The Blog

Rittas, Thiessens Receive Hall of Faith Award

Each year, the board chooses one or two individuals or couples to receive the Hall of Faith Award. This award is presented for years of service at Nebraska Christian–be it through teaching, giving of time and finances, promoting the school, or being involved in other ways on campus, these individuals have made an impact on Nebraska Christian and its students.

This year, the board selected two couples to receive this prestigious award: Ed (’73) & Marilynn Ritta and Gordon & Terri Thiessen. Board member Lester Unruh and board secretary Paul McHargue (’88) presented these awards at the Harvest Festival. Below is some of what they had to say about these couples:

Ed & Marilynn Ritta

Tonight, we honor a couple with a long family history of service to Nebraska Christian. He attended NC for high school, graduating in 1973. After graduating from Grace Bible Institute, he returned to Central City to farm. She joined the NC teaching staff in 1975. They met at a singles Bible study in the fall of 1976 and married in the fall of 1978.

Throughout the years, they have been involved at NC in many ways. They served as girls’ dorm parents for many years, he coached volleyball, she worked in the kitchen, and he still drives bus as needed. He served on the school board for many years and is now a member of the Advisory Council. He is also a long-time member of the football “chain gang.”

Five of their six children are NC graduates, four of whom attended NC from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Beth graduated in 1998, Kate in 2000, Jon in 2008, Nathan in 2011, and Shawna in 2013. Their youngest, Brittany, is currently an NC junior. Their granddaughter Alexis Perry, an NC preschool student, is the third generation of their family to attend NC.

For their years of service to the Lord at Nebraska Christian, we are pleased to present the 2013 Hall of Faith Award to Ed & Marilynn Ritta.

Gordon & Terri Thiessen

Tonight’s Hall of Faith recipients have been heavily involved in Nebraska Christian since the 1990’s. Their oldest child began attending NC in 1995, and their other children soon followed. She was an outspoken advocate for Christian education and enjoyed helping out with their children’s activities. He quickly became involved with NC athletics, serving as the girls’ basketball assistant coach and football assistant coach from ’96-’99 and the boys’ basketball head coach from ’00-’04. In 2006, he returned to NC in his current role as chaplain and girls’ basketball head coach. His 2004 Boys’ Basketball Team won the Goldenrod Conference Championship.

All four of their children are NC graduates: Leslie in 1999, Adam in 2002, Josh in 2004, and Amy in 2006.

For their years of service to the Lord at Nebraska Christian, we are pleased to present the 2013 Hall of Faith Award to Gordon & Terri Thiessen.