Meier Family

The Meier Family Scholarships are made up of generous donations from the Meier Family, each with their own story.

Nadean Meier

The Meier family roots started in Peetz, CO around the 1920s when Nadean's grandparents homesteaded in the area. It is where she was born and raised and where she met her husband, Gary, who moved to Peetz in his early elementary years and where they both graduated high school. They were married shortly after high school and their love for the community and strong support system ultimately aided in their decision to carry on the family farm and plant roots of their own.  They created their life in the hills of wide-open space outside of Peetz near the Chimney Canyons where they grew wheat, raised cattle, hogs, and their three boys, Steve, Rick, and Bryan.

Agriculture was their life.  It was the industry and livelihood that raised them and the livelihood that allowed them to raise their boys.  It’s the same industry that is woven within their boys’ careers to this day and even one of their granddaughters.  Although life wasn’t always easy, it was the struggles that gave a greater capacity to care for and offer grace to others. 

It brings them great joy to watch Peetz students continue to thrive at a local college that shares in this value. NJC allowed Gary to further his education while farming and it was also the perfect launching pad for their sons, daughter-in-laws, nephews, and grandchildren to further their education. They are honored to partner with the NJC Foundation to help a Peetz student each year to further their education to be able to care for those around them.  

Terri & Steve Meier

The Steve Meier family has been in Sterling for over 30 years, but their story doesn't necessarily start here. Steve grew up on a farm just north of Sterling in Peetz, CO.  He pursued his football passion right out of high school at Mesa State, until he discovered everyone at the collegiate level seemed to be bigger, faster, and better than he was. He later transferred to Colorado State University where he pursued a degree in Ag Business because it was the only Ag major that did NOT require a public speaking class.  He now regrets that decision, as he is often asked to speak publicly. Let his hindsight be your foresight and take the public speaking class. Terri grew up a military brat, moving every 4 years.  She was born in Germany and then returned back to Germany to attend high school.  Terri originally attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, and then transferred to Colorado State when she discovered she was NOT actually a “southern belle”.  At CSU, she combined her love for math with her love of people and became a Math Educator.

Although Terri came to Colorado with intentions of meeting an Air Force Pilot, she fell in love with a farm boy from Peetz, CO instead.  God has a funny sense of humor, BUT clearly knew what was best.  It was on a Co-ed softball team that the two met at CSU and the rest they say is history.  They were married in 1988 and planned to temporarily move back to Sterling to pursue their careers. Their original plan to return to the “big city” never came to fruition as they quickly discovered that Sterling is truly a Colorado Treasure, and they have never left.  They began their family shortly after moving to Sterling and are the proud parents of 3 children and 4 grandchildren. As they started to plant roots in Sterling, NJC became deeply embedded in their lives.

Terri spent 20 years at NJC, in the Math Department teaching part-time.  It was the perfect blend of teaching flexibility and availability to be a present mom, which allowed her to get her kids to school, attend all of their sporting functions, and yet also do what she loved by teaching 3 classes each semester.  Steve has been in the banking field since 1988 and recognizes the value and importance of Northeastern Junior College for the community. He even served on the NJC Board for 4 years.  Over the years they have loved hosting and getting to know NJC athletes and cheering on the Plainsmen at many sporting events.

All 3 of their children also attended NJC in varying capacities. Lyndsey, the oldest, was fortunate enough to finish her degree in Accounting from CSU in just 3 years, thanks to the college credits she obtained from NJC during high school.  Austin was able to transfer credits to Creighton from NJC, but decided he didn’t want to rush through college and spent a Semester at Sea instead.  Kendall, the youngest attended NJC and received her CNA, LPN, RN, which later became an ADN and then thanks to the NJC partnership with UNC, she was able to continue here at NJC and complete her Bachelors of Nursing.  NJC was a great choice and option for all 3 of their children.  

They love what NJC has to offer students and the community.  They love the relationships that are built and developed at NJC.  They see the value in money staying in the local community and consider it a gift and a blessing to give back to NJC, an outstanding community college that has given their family so much over the years.