Beatrice Educational Foundation naming three Hall members, Friend of Education
BEATRICE – The Beatrice Educational Foundation is inducting new members into the Beatrice High School Hall of Fame, this weekend.
Laura Bird Holland was a 1969 graduate of Beatrice High School, who went on to become an arts professor for 45 years at Oral Roberts University, where she chaired departments of communication, arts, media, theatre and dance. The Professor Emeritus retired in 2022. Bird Holland has been a director and playwright for Teen Suicide Prevention Organization and has directed performances for Theatre Tulsa.
Pam Fitzwater-Johansen graduated from BHS in 1978 and went on to become a leader in the information technology industry. She is Assistant Vice-President of Worldwide Product Sales and Ecosystem at BMC. She’s been on the list of CRN Women of the Channel for 14 years….and is a corporate member of the Greater Houston Big Brother/Big Sister Program. She earned her bachelor’s degree at UNL and a Master’s from American University.
John Spence graduated from Beatrice High School in 1961….and is an award winning photographer, filmmaker and artist. He started his career with the Nebraska Educational Television Network, then started his own production company. His work has been exhibited worldwide…he’s published four books featuring his photography…and has produced twelve films. Spence has won several awards and commissioned a set of large color photographs of the Nebraska landscape, displayed in the Nebraska Capitol Building.
The Beatrice Educational Foundation’s Friend of Education Award winner is retired Middle School Teacher Mike Policky. The Social Studies instructor taught respect for the U.S. Flag in the classroom….demonstrated the importance of honoring the country’s veterans….and helped with his students to create a buddy system between the students and elderly residents. Policky also spearheaded a campaign to replace flags at the local Veteran’s Memorial Park. Policky, who helped students visit Washington D.C. for 24 years….was named Nebraska Middle School Teacher of the Year, in 2017.
