Now comes the hard decision.

The application process to replace the retiring Curt Frye as president of Wayne State College has officially been closed.

Stan Carpenter, Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, said last week that applications for the position will no longer be accepted.

The application deadline was originally March 25, but Carpenter had extended that deadline.

“There are about 60 applicants, and I believe that we have a great pool of qualified candidates,” Carpenter said.

The next step is for the 15-member search committee to narrow down the list of candidates.

The pool will be reduced to five or six candidates, and finalists among them will visit campus on April 27 and 28. They will meet with students and faculty and tour the campus and community.

After meeting with the candidates, students and faculty will have the opportunity to vote for the one they would like to see as the next president.