KoriAnne Moslander brims with excitement - even more so than
usual. She and her Central Catholic dance team have just been named Class C
state champs for the tenth year in a row.
“It was all so worth the work - the 6 a.m. practices and
breaking down every move,” she beams. “We were all crying, but we know we have
to work hard next year to make it happen again.”
KoriAnne, a GICC junior, is a vivacious, smiling teenage
girl. Good grades, state championships and making new friends all come easily
to her. She seems, for all the world, to have the privileged life every kid
dreams of. People are amazed to hear
otherwise.
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| KoriAnne Moslander and grandmother Donetta Nye |
“My grandma saved my life,” KoriAnne says simply. “She’s the
only parent I have, and she’s my best friend.”
Before she arrived at Central Catholic as a sophomore,
KoriAnne was unwilling to share much of her life with her new friends and
classmates. Growing up, she felt relentlessly bullied in her old town and high
school. Kids refused to include her because of her family history, and finally
her grandmother convinced her to move to Grand Island and attend Grand Island
Central Catholic.
“I tell her now it was the best decision ever,” KoriAnne
grins. “My friends are like family, and I feel connected to everybody. Classes
can be hard, but they’re really good.”
KoriAnne didn’t immediately share her story with her new
friends in Grand Island, but as she began to build relationships and trust her
classmates, she confided to them little by little her traumatic start in life.
“My parents were divorced before I was born,” she says
quietly, “and they both suffered with addiction.”
Although her father was able to conquer his own addiction,
her mother could not. KoriAnne was two months old when her mother left her
alone at home with her three-year-old brother and forgot about them both.
KoriAnne’s grandparents - her dad’s parents - stepped in to remove the children
from their mother’s home. Although KoriAnne’s father was able to conquer his
addiction, several years later he died.
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| Grand Island Central Catholic State Championship Dance Team: First row from left- Taryn Dimmitt, Ellie Alberts, Aubrey Moritz, KoriAnne Moslander. Second row from left - Stephanie Huntwork, Kathryn Rohweder, Tatum Hedman, Kennedi Henke, Coach Erin Neuhaus. Last row - Coach Nicole Hicken |
“She told me she’d never used disposable diapers!” KoriAnne
laughs. “When she took care of her own kids and grandkids, it was with cloth
diapers and safety pins.”
Nevertheless, KoriAnne’s great grandparents provided the
stability their two little great-grandchildren had never experienced. Tyler,
KoriAnne’s brother, is on his own now. He’s very protective of his little
sister, KoriAnne says.
“But my grandma and I are pretty much everything to each
other,” she says.
A few years ago when KoriAnne’s great-grandfather died, she
helped her grieving great-grandmother.
“When my dad died, Grandma did
everything she could to help me. So when Grandpa died, I knew I had to help my
grandma through that.”
Even at 80, Donetta Nye is a busy, active woman. The long
time director of the St. Paul Senior Center, she often brought a small KoriAnne
to work with her. The little girl enchanted the senior citizens, and every
Thursday KoriAnne danced for the residents. She loved accompanying her
grandmother to work and hanging out with her elderly clients.
“My grandma is so extraordinary,” KoriAnne shakes her head.
“She’s the most caring, super-wise, most educated person in the world. She’s
overly generous and has the hugest heart.”
Though KoriAnne has many good friends, she prefers to be
with her grandmother more than anybody else. They spend time together every
night and giggle uproariously together.
“We love The Bachelor,” KoriAnne laughs, “and making fun of
those stupid girls. I also got Grandma into taking funny selfies, and she poses
with me all the time. She tells me all her crazy stories, and I can tell her
anything.”
KoriAnne plans to study respiratory therapy at UNO after she
graduates next year. She’d also like to specialize in Alzheimer’s care since
her grandfather suffered from the disease.
“I’m pretty sure Grandma will move to Omaha with me when
it’s time,” KoriAnne says, “and I couldn’t be happier about that.”
She smiles her radiant smile.
“Grandma’s my rock. I love her so much.”
