The family of Harold Nachtigall (g’56) (ff ’66-’74) has agreed to fund a faculty member for three years in the restarted Computer Science major at Tabor College.
Nachtigall taught mathematics for eight years and he and his wife, Eunice (Bartel fs’54), were lifelong Tabor supporters. That vision aligned with their surviving family members, agreeing to fund a Computer Science professor through the 2026-27 academic year.
In spring 2022, Ellis Toews, Edmond, OK committed multi-year gifts to re-establish a computer science program at Tabor College. Additional contributions would be needed to complete funding for a faculty position.
The newly reinstated program ranges from 45-60 credit hours, depending on the concentration. Those include bioinformatics, computer science, data science, and software engineering.
“We’re honored to recognize Harold’s dedication to excellence in mathematics and student development within our reinvented Computer Science major,” said President David Janzen, Ph.D. “This generous contribution from the Nachtigall family is a testament to his profound impact on the greater Tabor community.”
After graduating from Tabor, Nachtigall first worked with the Menninger Foundation before spending eight years at Topeka Seaman High School (Kan.). In 1960, he completed his M.S. in Mathematics from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kan.
The family relocated to Hillsboro in 1966 when he began teaching at Tabor. Nachtigall was heavily invested in his students and their future careers, receiving National Science Foundation grants to study modern mathematics for teachers. In 1974, the Nachtigall family relocated to Aurora, Neb., to take over the family farm.
“Harold’s teaching was significant in the lives of countless Tabor alumni,” said Ron Braun, vice president of philanthropy. “This gracious gift will play a key role in the growth of Computer Science, and we eagerly await God’s work in the lives of these students.”