Changing the Game
Amanda Broulik talks with Steve McKelvey (’71), Bold Designs volunteer and the campaign’s first Game Changer.
Game Changers is a group of generous donors helping NWU further the Bold Designs priority of athletic coaching.
AB: What do you remember most about your experience as an NWU student-athlete?
SM: What’s stayed with me are the relationships—my teammates, my coaches. We didn’t win every game, but today I don’t think about wins and losses. I remember the good times we had. Sure, I can still remember a particularly heartbreaking loss to Doane, but what really sticks with you is the overall experience—conversations, where we stayed on the road, the bus rides. I know many things have changed from the time I was there, but I think those kinds of memories span generations.
AB: Absolutely. Current students I talk with bring up those same kinds of experiences all the time. What do you think makes Wesleyan a place where those close-knit relationships so easily thrive?
SM: The one-on-one interactions, the small class sizes, the personalized attention. That environment is why I came to Wesleyan. At 18 years old, I wasn’t very motivated academically, but I loved playing sports. At Wesleyan I got to be involved in sports but I was also expected to perform academically. That small university atmosphere helped me apply what I could do on the field to the classroom.
AB: Who were your coaches while you were here?
SM: My two main coaches were Harold Chaffee [former head football coach] and Ron Bachman [former head baseball coach]. I remained friends with both of them long after I graduated. I still see Harold to this day, and my relationship with Ron continued until his passing. I credit them with helping me get my first job out of college as a high school coach.
AB: How important is that interaction with coaches for a student-athlete?
SM: When you think about how much time student-athletes spend with their coaches, you understand how important those relationships are. There is so much room for coaches to have a positive influence on their players. For example, one of the things Harold taught us was to treat everyone you meet in life with equal respect and kindness. That was good advice that I applied to my professional life, especially my career with the Nebraska Bankers Association.
AB: What were some other aspects of being a student-athlete that helped you prepare you for your future career?
SM: You learn so many important lessons in athletics—how to be a good teammate, how to compete, how to handle success and even more importantly failure. Those are lessons you can use no matter what career you end up in. The business I went into was all about building relationships. Those relationships you form with your coaches and teammates teach you to work well with others, to build connections, to take advice and criticism.
AB: You and your wife [Robin McKelvey (’72)] have been generous and longtime donors to Nebraska Wesleyan. What made you decide to take your giving one step further to support the Bold Designs campaign and join Game Changers?
SM: Well, we knew we wanted to give to Bold Designs regardless of what specific area our gift would be supporting. NWU was and still is a great university and that requires alumni support. We wanted to help encourage other alumni to play a part and give back to their alma mater. But I’m also very glad that the university recognizes that athletics, specifically athletic coaching, should be a priority of this campaign. A strong athletic program is good for the whole school. NWU understands that great coaches should be held in the same high regard as great professors. It’s a smart investment in the overall excellence of the university.
AB: And a campaign like Bold Designs is, to use your phrase, a smart investment in the future of a university. What do you wish for the future of NWU Athletics?
SM: I would hope that all of our athletic teams are competitive. As an alum, of course it’s fun to brag about your alma mater’s championship wins! But mostly I want them to have the resources to be successful. To me, being successful isn’t always about winning every game. It’s about so much more. Memorable experiences. Those games you don’t win but know you played well against a good competitor. To always feel like you measured up. Nebraska Wesleyan has always supported excellence in the classroom, and I know the university will continue to support excellent athletic programs for future generations.
If you are interested in learning more about Game Changers and supporting athletic coaching through Bold Designs, please contact David Joekel at djoekel [at] nebrwesleyan.edu (subject: Game%20Changers) (djoekel[at]nebrwesleyan[dot]edu) or 402-465-2138.