In 1976, Frostburg State University was a campus in the middle of a growth spurt. The new library was standing tall, and Cambridge Residence Hall had just opened its doors. But while the architecture was modernizing, the spirit of the school remained rooted in a tight-knit community.   

Behind the scenes of that year’s yearbook, the Nemacolin, were two student editors --  Pam (Porter) Niziolek ’78 and Tara Dillon ’77 -- who took on the task of documenting a turning point in Frostburg history. 

One of the most enduring legacies of the ’76 yearbook is its cover. Departing from the traditional FSU seals or building photos, the staff chose a sweeping view of mountains and a waterfall in full color. 

“I think we were just trying to make it feel like ‘This is Frostburg. This is what it looks like. This is what it feels like,’” Niziolek said 50 years later. “And that’s what the campus is like.” It was a choice that leaned into the natural identity of the school, an identity that remains unchanged today. 

  

To Niziolek, the yearbook was about capturing a lifestyle of comradery that she believes has since vanished. “We didn’t have cellphones, and we didn’t have TVs in our room or microwaves. We had to kind of lean on each other.” 

That reliance created a unique “sense of community” that Niziolek hopes readers feel when they flip through the pages today. It was an era of 2:00 a.m. runs to the local bakery for hot donuts, fries at Dunc’s and grabbing slices at Highway Pizza. 

The 200-page black-and-white yearbook is adorned with the usual photo collages of students, organizations, faculty and campus life. Full pages dedicated to events that year include blues guitarist Roy Buchanan (a pioneer of the “telecaster” sound), funk rock band Rare Earth (“I Just Want to Celebrate”) and U.S. Senator from South Dakota and Democratic presidential hopeful George McGovern.

  

Creating the book was a physical labor of love. Long before digital shortcuts, Niziolek and Dillon spent countless hours in the back rooms of the Lane University Center at the layout table. 

“It's hard to find pictures to fit certain places when you have a certain layout you have to contend with,” Niziolek said. “Hours were spent cropping pictures. We had to do all that stuff by hand.” She believes the time commitment and the pressure of looming deadlines is likely why so many other students were hesitant to take the job. 

The 1976 edition also captured a campus under construction. Niziolek remembers living in Gray Hall and having to navigate a literal obstacle course to get to her classes. “The only way you could get to the Lane Center was either to walk through the construction site or you had to go all the way past the science building and down those big stairs.” 

  

To assist with the sections of the yearbook, Niziolek’s roommate and art major  Jeanne Phelps ’78 provided original drawings of campus buildings to act as transitions. These sketches helped navigate the changes happening on campus. 

Whether it was showcasing the events on campus or just simply remembering the faces of friends in the cafeteria, the 1976 yearbook remains a vivid portrait of FSU’s resilience.  The hard work of Niziolek, Dillon and their dedicated staff is preserved in ink and paper -- a reminder of a mountain campus that still feels like home. 

“It was a good time,” Niziolek said. “I enjoyed it. I really did.” 🐾

---

You can check out the 1976 and all of Frostburg State University’s yearbooks  online .

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Look for Frostburg State University Alumni Association on: