Kent Miller, of North Platte, has been recognized with a Friend of Community Colleges Award from the Nebraska Community College Association. He was honored Sunday night during the NCCA’s annual meeting in North Platte.
“It is an honor to be recognized as a ‘Friend of Community Colleges’ as that is what I am,” Miller said.
Miller is a 48-year veteran on the Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors, which he joined at age 26.
A North Platte native, Miller graduated from North Platte High School in 1966. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1971 and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree with a focus on structures and water from UNL in 1972.
Miller is a registered professional engineer in both Nebraska and Colorado. In 1973, he became the first manager of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District, which is still his title. It was around that time that he began thinking about doing some sort of public service. He chose education.
“Running for election for the MPCC Board of Governors was a natural choice,” said Miller. “I had watched the college become established, and I knew the value it provided for students and the community.”
He was elected to the first area wide MPCC Board of Governors in 1975. Previously, there had been separate boards for the Mid-Plains Vocational Technical College, North Platte Junior College and McCook Junior College.
“I thought the merger was good because merging brings efficiency in operation and costs,” Miller said. “That, in turn, allows for more opportunities.”
He served on the board from 1975-2007 and from 2009 to present, with the exception of a few times when he moved out of the district he was representing.
“I always came back because I like what community colleges represent,” said Miller. “We have continued to develop opportunities for education and economic prosperity of the area, and I like being part of that.”
The creation of extended campuses in Imperial, Ogallala, Broken Bow and Valentine and introduction of dual credit, online and distance learning courses are just some of the many changes he has witnessed over the years.
Miller took his experience to the state level in 1980 by serving as the MPCC Board of Governors representative for the NCCA. He was part of the NCCA from 1980-90, 1999-2003 and 2010 to present. He was president of the NCCA Board of Directors in 1983, 1984, 2002, 2013 and 2019.
Miller also served on the Board of Directors for the national Association of Community College Trustees from 1983-89 and 2014-20.
Miller was a founding member of the MPCC Foundation Board of Directors, serving as president from 1986-89. Additionally, he was appointed to Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education in 1984 to represent community colleges until 1991 when the former commission was replaced by the constitutional commission.
