Chadron State College



Chadron State Alumni Received Special Honors

1970—Bonnie Zahm Bamsey, home economics teacher at Gordon, Look Magazine’s Nebraska Teacher of the Year “for forming the most effective Head Start program in the region.”

1975—Jim Martin, Omaha, Nebraska High School Coach of the Year by the Omaha World-Herald after leading Omaha Central to two straight state boys’ basketball championships.

1975—Wayne Sides, Gering, Nebraska’s Outstanding Industrial Arts Teacher.

1981—Jo Hartman, Spearfish, South Dakota’s Teacher of the Year by the South Dakota School Board Association.

1984—Dr. Val Fitch, Princeton, N.J., attended CSC two years and a summer prior to World War II, Distinguished Alumnus Award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. He was on the faculty at Princeton University when he shared the Nobel Prize in physics in 1980.

1985—Garrod Toepfer, Lewellen, Neb., for the fifth time in five years, won first in the corn growing contest sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. There were more than 2,500 entries from 45 states in 1985.

1985—Dennis “Buck” Edwards, Chadron, Nebraska Coaches Association’s Golf Coach of the Year after his Chadron girls’ team won four straight Class B state championships. He received Nebraska School Activities Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2008.

1985—Jim Hanson, Chadron, chosen director of the Nebraska State Historical Society, a position he filled into 1991. He then authored several books on American Indians and the fur trade.

1986—Don Vanderheiden, Broken Bow, Neb., one of the 100 outstanding school managers in North America chosen by “The Executive Educator,” magazine.

1986—Colleen Heinz, Hemingford, elected student program chairperson for the National Education Association and spent two years in Washington, D.C. In 2011, Colleen was in her fifth year as vice president of the Colorado Education Association in Denver.

1987—Marty Ramirez, Nebraskaland Days “Hispanic Man of the Year” in North Platte and League of United Latin American Citizens “National Hispanic Man of the Year” in ceremonies in Corpus Christi, Texas.

1988—Mike Bogner, Oelrichs, S.D., received a Rotary Foundation Scholarship to study criminology and law at the University of Cambridge in England. He earned a master’s degree from Cambridge, and has taught justice studies at CSC since 1994

1988—Tom Gay, a teacher at Pine Ridge High School, was the South Dakota winner of the Christa McAulliffe Fellowship for innovative use of computers in the study of transportation in his reading and English classes.

1989—Rev. James Krotz, Rushville, elected rector of the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska. He was the first Nebraska native and at age 40 the youngest person to head the church in the state. He filled the position into 2003.

1989—Brad Barrows, York, one of three Outstanding Young Nebraskans by the Nebraska Jaycees.

1992—Marla Smith, Imperial, Excellence in Earth Science Teaching Award from the National Geological Society of America and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.

1993—Don Baumberger, Rock Springs, Wyo., and Harry Rogers, Valdez, Alaska, both graduates of CSC’s specialist in education degree program, were recognized as the outstanding superintendents from their states at the American Association of School Administrators Conference in Orlando, Fla. Also during the 1990s, five graduates received Principal of the Year Awards from the National Association of Secondary School Principals. They were Mark Knickerbocker, Wheatland, Wyo., 1993; Rich Deaver, Sturgis, S.D., and Randy Ludeman, Sundance, Wyo., 1995; and Mike Kinnaird, Las Vegas, Nev., and Terry Statton, Cody, Wyo., 1996. Kinnaird also received the $25,000 Milken National Education Award that goes to educators who have “left a lasting impression.”

1993—Gretchen Glode Berggren, one of six “children’s health champions” selected by UNICEF and honored at White House ceremony. Also, Alumni Award of Merit by Harvard University School of Public Health in 1998.

1994—Dale Williamson, Chadron, won the 87th Nebraska Amateur Men’s Golf Tournament in Scottsbluff by five strokes.

1995-- Paige Tuttle, Ainsworth, Nebraska winner of the Sallie Mae Award that goes to the outstanding first-year teacher in each state.

1995—Rod Diercks, Henderson, Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association.

1995—Fred Rodriguez, Lawrence, Kan., first Gene A. Budig Distinguished Teaching Professorship in the School of Education and the Mortar Board Outstanding Educator Award at the University of Kansas. He also received the Meredith Geiger Gould Teaching Award at KU in both 1999 and 2000.

1995—John Streep, Shamong, N.J., “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Merrill, Lynch, Ernst & Young, Sprint and Inc. and “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association in 1996.

1996—Ivan Kerschner, principal at Eagle Valley High School at Gypsum, Colo., the Milken Award. The previous year, Kerschner received the Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education.

1996—Michael O’Brien, Oklahoma City, Okla., Southwest Region Counselor of the Year by the National Rehabilitation Counselor Association. He became executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services in 2009.

1996--Connie Neugebauer, teacher at a rural school at Hermosa, the Sallie Mae First Class Teacher Award for South Dakota.

1997—Dan Long, Ann Arbor, Mich., first recipient of the Elizabeth A.H. Green School Educator Award presented by the American String Teachers Association and the National School Orchestra Association.

1998—Dave Bellis, Worland, Wyo., one of 10 national recipients of the John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor Award and the Award of Merit from the Wyoming Chapter of the National Federation of Music Teachers in 1992 and 2000.

1998—Francis Cortney, Las Vegas, Nev., new junior high school named for him after he’d been a principal in Las Vegas 17 years.

1998—Patricia Randolph, Scottsbluff, first teacher from western Nebraska selected State Teacher of the Year by the National Council of Chief State School Officers and the Nebraska Department of Education. The previous year, she was Nebraska’s Foreign Language Teacher of the Year and she received the Star Award at the Nebraska Foreign Languages Conference from the Nebraska Department of Education in 2002.

1998—Marilyn Bush, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico’s Audubon Society Teacher of the Year.

1998--Jim English, Chadron, Nebraska’s Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

1998—Cindy Mondle Moravek, Shoshoni, Wyoming Presidential Award for Excellence in Math Teaching. It included a $7,500 grant from the National Science Foundation.

1999—Marla Payne Aguilara, Somerton, Teacher of the Year by Arizona’s Small and Rural Schools Association.

1999—Betty Ash, Sedgwick, Colorado’s Outstanding Mathematics Teacher.

1999—Tandy Sherlock Gaul, Alliance, graduated first her in veterinary school class at Kansas State University.

1999—Bud Murray, Newhall, High School Baseball Coach of the Year by the California Coaches Association.

1999—Don Ruleaux, Chadron, South Dakota Governors’ Art Award. This was one of 85 awards Ruleaux received for his art work, which is in at least 25 collections, including the Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

1999—Suzanne Hess Bottorff, Gordon, Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association.

1999—Sandra Konrath Thompson, Bayard, Teacher of the Year by the Family and Consumer Science Teachers of Nebraska.

2000—Frances Cortez-Stokes, Hot Springs, Christa McAuliffe Award for South Dakota. Also, Outstanding Social Studies Teacher in South Dakota in 1983-84 and first alternate for the McAuliffe Award in South Dakota in 1990.

2000—Carolyn Escamilla, Roosevelt Elementary School in Scottsbluff, Milken Family Award that included $25,000 grant.

2000—Jamalee Bussinger Stone, math teacher at Rushville, Christa McAuliffe Award for Nebraska. Stone had earlier received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the Tandy Award for Teaching Excellence. Also was awarded an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship and spent several months at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration headquarters in Washington, D.C., in 2003.

2000—The late LaVerne McKelvey and Lonnie Wickard, Bayard, inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

2000—Harlin Dormann and Ruth Cottier, Leyton Schools at Dalton and Gurley, Golden Apple Awards given by Nebraska State Education Association.

2000—Kim Hanisch, Ogallala, $28,245 Christa McAuliffe Fellowship to purchase technology.

2000—Andrea Powers, Hot Springs, S.D., selected to visit schools in Japan through the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.

2000—Milford Smith, Odell, co-recipient of the Administrator of the Year Award by the Nebraska Rural Community School Association.

2000—Steve Wickham, Kearney, Assistant Principal of the Year by the Nebraska and National Associations of Secondary School Principals.

2001—Laurie Schmidt, Chadron, Nebraska Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year.

2001—Gary Largo, Scottsbluff, first recipient of the Nebraska State Education Association’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

2001—Joe McKay, Kalispell, Mont., first CSC graduate inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Also the National Girls’ Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2001 and received a similar honor from the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches in 1999.

2001—JoAnne Owens-Nauslar, Lincoln, first recipient of the Excellence in Advocacy Award given by PE 4LIFE and elected president of American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Dance.

2001—Dave Boyd, Norfolk, inducted into Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.

2001—Cloyde Snook, Alamosa, Colo. The new two-story art gallery was named in his honor at Adams State College, where he had taught 26 years.

2001—Dennis Schmitz, Pender, Administrator of the Year by the Nebraska State Reading Association.

2002—Jackie Klerk Waldie, Rapid City, Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for South Dakota.

2002—Annita Shaw, Silverdale, Wash., National Middle Level Art Educator of the Year from the National Art Education Association. Earlier she was the Pacific Region Middle Level Art Educator of the Year.

2002—Skip Olds, Alliance, Administrator of the Year by the Nebraska Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

2002—Bruce Ford, Chamberlain, S.D., only inductee into Job Corps Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., for 2002.

2002—Larry Miller, Hershey, Pa., became president/general manager of Pennsylvania Public Television in 2002 after being the executive vice president and chief operating officer the previous 15 months. Prior to that, Miller was executive director of Mississippi Public Radio and Television eight years.

2002—Larry Overton, Fort Morgan, inducted onto Colorado High School Activities Association’s Hall of Fame. Also was the first Colorado recipient of the John F. Kennedy Alliance for Arts Education Award in 1989 and inducted into the Colorado Music Educators’ Hall of Fame in 1999.

2002—Verl Petsch Jr., Torrington, the activities center at Eastern Wyoming College renamed in his honor after he had coached the volleyball team 28 years.

2002—Ron Nelson, Lusk, Wyo., All-Northwest Wrestling Coach of the Year (The region included six states.)

2002--Angela Vasquez, Valentine, one of five finalists for Nebraska State Education Association’s Rookie of the Year Award

2003—Lana Sides, Sidney, Outstanding New Principal Award given by the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals.

2003—Tony Cordova, Kearney, one of four law enforcement officers honored as Officers of the Year by the U.S. Justice Department after leading the search for a kidnapping victim.

2003—Graduates Jason Alexander, Sargent; Diane Unverzagt Kilgore, Lodgepole; and Dave Wiedeman, Dalton; among 13 recipients of Golden Apple Awards from the Nebraska State Education Association.

2003—Aprill Smith Sherman, Valentine, graduated first in veterinary school at Kansas State University.

2003—Dr. Robert Hanlon, Chadron, Volunteer Faculty Award from the College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center.

2003--Laura Freestone Snow, Pierre, recognized as a South Dakota Director Who Makes a Difference by School Band and Orchestra, an international publication.

2003—Gregg Gramberg, Rapid City, South Dakota Technology Teacher of the Year.

2003—Ralph and Virginia Trotter, Casper, Wyo., International Family of the Year by the Knights of Columbus.

2004—Moni Hourt, Glen School in Sioux County, Neb., National Rural Education Association Teacher of the Year.

2004—Sherry Shannon Retzlaff, Rushville, fourth recipient of Teaching Excellence Award by Nebraska State Education Association. Also, Nebraska’s Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year in 2005.

2004—Dr. Jeff King, Grand Island, Nebraska’s Young Physician of the Year.

2004—Claire Coffee Brown, Albany, N.Y., Excellence in Teaching Award from the School of Education at the University of Albany.

2004—Don Knauss, Omaha, and Bill Lewis, Lincoln, inducted into Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. Lewis also was one of 10 recipients of National Federation of High School Associations’ Citations in 2005.

2004—Sharla Tollman Dowding, Wyoming’s Outstanding Biology Teacher.

2004—Opera singer Don Sherrill named Washington, D.C., Summer Opera Guild’s Artist of the Year.

2004--Kelvin Sharp became president of South Plains College at Levelland, Texas.

2004—John Deti, Laramie, inducted into the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame.

2004—Milford “Dub” Miller, Chadron, inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame posthumously.

2004—Tala Tulafano, a 1970 graduate, elected governor of American Samoa and re-elected in 2008.

2004—Michael Pruter, Stratton, McCook Area Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Year.

2005—Jane Tangeman Newblom, Sheridan, first runner-up for Indiana Teacher of the Year. (There are more than 66,000 teachers in Indiana,)

2005—Lee Vasquez, Iowa City, Iowa, elected president of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services.

2005—Donald Tanaka, Mandan, N.D., named a Fellow by the American Society of Agronomy.

2005—Craig Schadwinkel, Gering, Nebraska Elementary Physical Education Instructor of the Year.

2006—Cindy Lanik, Hemingford, Nebraska’s American Star Teacher Award given by the U.S. Department of Education.

2006—Catie Limbach, Crawford kindergarten teacher, Nebraska Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year.

2006--Tim Walz, Mankato, elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota’s First District. Earlier, Walz was one of six Minnesota teachers to receive a $10,000 award for high performance in teaching and an Ethics in Education Award from the Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation.

2006—Bob Colgate, Lincoln, appointed assistant director of National Federation of State High School Associations in Indianapolis after two years as assistant director of Nebraska School Activities Association.

2006—Dr. Loren Jacobsen, Broken Bow, J.G. Elliott Award for improving healthcare services in rural Nebraska by the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

2006—Tari Nelson Phares, Rapid City, South Dakota Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

2006--Mike Mykris, Santa Fe, “state star” by the New Mexico Small Business Development Center.

2006—Patty Hawk, Lincoln, National Exemplary Teacher Award by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church.

2006—Todd Lowry, National American University at Rapid City, S.D., NAIA National Volleyball Coach of the Year.

2006—Chris Carlisle, strength coach at Southern Cal, National Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.

2006—Chuck Cogdill, Chadron, received the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award. Also, the Wyoming Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 1996 and National Intercollegiate Athletic Administrators State Award of Merit in 1997.

2006—Mike Speirs, football coach at Howells, Nebraska Boys’ High School Coach of the Year by both the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-Herald.

2006—Dr. Tom Henry, chancellor of the Mohave Community College at Kingman, Ariz., Community College Chief Executive Office of the Year for the Pacific Region by the Association of Community College Trustees.

2006- Craig Schadwinkel, Gering, Outstanding Elementary Physical Education Instructor in Nebraska.

2006--Mark Brohman, who had been chief of administration for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, became executive director of the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

2006—Basil Brave Heart, Pine Ridge, S.D., the Consistent Activity in Recovery in Education Award from the Hazelden Foundation based in Minneapolis for his work in addiction recovery.

2006—Terri Scofield Gaeddert, the McCreery Teaching Award for innovative teaching at Sterling College in Kansas.

2007—Kent McLellan, Morrill, Nebraska High School Principal of the Year.

2007—Nancy Myers Miller, Potter, the State Teacher of the Year in Agriculture from the Nebraska Farm Bureau and was one of five national winners.

2007—Sharon Arthur Hoffman, Bayard, selected Nebraska Music Educator of the Year by the National Federation of High Schools Interscholastic Music Association and Music Educator of the Year by the Nebraska School Music Educators in 2006.

2007—Brad Fults, Beaver City, inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

2008—Con Marshall, Chadron (contributor), and Larry Vlasin, McCook (athlete at Madrid High School), inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.

2008--Dirlene Steffe Wheeler, Sheridan, Wyoming High School Principal of the Year by the Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals.

2008—Bruce Parish of Chadron, president of the Nebraska State Intercollegiate Activities Administrator Association.

2008—Brian Griffith, the Polly Russell Dowling Fellowship for Excellence in Theatre at the University of Delaware.

2008—Lorene “Jake” Jacobsen, Professor of the Year at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

2008— Steve Gardiner, English and journalism teacher at Billings Senior High School, Montana Teacher of the Year. Also one of six teachers spotlighted in Teacher Magazine in 1990.

2008—John Harms, Scottsbluff, elected to the Nebraska Legislature after serving 30 years a president of Western Nebraska Community College.

2009—Rex Jones, Chadron, one of three recipients of the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Dan Gable “America Needs Wrestling” Award. Also, six-state Citation Award from the National Federation of State High School Activities Associations in 2002 and inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

2009—Dale Butler, Overland Park, Kan., inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame for many years of referring football and basketball and umpiring baseball and softball.

2009—Glen “Bullet” Henry, Cedar Falls, the swimming and diving pool at the University of Northern Iowa was named in his honor. Henry was the school’s first swimming coach and an employee at the school 38 years.

2009—Dustin Ladenburger, Stratton, the Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award by the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

2009—Larry Riley, in his 21st year in the NBA, became general manager of the Golden State Warriors.

2009--Kody Christensen, Gering, one of four finalists for Rookie Teacher of the Year sponsored by the Nebraska State Education Association.

2009—Monica Kramer, Stapleton, received the Education Award at the Women of Achievement banquet in North Platte.

2009—Niki Frates Salomon, Gothenburg, elected president of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Pharmacy Alumni Association.

2010—Sandy Meter Sarver, Irvine, Calif., published a children’s book, “Who Loves the Farm.”

2010—Lenora Kennedy, Riverton, a 1949 CSC graduate, was a charter inductee into the Wyoming Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Hall of Fame.

2010-- Stacie Sandberg Fullmer, fourth grade teacher at Pine Bluffs, and Willie Lewman, math teacher at Rawlins High School, Wyoming Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards.

2010—Wilma Quelle, Mesa, Ariz., wrote “Steps to Navajo History” containing 250 years of tribal history.

2010—Jana Goranson, Gordon, one of six Nebraska high school guidance counselors to receive a Guidance Counselor Enrichment Scholarship from the EducationQuest Foundation.

2010—Tawnya Teter, Lovell, was named the 2010-11 Wyoming School Counselor of the Year.

2010—LaDonna Knight, Rapid City, received a South Dakota Distinguished Service Award from the National Association Extension 4-H Educators.

2011—Dadrea Rebeler, an employee of the Oglala Lakota Nation’s Department of Public Safety at Pine Ridge, S.D., the Indian Country Police Officer of the Year Award from the Indian Country Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

2011—The LifeShare Reference and Scientific Support Laboratories at Shreveport, La., were named for John Moulds of nearby Marshall, Texas, during ceremonies that drew some of the world’s leading immunohematologists and numerous health care professionals. Nearly 100 articles written by Moulds have been printed in scientific journals. He died June 13, 2011.

2011—Harry Hull, a 1952 CSC graduate, received the Billy Adams Award from Adams State College, where he was the director of the Student Center for more than 30 years.

2011—Jim Martin, Omaha, received the Cornerstone Award from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His boys’ basketball teams at Omaha Central won the Class A state championships in 1974 and 1975.

2011—Vince Pelster was recognized by the Nebraska Coaches Association as the Boys’ Track Coach of the Year after his team at Hastings St. Cecelia won the Class C state championship.

2011—Ken Griffith, Guernsey, Wyo., elected president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals for 2011-12. He also was Wyoming Principal of the Year in 1998 and was chairman of the board for the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board 1999-2001.

2011—Jim English, Torrington, was president of the Wyoming High School Activities Association.

2011—John Freudenberg, Lincoln, was elected president of the Nebraska County Attorneys Association.

2011—Travis O’Gorman, Alliance, appointed a district judge for the 12th Judicial District of Nebraska.

2011—Curt Frye, who earned his master’s degree from Chadron State in 1975, became president of Wayne State College.

2011—Dan Maciejczak was inducted into the Rapid City Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a football player at Chadron State and success while coaching indoor football teams.

2011—Leon Durbin, Mesquite, Nev., was the recipient of a lifetime service award from the Nevada Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. His teams at Virgin Valley High won the state championship four straight years 1998-2001. He also was named Nevada’s Cross Country Coach of the year in 2005.

2011—Harry Hull, a 1952 CSC graduate, received the Billy Adams Award from Adams State College, where he was the director of the Student Center for 30 years.  He went to Adams State in 1957 after managing the CSC student union that was in Memorial Hall for five years. He and his wife, the former Frances Covic, a native of Chadron, have continued to live in Alamosa since he retired.

2012—John McGary was inducted into the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame after coaching the wrestlers at Tri-County High at DeWitt for 40 years.

2012—Dr. Kim Madsen, a family and consumer science professor at Chadron State and director of CSC’s Child Development Center since 1989, Distinguished Service to Chadron Award from the Nebraska Association for the Education of Young Children at the Early Childhood Convention at the college. Dr. Madsen also was named Director of the Year by the National Coalition for Campus Children’s Centers in 2010.

2012—Donald Ruleaux, a 1959 CSC graduate and a retired member of the CSC art faculty, recipient of the biennial Governor’s Arts Award. The honor was given by the Nebraska Arts Council for excellence in arts education.

2012—John Stannard, Russell, Kan., received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Extension Agents after serving as an extension agent in Kansas for 22 years.

2012—Richard “Dick” Owens, Sioux City, Iowa, received the Professor Emeritus title from Morningside College, where he started the special education degree program in 1973, taught for about 20 years and continues to do special projects.  In 2013, the Owens Professional Service Award was established to be presented to a student graduating with a master’s degree in special education. He also was president of the Learning Disabilities of Iowa in 2013. 

2012—Harold “Butch” Kruse, long-time music teacher at Hill City, S.D., was presented the Phi Beta Mu/Sigma Chapter Distinguished Service Award at the South Dakota All-State Band Concert. His wife, Karen, also a CSC graduate, was recognized for her support.

2012—Tom Gorman, Cody Scott Award for his 42 years as a faculty member and administrator at North Platte/Mid-Plains Community College.

2012—Patty Hawk Dierks, Prouty Teaching Award from Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she is a communications professor.

2012—Joan DeHaven, Staff Award of Excellence from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, where she is a finance officer.

2012—Anne Schmall, Scottsbluff Middle School teacher, Nebraska Family and Consumer Science Teacher of the Year.

2012—Chrissy Peterson, South Dakota Special Education Director of the Year. She works for the Meade School District at Sturgis.

2012—Alan Garey, Curtis, elected president of the Nebraska Rural Community School Association for the 2012-13 school year.

2012—Cyndee Wooden, Teacher of the Year at Overland High School in the Denver area.

2012—Deb Spickelmeier Noble, Cheyenne, Wyo., inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as athlete at Hayes Center High School. She also was an All-American middle distance runner at CSC.

2012—Jeanne McKerrigan, Scottsbluff, received the Pinnacle Award, US Bank’s highest employee honor, for the third time.

2012—Michael O’Brien, director of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, was elected national president of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and received the organization’s Issues Scholar Award for the fourth time.

2012—Britany Fleck, Bismarck, became the first North Dakotan to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in barrel racing.

2013—Marty Ramirez, who worked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 38 years, Melvin W. Jones Mentoring Award, for his encouragement and inspiration while promoting mentoring relationships and diversity.

2013—Angela Shaw, library media specialist for the Lincoln Heights and Longfellow Elementary Schools in Scottsbluff, Nebraska Classroom Ag Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

2013—Paul Wess, Chadron, appointed a county court judge for the 12th Judicial District.

2013—Teresa Moore, Torrington, elected president of the Wyoming Association of Public Accountants.

2013—T.J. Thompson, a 2013 graduate, Great Plains Student Photographer of the Year at the 2013 Great Plains Journalism Awards program in Tulsa, Okla. There were almost 800 entries from eight states in the competition.

2013—Alex Helmbrecht, CSC sports information director, won first place in the Athlete Profile category in District 7 for his story on CSC basketball player Christian McGhee from the College Sports Information Directors of America. It was the fifth time Helmbrecht won first place in the district, which covers nine states.

2013—Moni Hourt, Crawford High School teacher, History Channel Award for Service, presented at National History Day for her outstanding contribution in history education. (Included a $5,000 stipend.)

* Peter Kiewit Foundation Teacher Awards.

Barbara Calkins, Rushville, 1995; Lisa Carder, Albion, 2002; Jason DeMaranville, Gering, 1991; Brenda Doxtator, 1994; Patricia Fitzpatrick, Kimball, 2000; Moni Hourt, Crawford, 1996 and 2000; Mary Jo Huelle, Gering, 1990; Carole Koehn, Scottsbluff, 1991; Robert Lewandowski, Harrison, 1004; Dayulee Liakos, Pender, 1994; Carol Margheim, Scottsbluff, 2002; Patricia Randolph, Scottsbluff, 1997; Barbara Ritterbush, Scottsbluff, 1992; Stacy Romick-Imig, Alliance, 1999; Jean Snyder, Rushville, 1995; JoAnne Teaford, Ogallala, 1998; Larry Uhing, Grand Island, 1993.

*Kiewit Awards were given for “significant achievements in curriculum development, student motivation and commitment to the teaching profession 1989-2002. The recipients received $7,000 with $5,000 to be used to benefit the recipients’ students and schools and $2,000 as the recipients chose.

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