The Bikers of Student Success (BOSS) plan to raise funds to establish the Riverland Community College Foundation BOSS Endowed Scholarship.

The BOSS committee will host “Brian Christianson and Friends” Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, with a concert at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre at the Austin Riverland campus.

The concert will feature Austin High School and Riverland alums Brian Christianson and his wife, Nicole (Bibus) Christianson, who are coming all the way from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. to their hometown for the fundraising event.

Brian is the son of Keith and Cindy Christianson, Oakland; Nicole is the daughter of Mike and Marlene Bibus, Austin.

Both families are excited about the homecoming of their children and their talented friends, but one person in particular says the homecoming concert has “can’t miss being special” written all over it.

Ron Wangen is an uncle of Brian Christianson.

Wangen may have “saved” his nephew from injury or worse.

When Wangen was adding on an addition to a dwelling, he climbed atop the roof on a ladder and went about his carpentry work.

“When I looked back, there was Brian,” he said. “He must have been 4 or 5 years old at the time and he was climbing up the ladder.”

Wangen says the story is absolutely true that to guarantee the little boy’s safety, he nailed his pants to the roof, so he could go about his work and Brian could watch.

“Of course, when his mother came around the house and saw what I had done she was horrified,” Wangen added.

Uncle and nephew are close. “He’s just an easy-going kind of guy. Laid-back. Somebody you can’t help but like,” said the uncle.

“Despite his success in Nashville, he’s the same today as he was yesterday when he was growing up. I don’t think he will ever change and I don’t want him to. He’s good just the way he is today,” said Wangen.

Both are ‘good’ at what they do

Marlene Bibus calls Brian “Bry, Bry,” a nickname carved with affection.

“He is such a good boy,” the mother-in-law gushed with praise.

If ever a couple was “made for each other,” it is this one.

Consider their twin music careers as well as personal pursuits in life.

When not fiddling at the Opry, Brian repairs and restores violins at The Violin Shop in Nashville for country music stars and the best fiddlers in the nation, a group of which he is also a member.

Nicole (Nicki) works as a research technician in Nashville’s Vanderbilt University’s neuroscience department.

She’s also following in her parents’ footsteps (Bibus Photography), lending her photography skills and vocals to their recently released album, “Brian Christianson and Friends.”

The “Friends” playing with Brian and Nicki are also from Nashville and played on Brian’s album. They are all accomplished studio musicians playing for the likes of Patty Loveless, Charlie Daniels, Mike Snider and the Nashville Bluegrass Band.

“I think it’s very nice that alumni will give their time and talents to help students they’ve never met,” said Ron Wangen, BOSS committee member and organizer of the concert fundraiser. “Our commitment is to help them succeed in their chosen careers by providing scholarships with the funds the BOSS Ride provides.”

The BOSS committee, made up of Riverland employees who are dedicated to the success of Riverland students, will be hosting their eighth annual “BOSS Ride” Saturday, July, 26. The BOSS committee has a goal of raising more than $10,000 this year to help Riverland students. The Riverland Community College Foundation, committed to strengthening the educational environment of Riverland, award $500 scholarships each fall.

The winner is determined by a foundation committee and based on an application with a series of essays and a letter of recommendation. All scholarship forms are available at the student services stations on all Riverland campuses. The $500 goes toward the student’s tuition and other college-related expenses.

The 2008 scholarship forms are due June 1 to the student services stations.

“Southern Minnesota is blessed with a wonderful community college that we are proud to have attended,” Brian and Nicki said. “Riverland Community College has top-notch educators who truly care about their students’ futures. The students that attend Riverland leave with the knowledge and tools they need for successful lives and careers.”

“We are really excited and honored to be a part of the BOSS Scholarship Fundraiser,” the couple stated. “The BOSS Scholarship Committee has put forth a great deal of effort for the event and we hope people can come out and enjoy a fun-filled evening of bluegrass music.”

Tickets to the first BOSS concert are $15 and available for a limited time at Hy-Vee in Austin, Riverland Foundation Office located in Room C102 in the East Building on the Austin Riverland campus at 433-0508, or from Ron Wangen at 433-5741. For more information on the BOSS Scholarship, visit www.riverland.edu/scholarships.cfm.