing some of the best qualities and characteristics of them,” Petsch said. “I think overall, I learned as much as they did sometimes. I loved the challenge of helping form their knowledge and work ethic for their industry. Offering encouragement and optimism for what they could accomplish was rewarding to me.”

Petsch graduated with distinction in June of 1974 and took his first job with Midwest Lumber Company in Lincoln. The company fabricated wood trusses and glue-laminated timber and he did a little bit of everything including structural drafting, estimating, and shop drawing. Some of the memorable projects he worked on included the wood radial arches for the Field House at Nebraska Wesleyan University and the enormous glue-lam beams for the Seventh Day Adventist Church in College View.

“I felt prepared to work at an entry level position when I graduated from Milford, but I very well knew that my education was only the beginning,” he said. “I was not one of those who thought they were well equipped for their future simply by obtaining an associate degree. For sure the degree helped me focus on what I wanted my future to be, and I worked hard at achieving that.”

He was inspired by SCC instructors Dave Eberspacher and Roger Kness and the enthusiasm they had for teaching. Petsch explored his options for teacher training at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln before he graduated from SCC knowing he would like to teach someday. By August of 1978, he became an instructor in the Building Construction program, bringing industry experience with him.

“I believe working in the industry helped me as an instructor. While employed at Midwest Lumber, I was exposed to working with a team of others in the Engineering Department in order to reach common goals and create a superior product,” Petsch explained. “I worked closely with our Structural Engineer, Bob Lien, who taught me the art of being accurate, concise and the value of written documentation of the things we did for various jobs to preserve our integrity and professionalism.”

After 41 years teaching at SCC, Petsch retired in December 2019. His journey from student to instructor illustrates the transformative power of education so many students receive at SCC.

“My favorite thing about SCC is that it is an institution that prepares students to work successfully in their desired industry,” Petsch said. “Over the years, I have honored the life and work of those that came before us. I was honored to become part of SCC so long ago knowing the hard work, perseverance, and dedication of those who built the foundation.”

Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu