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Dana College

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Coordinates: 41°33′01″N 96°09′22″W / 41.55028°N 96.15611°W / 41.55028; -96.15611
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(Redirected from Dana Vikings football)
For the defunct Dana College in New Jersey, see Rutgers–Newark.

Dana College
MottoVeritas Vincit
TypePrivate college
Active1896–2010
Location
Blair, Nebraska
,
U.S.
CampusRural
Colors   
Red and white
NicknameVikings
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – GPAC
MascotViking
Websitehttp://www.dana.edu
Map

Dana College was a private college in Blair, Nebraska. The college was founded from a merger of Trinity Seminary and Blair College in 1896. The college changed its name to Dana College in 1902. The name "Dana" is the poetic variant of "Denmark". Its rural 150-acre (607,000 m2) campus is approximately 26 miles (40 km) northwest of Omaha and overlooks a portion of the Missouri River Valley. It closed in 2010.

History

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Dana College's earliest predecessor, Trinity Seminary, was formed in 1884 to train pastors for the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church Association in America. In 1896, DELCA merged with the Danish Evangelical Church in North America to create the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church. As a result of the merger Trinity Seminary merged with Blair College. The combined college became known as Dana College in 1902.[1]

On August 25, 1988, an electrical fire severely damaged Old Main, the oldest building on campus. The fire inured one fireman and cancelled renovations of the building.[2] After the fire, the building was rendered unusable and was demolished later that month.[3] In 1989, Dana College announced replacement to Old Main, which included expanding other buildings.[4] Old Main's replacement, now known as Trinity Chapel, was completed in 1993.[5]

Closure

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The institution faced significant financial challenges in the 2000s. Dana College reported that its deficit rose from $7,170,000 USD in 2005 to more than $12,550,000 USD in 2009. The Dana College Board of Regents attempted to convince major donors to make contributions to the college. Yet Dana College was unable to attract the donations to erase the deficit and fund on-going operations.

In 2010, a private equity company announced its intent to purchase Dana College. The sale would have caused Dana to lose its not-for-profit status and would turn Dana into a for-profit college.[6] However, the accreditation committee refused to transfer the accreditation to the new owners, causing Dana to close.[7]

Midland University of Fremont, Nebraska, allowed all former Dana College students to transfer all Dana college credits, honored all Dana academic, athletic and need-based scholarships and grants, and waived enrollment deposits for Dana students. Of the roughly 600 Dana students, approximately 275 enrolled at Midland in the fall of 2010.[8]

Post-closure activity

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In 2013, Midland University, experiencing increasing enrollment and considering expansion, leased the Dana campus with the option of purchasing it; the land was purchased instead by Frank Krejci, an Omaha developer, for $3.5 million, who then donated it to Ed Shada, an Omaha banker, to lead redevelopment of the campus. In 2016, Midland announced that it would not re-open the Dana campus, but would concentrate its expansion efforts in Fremont and Omaha. According to a Midland press release, high maintenance costs and "a complicated path to accreditation" dissuaded them from carrying through their plans for the Blair site.[9][10]

The land was to become the new home of Omaha's Grace University in 2018, after the school sold a large part of its campus to Omaha Public Schools. However, Grace too announced its folding at the end of the 2017–18 academic year, and the move to Blair did not occur.[11] In 2018, alumni and friends of Grace founded Charis University with the intent of occupying the Dana campus and becoming a spiritual successor to Grace.[12][13]

In 2018 Angels Share, a nonprofit organization, acquired the land. In cooperation in with The Metro Area Planning Agency and the City of Blair, portions of the campus have been sold off, while others have been redeveloped. The former residence halls have been converted into housing for young adults who have aged out of the foster care system.[14] The former Dana Campus was converted into apartments, which opened in February 2024.[15]

Presidents

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The Presidents of Dana College were:

  • Kristian Anker (1902–1905)
  • C. X. Hansen (1908–1914, 1919–1925, 1936–1938)
  • Erland Nelson (1931–1936)
  • Lawrence Siersbeck (1938–1944)
  • R. E. Morton (1944–1956)
  • C. C. Madsen (1956–1971)
  • Earl R. Mezoff (1971–1978)
  • James Kallas (1978–1985)
  • Myrvin Christopherson (1986–2005)
  • Janet Philipp (2005–2010)
1990s brick building with square pyramidal-topped steeple, clear glass windows
Trinity Chapel

Campus

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The campus has 151 acres (61 ha) of space. It is about 26 miles (42 km) northwest of Omaha.[16] Rasmussen Hall housed first and second year students. It was coed, with each wing or each floor housing a sex.[17] Holling Hall housed first and second year students.[18]

Blair Hall housed upperclassmen, and first year students were not eligible to live there.[19] Previously Mickelsen Hall housed both men and women on different floors.[20] In the summer of 2007 Mickelsen was renovated so it housed upperclassmen women.[21] In the fall of 2006 the school opened the Suite-Style Apartments for third and fourth year students.[22]

The university maintained Omaha Village Apartments, for married and non-traditional students.[23] Omaha Village had one and two bedroom apartments.[24] Dana College expected its students to live on campus for all of their years. Any students wishing to live off campus were required to gain approval.[25] The campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.[26]

Notable alumni

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Athletics

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The Dana athletic teams were called the Vikings. The college was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) from 1969–70 to 2009–10. Dana competed in 18 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports included baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports included basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball.

In January 2009, college administrators considered changing conference affiliations; however, outcry from alumni caused the school to rethink its position.[27] The college also had a number of intramural and club sports programs below the varsity level, operating independently of the athletic department.

References

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  1. ^ "The Closing of an Immigrant Institution". Museum Odense (in Danish). January 1, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  2. ^ "Fire Destroys Old Main at Dana". Omaha World-Herald. August 25, 1988. p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  3. ^ "Workers start tearing down tower of Dana College's burned Old Main". The Lincoln Star. August 31, 1988. p. 20. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  4. ^ "Dana College to replace Old Main". Star-Herald. August 26, 1989. p. 5. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  5. ^ "Building to Mark New Era at Dana". Omaha World-Herald. June 6, 1993. p. 30. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  6. ^ "Private equity company buys Dana College". Lincoln Journal Star. March 18, 2010. pp. B1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  7. ^ "Dana College to close". Fremont Tribune. July 1, 2010. p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  8. ^ "Midland Lutheran to take in half of Dana students". Boston.com. July 7, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Midland University drops plans for vacant Dana College campus". Archived 2016-04-24 at the Wayback Machine KETV. Archived 2016-04-29 at the Wayback Machine March 19, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  10. ^ Granese, Don. "Blair hopeful former Dana College campus has a future". Archived January 13, 2019, at the Wayback Machine WOWT. Archived 2016-04-04 at the Wayback Machine March 18, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  11. ^ Hendee, David. "Grace University says it will halt operations at end of 2017-18 school year; financial, enrollment concerns blamed | Local". omaha.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "Charis University plans to open this fall at Dana | Local News | enterprisepub.com". Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  13. ^ "New Christian college could bring Grace University students to Blair". April 15, 2018. Archived from the original on April 21, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  14. ^ "Blair molds idle Dana College assets into solutions for city's future". WOWT. May 1, 2019.
  15. ^ Chapman, John (February 9, 2024). "Former Dana College dorm rooms transforming into apartments". WOWT. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  16. ^ Cole, Kevin. "$5.9 million price for Dana campus Archived May 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Omaha World-Herald. Monday May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  17. ^ "Rasmussen Hall." Dana College. October 22, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  18. ^ "Holling Hall." Dana College. May 10, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  19. ^ "Blair Hall." Dana College. May 10, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  20. ^ "Mickelsen Hall." Dana College. September 7, 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  21. ^ "Mickelsen Hall." Dana College. October 23, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  22. ^ "Suite-Style Apartments." Dana College. October 23, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  23. ^ "Omaha Village Apartments." Dana College. September 7, 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  24. ^ "Omaha Village Housing Application." Dana College. October 7, 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  25. ^ "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIVING ON-CAMPUS." Dana College. June 29, 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  26. ^ "Weekly listing". National Park Service.
  27. ^ "Home | the Weekly D | Dana College". Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2008.

On the history of Dana College and Trinity Seminary:

  • Christensen, William E. Saga of the Tower: A History of Dana College and Trinity Seminary. Blair, Nebraska: Lutheran Publishing House, 1959.
  • Petersen, Peter L. A Place Called Dana: The Centennial History of Trinity Seminary and Dana College. Blair, Nebraska: Dana College, 1984

On the history of the Danish Lutherans in America:

  • Jensen, John M. The United Evangelical Lutheran Church: An Interpretation. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1964.
  • Nyholm, Paul C. The Americanization of the Danish Lutheran Churches in America: A Study in Immigrant History. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1963.
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41°33′01″N 96°09′22″W / 41.55028°N 96.15611°W / 41.55028; -96.15611

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