Creighton University

The Mike and Josie Harper Center for Student Life and Learning is Creighton University’s 21st century landmark and signature east-campus anchor.

Filled with light and bursting with energy. These are the descriptions most frequently applied to the Mike and Josie Harper Center for Student Life and Learning.

The open, natural lighting that graces the Harper Center infuses the energy that permeates the building. Creighton University’s newest landmark and east-campus anchor is now the front door to the campus for current and prospective students and their families, alumni, members of the greater Omaha community, and all other visitors. It is a key component of Creighton’s award-winning campus master plan.

The looks on students’ faces as they enter the building for the first time fluctuate between astonishment and enthusiasm.

“It’s amazing,” said 19-year-old Jacob Brown, after his initial visit to Harper. The sophomore from Council Bluffs, Iowa, who is majoring in exercise science, added, “Everything is centralized. You have so many things in one building and everything is brand new. It’s really exciting.”

The 245,000-square-foot Harper Center is modeled upon a new integrative concept in university student centers and is distinctive in the Midwest. The four-level flagship structure brings together traditional and innovative academic services — such as high-tech classrooms, a state-of-the-art multi-purpose auditorium and Creighton’s Ratio Studiorum program for freshmen and sophomores — with student-life services, including admissions, financial aid, health and counseling, volunteer programs, a fitness center and more.

In addition to the auditorium and fitness and health centers, the Harper Center contains 16 academic and student services offices, 25 classrooms and meeting rooms, five retail venues, five student lounge areas, a boardroom and a ballroom. A central atrium spans all four floors, and the grand staircase on the south is bordered by a four-story window that illuminates the whole building. The lower level features a stunning “Missouri River Encounter” larger-than-life graphic that winds its way across at least 80 feet of wall space, featuring the photographs of acclaimed Creighton photographer the Rev. Don Doll, S.J.

The Harper Center is a tribute to Creighton’s partnerships with alumni, friends and business leaders who share the University’s vision to fulfill its mission with strategic purpose. It was made possible through an initial gift from an anonymous donor and augmented by the generosity of the Harper Family Foundation and other Creighton benefactors. The Harper Center is named for Charles “Mike” Harper and his late wife, Josie.

As Creighton President the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J., said at the Harper dedication on Sept. 5, “Today we celebrate the end result of a rewarding partnership between Creighton University and outstanding individuals. This building symbolizes Creighton’s promise to students, both current and future, that we will provide an excellent academic education combined with extraordinary opportunities for spiritual, physical and social growth.”

Fr. Schlegel said that whenever Creighton has sought “to reach higher and to push the educational envelope, we have always found willing partners to help us achieve our goals. Indeed, we know we cannot reach them alone. But, together, I am convinced we can accomplish them all.”

Vice President for Academic Affairs Patrick Borchers noted the benefits of the Harper Center to faculty and the educational process. “This beautiful center offers opportunities to bring together different classes for combined sessions with professors and guest speakers. It is also a wonderful venue for the cross-disciplinary learning and socialization that is a necessity in a modern university.”

Borchers said people often associate their educational experiences with particular places. “These places become singular markers of a community, with particular memories and associations that weave themselves into our lives. In that sense, the Harper Center will be an outstanding marker for our Creighton community, one that our students will find sustains a sense of place and time.”

Vice President of Student Services John Cernech, Ph.D., helped oversee the Harper Center from start to finish, one of the most ambitious projects he has undertaken in his 25 years at the University. “For the first time in Creighton’s history, all of the key services supporting students are together under one roof,” Cernech said. “It is the first impression prospective students and their parents will have of Creighton and one of the last impressions graduates take with them as they leave.”

There is more to the Harper Center than meets the eye, however, as the facility is also a showcase “green” building. The Harper Center exceeds environmental standards in its construction, architecture and operations. From land clearing and excavation to foundation work, framing and insulation, and even the drywall, painting, exterior finishing and roofing phases, the center meets new campus mandates for resource efficiency and waste reduction.

The Harper Center also meets another objective: being a good neighbor to the wider community. Omaha is undergoing a renaissance of its downtown, riverfront and northern urban areas, which surround the Creighton campus. Many of the facilities in the Harper Center are open not only to Creighton alumni, but to community, business and professional groups for meetings, conferences and social events. According to Fr. Schlegel, the Harper Center’s genesis was in a carefully prepared campus master plan that was “based on our strategic goals and in conjunction with the burgeoning redevelopment of the north Omaha and riverfront areas. Creighton is a dynamic component of downtown Omaha and a vital resource for its businesses and community organizations.”

Benefactor: The Mike and Josie Harper Center for Student Life and Learning

The Harper Center bears the names of Charles M. “Mike” and Joan F. “Josie” Bruggema Harper, whose philanthropic gifts and civic engagement have dramatically enriched Creighton, Omaha and the surrounding region.

Mike Harper is a former chairman and chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, Inc., and RJR-Nabisco, and an emeritus member of Creighton’s Board of Directors. The Harper Center is a tribute to his beloved late wife, Josie, a loving mother and ardent supporter of family, education and health care. Mrs. Harper earned a nursing degree and used her skills to care for her family. The Josie Harper Nursing Scholarship at Creighton also honors her memory.

As ConAgra CEO, Mr. Harper provided the initiative to revitalize downtown Omaha and partnered with government officials to enhance the business climate across Nebraska. Creighton conferred on him an honorary degree in 1995, to recognize his corporate and civic contributions.

A gift from the Harper Family Foundation supports the Harper Center in its role as a “front door” to Creighton University. Foundation trustees include Mr. Harper, his children and their spouses: Carolyn Harper, Dr. Charles M. Harper Jr., Chris Murphy and Elizabeth Harper Murphy, Dr. Halbert Wenngatz and Kathleen Harper Wenngatz. Mary Bastron Harper, a former trustee, earned a Creighton School of Law degree. The president of the Harper Family Foundation is Mary Robbins.

Benefactor: Fitzgerald Boardroom

The Fitzgerald family’s interest in Creighton University spans three generations. Today, William “Bill,” BSBA’59, and Barb Fitzgerald’s generous investments in the University have supported every facet of Creighton, including presidential priorities, the Integrated Science Center and Bluejay athletics.

Mr. Fitzgerald, former chairman and chief executive officer of Commercial Federal Bank, now Bank of the West, began his banking career more than 55 years ago, while still a student. He earned a Creighton bachelor of science degree in business administration in finance.

Mr. Fitzgerald has been chair of the Creighton University Board of Directors for the past nine years and has served on the Board since 1973. During his chairmanship, the University received the largest gift in its history. His Creighton service includes membership on the Willing to Lead Campaign Steering Committee.

The Fitzgeralds received the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus Ignatian Leadership Award from the Jesuit Council of Omaha. Both are active in countless greater Omaha charities, and Mrs. Fitzgerald served as a member of Creighton’s Willing to Lead Honorary Inaugural Campaign Celebration Committee.

Benefactor: Mutual of Omaha Center for Health and Counseling

The goal of the Mutual of Omaha Foundation is to help people improve their overall quality of life. The foundation’s gift to Creighton affirms that mission by focusing on the well-being of Creighton students. The Mutual of Omaha Center for Health and Counseling combines student health services, which is committed to promoting health, and counseling, which guides students toward practical help and treatment to handle the daily challenges of life and encourages their personal growth and development.

Founder C.C. Criss, a young Creighton medical student who graduated in 1912, and his wife, Mabel, began the company in 1910. Their foundation has made multiple gifts in support of education and research at Creighton. In 1962, Creighton conferred on Mrs. Criss an honorary degree and, in 1963, she received the title of foundress of the University and of the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus, to which Creighton belongs.

V.J. Skutt, chairman and executive for 33 years with Mutual and a Creighton 1923 School of Law graduate, along with his wife, Angela, also has supported the University’s mission. The V.J. and Angela Skutt Student Center bears their names.

Leaders today, including Daniel Neary, Mutual of Omaha chairman and chief executive officer and a director on Creighton’s Board, and Christine Johnson, president of the Mutual of Omaha Foundation, continue the tradition.

Benefactor: Hixson-Lied Auditorium

Creighton University has enjoyed several generous donations from the Lied Foundation Trust, built on the legacy of the late Ernst F. Lied, a former Omaha resident, Las Vegas entrepreneur and real estate developer. Lied established the trust in 1972 to honor his parents, Ernst M. and Ida Lied, naming Christina Hixson, his associate for more than 40 years, the sole trustee.

Significant investments have been made by the trust to activities that make a difference in people’s lives at Creighton University. These investments include:

• The Creighton University Hixson-Lied Science Building, standing as an award-winning architectural and educational model of the future of science education.

• The Creighton University Lied Education Center for the Arts, where students focus on fine arts education and the community benefits from outstanding performances and beautiful art.

• A perpetually endowed scholarship fund focused to help first-generation students attend the Creighton University College of Business.

• The Hixson-Lied Auditorium in the Creighton University Mike and Josie Harper Center.

Operating one of the largest foundations in Nevada, Ms. Hixson has designated gifts to projects in several states. With a special fondness for young people, she demonstrates a commitment to invest foundation resources in projects that rely on a Lied Foundation Trust pacesetting gift.

Benefactor: Peter Kiewit Foundation

Peter Kiewit made his first significant contribution to Creighton University in 1965 when he made a gift of $1 million to name a dormitory to honor his mother. He also contributed $4 million in 1975 to create the Kiewit Physical Fitness Center.

Kiewit, a native Omahan, developed strong friendships with the Rev. H.W. Linn Jr., S.J., and the Rev. Carl Reinert, S.J., former Creighton presidents.

The private foundation Kiewit created has made grants totaling nearly $28 million to Creighton since his death in 1979, in addition to the two earlier grants. Most recently, the foundation committed a grant to the Willing to Lead Campaign of $15 million to acquire property for the east-campus expansion.

Lyn Ziegenbein, JD’77, currently serves as executive director of the Peter Kiewit Foundation.

Benefactor: The Venteicher Mall

Enhancing each student’s academic and learning environment has long been a priority for the Venteicher family. For example, in 2004, they established the Venteicher Scholarship at Creighton University School of Law to assist second- and third-year students who display high ethical standards and professionalism but did not receive scholarship aid upon entering law school. Whether providing funds for scholarships, supporting athletics or enhancing the eastward expansion of campus, that commitment is visually captured by a brick mall pathway that links major portions of campus and extends from Morrison Stadium to 20th Street along California Street.

For more than 25 years, the Venteichers have developed well over 3.5 million square feet of commercial space, residential subdivisions and industrial space in Nebraska, Iowa and Arizona.

A 1962 graduate of the Creighton University School of Law, George Venteicher served as assistant attorney general of the state of Nebraska from 1964 to 1967. After leaving that office, he developed a highly regarded and successful private real estate law practice in Omaha. He also became a real estate investor in his own right and was soon involved in numerous real estate partnerships and corporations. His wife, Susan, is a passionate advocate for education and is a driving force of the couple’s involvement in supporting students.

Harper Center Goes Green

As Creighton President the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J., is fond of saying, Creighton’s colors are blue and white, but it must become more green. The Mike and Josie Harper Center for Student Life and Learning takes a giant step in that direction, as the campus’ most sustainable building.

Here are some of the ways in which the Harper Center meets environmental standards beyond Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines:

• High-performance glass facades maximize use of natural sunlight

• Special window glazing in main public corridors allows natural daylight from the atria to penetrate farther into the building’s office suite spaces

• Use of natural materials, such as wood and stone, bought from suppliers in the region to reduce fuel consumption

• The heating and cooling system, which is divided into specialized sections, makes it possible to turn off the air in certain areas of the building

• Use of campus steam and chilled water for building heating and cooling

• White roofing materials reduce heat absorption

• Occupancy sensors in offices, classrooms and meeting rooms shut off lights and reduce air flow in rooms not in use

• Extensive use of high-efficiency lighting

• Carpets made from recycled materials

• Hard surface flooring in the main public areas reduces airborne particles and dust

• Recycled rubber flooring in FitNest fitness center

• Bathroom fixtures designed to reduce water consumption

• Use of “green” cleaning supplies

• Outdoor bike racks encourage bicycling

• Brew Jay coffee shop uses sustainable and recyclable paper products