The Hornet Heritage Award
The Hornet Heritage Award recognizes a multigenerational ESU family with Hornet fever in their bloodlines. A new family is recognized annually at Family Day.
To learn more about the award or to nominate a family, call the alumni relations office at (620) 341-5440. Read about past winners here.
The 2009 Hornet Heritage Family
The Spencer-Smith-Brown-Hopper-LeClear Family
Family photo * Award nomination letter * Family tree
A family tracing its roots back 144 years to the very first class in 1865 of the Kansas State Normal School (now Emporia State University) is this year’s Hornet Heritage family.
Claiming the 2009 award, the Spencer-Smith-Brown-Hopper-LeClear family branches out across three centuries of the university’s existence. Three sisters – Martha, Margaret, and Elmira Spencer – were present on Feb. 15, 1865, the first day of class at Kansas State Normal School, under the direction of Lyman B. Kellogg, the college’s first president.
The Hornet Heritage award, sponsored by the ESU Alumni Association, annually recognizes a multigenerational family of Hornet alumni and former students. The family was honored on Family Day at ESU on Sept. 12, 2009. See pictures below!
Two of Margaret Spencer’s great-grandchildren carried on the ESU lineage in the 20th century. Wayne Smith (BSE 1951, BA 1951) had a son and daughter-in-law who attended ESU. Nadine (Brown) Hopper attended the Newman School of Nursing, which later became part of ESU. Four of her children and two of her grandchildren have earned ESU degrees, while a third grandchild, Jami LeClear, is a current student at ESU, working part-time in the Sauder Alumni Center. See the family tree, or read the family's nomination letter, describing in detail their wonderful connections to ESU .
The family
 |
| The family was honored during halftime of the football game on Family Day, Sept. 12, 2009. Below, Nadine (Brown) Hopper receives the award plaque from ESU President Michael Lane. |
 |
The family tree (click to enlarge):
The family's nomination letter
Karen (Hopper) Carns (BSE 1969) nominated her family for the Hornet Heritage award with this letter:
When Emporia State University opened as the Kansas State Normal School on Feb. 15, 1865, there were 18 students. Three of those students were sisters, Margaret, Elmira, and Martha Spencer. Coming from a family of ten girls and two boys, it was reported "the Spencers, with their zeal for learning and their large family furnished more students for the Normal School and more teachers for the state than any other Lyon County family." When the then-Kansas State Teachers College celebrated its 60th anniversary in 1924, the three sisters were the honored guests.
Today, descendants of Margaret Spencer Hollingsworth continue to attend ESU.
Wayne Smith, a great grandson of Margaret Spencer Hollingsworth, graduated from K.S.T.C. with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in 1951. He went on to obtain his Pharmacy degree and license at KU School of Pharmacy and was a practicing pharmacist in Emporia until his death here in 2008. His son, Randy H. Smith also graduated from ESU with a B.S. in 1983. He met and married his wife, the former Kimberly Archer, who also graduated from ESU with a B.S. in 1983. .
Nadine Hopper is a great granddaughter of Margaret Spencer. She married Charles Robert Hopper in 1940. Although Charles and Nadine Hopper did not attend ESU, they both graduated from Newman School of Nursing which is now affiliated with ESU. A number of nursing scholarships are given annually in their honor to ESU students attending the School of Nursing. Charles Hopper graduated from the College of Emporia and went on to graduate from the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Following his medical training, Charles and Nadine Hopper returned to Emporia where he practiced as a family physician for over 35 years. They both were generous with their time and efforts in support of the community and in service and philanthropic organizations. Nadine was active in La Sertoma, P.E.O., Social Services and Welfare of Emporia, Fortune Study Club, and in their local church. In addition to the busy activities of family practice, Charles also served as the Lyon County Coroner, Chairman of the Board of the Church, and on Medical Staff Committees for Newman and St. Mary's Hospital as well as the Lyon County Medical Society. They were recognized as the 2008 Outstanding Alumni of the Newman Hospital School of Nursing. Charles passed away in July, 2009. Nadine continues to live in Emporia.
Nadine's sister, Katharine Brown, attended ESU for one semester in 1936 before transferring to Kansas State University. Another sister, Helen Ione Brown married Laurence Paul Bailey who graduated with a BS in 1948.
The Hoppers had five children, four of whom have attended ESU. Karen Hopper (Carns) BS '69 enjoyed a 31 year career in education, primarily as a school counselor in the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kansas. C.R. Hopper, Jr, BS '72 was a member of Sigma Phil Epsilon fraternity and currently works for the city of San Diego in the Workers' Compensation Department. Phil Hopper graduated with honors with a BA '73, was a member of Phi Delta Theta, Blue Key Honor Society and lives in San Carlos, CA. He also completed a year of graduate studies as a graduate assistant in microbiology in 1974. He has worked in the medical device industry in sales, marketing and executive management positions for the past 35 years and is a patent holder on 15 medical device patents. He established the Newman School of Nursing Scholarships in honor of his parents with matching funds from Johnson and Johnson and Guidant Corporation, now part of Boston Scientific and Abbott Vascular. Nancy Hopper (LeClear) attended ESU for two years prior to graduating from the KU School of Nursing. She retired as Director of the Marketing and Education Department after 33 years at Newman Regional Health in Emporia. She is currently an advisor to the Multi-Use Path Planning Board and has served as a board member for the Chamber of Commerce, the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Community Health Coalition and the Emporia Literacy Advisory Board. Her husband, Michael LeClear was a student at ESU from 1973-1974. Michael's father, Irvin LeClear, worked in the printing department at ESU for forty years before his retirement.
Three of Nancy and Michael LeClear's four children have reached college age and all three have chosen Emporia State University. Rachael LeClear BA '04 graduated summa cum laude and was a Shepherd Scholar. She earned her Masters Degree in German Literature at the University of Wisconsin and is currently Coordinator of Continuing Education and General Education at the Flint Hills Technical College. She is president of the Emporia Community Garden Association and is on the Board of the Emporia Area Local Food Network. She is also active in the Community Health Coalition and is an advisor to the Multi-Use Path Planning Board. Nathan LeClear BS '06 developed a strong interest in Botany at ESU and is pursuing an advanced degree at the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, TX. He met his fiance, Mary Gorton BS '06, while in Emporia. They are planning to pursue doctoral degrees after completing their Masters' in Texas. Jami LeClear is enjoying her second year at ESU and works at the Sauder Alumni Center.
We all continue to support ESU athletics and activities. The LeClear's youngest daughter, McKenna, had the honor of being a part of the cast of "The King and I" when it was presented ten years ago. The theatre, music, and art departments have drawn the interest of the Hopper and LeClear families over the years. Both Rachael and Nathan LeClear were glass blowers during college.
We are proud of the influence our ancestors had on the beginning of this fine university and we are happy to still have active students as a part of its continuing growth.
Thank you for considering our family for this award.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Past winners
The 2008 award was given to the Hoelting family, with a total of 23 ESU students over 43 years. Click to enlarge the image, or click here for the full story.
The 2007 award was given to the Edwards family at a Sept. 15 game, when three generations were on hand to receive the honor. Here's their family tree:
The 2006 Hornet Heritage winner, the McGee - Hoffmans family
The 2005 winner, the Hastert, Peat and Schlobohm families
The 2005 winner, the Hastert, Peat and Schlobohm families, poses with former President Kay Schallenkamp at left. Check out the family's story on page 11 (page 13 in the 'pdf' file) of the January 2006 Spotlight.
The 2004 winner was the Goldsmith family (family tree), the 2003 winner was the Breukelman family (family tree), the 2002 winner was the Wendling family, and the 2001 winner was the Van Voris, Litchfield and Grimwood family.
Last Updated September 17, 2009