Northeastern Junior College
Alumni AssociaƟon
Established 2002
This booklet contains 2002 to 2015 winners.
The Northeastern Junior College Alumni AssociaƟon is honored to have established the
“PRIDE IN ASSOCIATION AWARD”. It is awarded annually to a family or individual who has provided
support, dedicaƟon and loyalty to the college over the years. It is presented to the recipient during
the annual commencement exercises held at Northeastern Junior College each May. NominaƟons
are accepted for the award each year in January, and the winner of the award is selected by the Alumni
AssociaƟon at its Spring Board of Directors MeeƟng. The President of the Northeastern Junior College
Alumni AssociaƟon typically makes remarks about the family and its history with the college and presents the
awards which include an engraved plaque for the family to keep, and a larger plaque that bears the
names of all winners that goes on display in the Hays Student Center year round.
Following is a collec on of all the write ups, as they appeared since 2002. You’ll no ce that the
stories become longer over the years. It has been our pleasure to tell our commencement audiences
about the beau ful and long‐standing rela onship Northeastern Junior College has with these families.
Northeastern Junior College Alumni AssociaƟon Pride In AssociaƟon Award
2011
The Krause/Cronk Family
T
he Pride in Association Award honors a family or individual who has provided support, dedication
and loyalty to the college over the years. In 2010, this award goes to the Krause-Cronk Family. A
combined family, all five of the son of Doris Krause Cronk attended and graduated from
Northeastern Junior College.
Growing up, the five boys heard often about the hard times in the 20’s when their mother attended a rural
school in the sand hills of Nebraska. She was fortunate to obtain an eighth grade education, given her family’s
economic circumstances and her father’s mind set regarding girls “getting educated.” However, the
expectation of a high school education was never questioned. Doris always had hope that her sons would earn
college degrees.
Keith Krause graduated from Peetz High School in 1952 as class valdictorian. He enrolled at Northeastern
Junior College during the 1953-54 year and played every sports offered at the time while being an honor roll
student. The following year he enrolled at Colorado School of Mines and played baseball and football. He
later joined the U.S. Air Force and had a full career as a jet pilot and instructor pilot, retiring in 1983. He
worked for the State of Texas the next 10 years.
Don Krause graduated from Peetz High School in 1953 and enrolled at Northeastern Junior College, also a
multi-sports athlete. He graduated from here in 1956 and went on to attend the University of Northern
Colorado from 1959 to 1961. He has enjoyed a short career teaching and coaching football in Nebraska,
Wyoming and Arizona but began a new career with A. O. Smith Harvestore Products, Inc. where he was
employed until he retired in 1988. In 1995, he started his own corporation, dba Road Boss Grader,
manufacturing and marketing a pull type grading implement. He eventually did business in all 50 states and
14 foreign countries.
Phil Cronk graduated from high school in Sidney, Nebraska in 1961. He attended Northeastern Junior
College from 1962 to 1964. He played basketball for Coach Roy Edwards. He transferred to Chadron State
College in Chadron, Nebraska. He played basketball and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1966. He taught
school for one year then joined the U.S. Navy in 1968 to become an aviator. He had an “inherent talent” for
flying helicoptors and this became his primary job duty assignment. During his time serving in Viet Nam, he
flew over 700 missions for which he was awarded 21 Air Medals and numerous other decorations. He retired as a
Lt. Commander in 1988 after 20 years of service, which included both shore and seagoing assignments.
Jerry Cronk graduated from high school in Sidney, Nebraska in 1964. He enrolled at Northeastern Junior
College that Fall and played basketball. The team went to the national tournament. After the first year, he
transferred to Kearney State College in Kearney, Nebraska. He received the Bachelor’s Degree in 1968.That Fall
he started teaching at Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Nebraska. He spent his entire 33 year career in the
system teaching. He also earned the Master’s Degree from Kearney State College.
Ron Cronk graduated from high school in Sidney, Nebraska in 1960. He served four years in the United
States Air Force prior to enrolling at Northeastern Junior College in 1966. He was the last of the five brothers to
attend NJC. Ron was an outstanding basketball player. However, early in the sophomore season, he suffered a
torn ACL in his knee which ended his athlectic career. At the end of the season, the team qualified for the
National Tournament in Hutchison, Kansas and eventually earned a fourth place in the nation status.
During Ron’s sophomore year, he was elected President of Phi Theta Kappa, was selected Mr. Plainsman
Runner-Up, Spring Formal King and selected for Who’s Who Among Junior College students. After receiving
the Associate of Arts Degree in 1968, he transferred to the University of Colorado in Boulder. He earned the
Bachelor’s Degree majoring in Physical Therapy from the Colorado University Health Sciences Center in
Denver in 1970. He enjoyed a 34 year career as a physical therapist.