Distinguished Alumni Awards
Each year, the UNK Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni who are making significant contributions to their communities and businesses. We know there are many deserving alumni out there and we need your assistance with nominations.
UNK Alumni Association Awards are selected by a committee from the following categories:
- Distinguished Alumni Award
- Distinguished Young Alumni Award
- Distinguished International Alumni Award
- Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
Award recipients are recognized during UNK Homecoming weekend, held in September or October.
To nominate a Loper alum, please complete and return the UNKAA Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination Form 2024 or online form by March 31, 2024 to tricia.danburg@unkalumni.org or UNK Alumni Association, Campus Box 21, Kearney, NE 68845.
New for 2024, please consider the nomination of a distinguished educator! Outstanding teachers and administrators can be nominated via the UNKAA Distinguished Educator Award Nomination Form 2024 or online form by March 31, 2024 to tricia.danburg@unkalumni.org or UNK Alumni Association, PO Box 2678, Kearney, NE 68848.
Don’t let those outstanding Lopers go unnoticed simply because they weren’t nominated! Be a part of the process, nominate a Loper today!
Want to see all of our past award recipients? A list of all past award recipients dating back to 1980 is below.
2023 Award Recipients
You can read more about these distinguished alumni here.
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Brian K. Buhlke, D.O., F.A.A.F.P. (1993)
Tim Carman (1984)
Tim Schlattmann (1985)
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Ryan Tworek (1998)
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Dusty L. Birge (2011)
Dr. Donald E. Fox Distinguished Chemistry Alumna Award
Ruth (Udey) Harding, Ph.D (2006)
College of Education Distinguished Educator of the Year
Maureen (Gaffney) Nickels (1974, MAE 1978)
Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumnus
Justin Zeleski Ed.D (2005)
College of Business and Technology Distinguished Alumna
Alexi (Tice) Wellman (1992)
PAST AWARD WINNERS AND BANQUET PROGRAMS
2022 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Gregg L. Christensen ’75 Dan O’Neill ’81 Diane M. Simard ’88 Col. Scott B. Thompson ’83
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Allston D. Marble ’08
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
Jack C. Kreman ’04
College of Business & Technology Distinguished Alumnus Larry L. Peterson, Ph.D. ’79
College of Education Distinguished Educator of the Year John T. Street, Ed.S. ’75, MAE ’79, ’91, ED ’86
International Distinguished Alumnus Award Mahabir Pun ’92, MAE ’01
Dr. Donald E. Fox Distinguished Chemistry Alumna Award Cheri A. Barta Ph.D. ’02
Dr. Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumnus Award Clayton P. Moyer ’01, MAE ’10
2021 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Meghan Barp ’99
Larry Feather ’66
Kirk Hartman ’86 Dave Thorrell ’71
Distinguished Young Alumna Award
Melissa (Huffman) Bucher ’07
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
Jeff Blackmon ’11
Chemistry Department’s Don Fox Lecturer
April Montoya Vaverka, Ph.D. ’02
College of Education Distinguished Educator
Rebecca (Davis) Faber, Ph.D. ’79, MAE ’82
Dr. Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumna
Adam Zrust, Ph.D. ’06
College of Business & Technology Distinguished Alumnus
Scott Cruickshank ’86
2020 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Phil Gaffney ’72
Mary (Kuk) Rosenthal ’88
Alan L Smith Ph.D.’64 Robert Whitehouse’67
Distinguished Young Alumna Award
Brooke McGee ’08, MA ’11
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
Lanny Jorgensen ’63 and Panda Jean Vest
International Alumnus Award
Thomas Crowther ’98
Distinguished Educator of the Year
Patricia (Morrison) Timm ’69
Dr. Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumna
Emily Balcetis, Ph.D. ’01
College of Business and Technology Distinguished Alumnus
Terry Peterson ’75
2019 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Richard Davenport, Ph.D. ’67
Mark Graff ’79
Sandy (Holen) Johnson ’67
Mark Sanders ’76, MAE ’79
Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Krystle (Faust) Buntemeyer ’06
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
Pete ’70 and Jane Kotsiopulos
Dr. Don Fox Lecturer
Tim Slocum ’00
College of Education Distinguished Educator
Mary (Van Ackeren) Clark ’86
Dr. Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumna
Nicole Elliott ’99
2018 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Award
Rakesh Srivastava ’02, MSE ’05
Roger Mathiesen ’73, MSE ’77
Michael Coe ’68, MSE ’74
Sandra (Bishop) Olson ’7
Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Erica (Wendland) Lee ’03
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
Mat ’99 and Amy Cope ’99
Dr. Don Fox Lecturers
Kathleen McDonald ’87
Susan (McDonald) Fanta ’89
Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumna
Kelly A. Miller ’93
College of Education Distinguished Educator
Don Clark ’95
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Col. (Ret.) Jan R. Frye, ’72
LeRoy Swedlund, ’69
Shannon (Welch) Vesely, ’77, MAE ’79
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Brenda (Snodgrass) Christensen, ’83
Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Dusty Reynolds, ’04
International Distinguished
Alumni Award
Francisco Hildago-Suarez, MBA ’80
College of Education
Distinguished Educator of the Year
Sandra (Thomas) Hanson, ’81, MAE ’89
Dr. Don Fox Lecturer
Julie (Slaughter) Larsen, ’77, MSE ’88
Dr. Gary Thomas
Distinguished Music Alumna
Sarah Ponder, ’03
2016
25-year celebration
No awards presented
FALL 2015 UNK Today Homecoming
UNK Alumni Distinguished Alumni Award
Chuck Schwartz ’72
Julie Ignowski Speirs ’78
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Sharron Jacobson Altmaier ’55
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Travis Miller ’01
Andrea Walton Miller ’02
Distinguished Alumni Award
Robert Hippe, J.D. ’63
Dr. David Jacox ’72
Mary Vaughn ’78
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Ron Glandt
Myron Placek ’80
Gregg Grubaugh ’79
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Travis Hollman ’01
Dr. Angela Emrick Hollman ’01
2013 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Susanne Bloomfield Ph.D. ’68, MAE ’79
Harold Deselms Ph.D. ’64, MSE ’68
Terry Heimes ’68 John Leehy ’80
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Brad Bohn M.D. ’06
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
John and JoDell Payne ’62
Dr. Gary Thomas Distinguished Music Alumnus
Jeff Stelling ’93
2012 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Jamie Gutierrez ’89, ’90
Bill McGahan ’64, MSE ’68, MSE ’91
Jeanette Keller Wojtalewicz ’84
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Dan Whelan ’00
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
Jerry and Nancy Stahr Dulitz ’65
2011 Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Andrew Aprill ’85
Jack Crowley ’60
Phyllis Markussen Ed.D ’69
Linda Nelson Timmons ’85
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Chad Vokoun M.D. ’96
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Service Award
John Wolf ’73
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Don Envick ’61, MSE ’65, Ph.D.
Dennis Pool ’70, Ed.D.
Carolyn Wagner Snyder ’64
Cameron “Cam” Sutton ’70
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished AlumniService Award
Larry Edwards ’64
Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
Greg Daake ’98
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
LaVern Franzen ’67
Thomas Buecker ’73
Ron Larsen ’66
Teresa Kowalski Porter ’80
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
John E. Clinch ’62
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Tom Carman ’71
Bill Dunn ’73
Dr. Jean Ochsner Lukesh ’85, MAE ’90, MSE ’93
Brenda VanLengen ’88
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Kathy Horvath ’67
Dallas & Sheryl Wymore ’74
.
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dwayne “Butch” Brown ’70
Kevin Rader ’84
Judy Henggeler Spohr ’63
Dr. Don Unger ’65, MSE ’69, Ph.D. ’80
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Jeff Stelling ’93
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Norris Haring ’48
Nancy Montanez Johner ’94
Dr. Gary Smidt ’59
Ron Williams ’67
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Sue Batie ’73
2005
Centennial Celebration
No awards presented
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Judge Richard Kopf, ’69
Dr. Larry Peterson, ’79
Karen Wyatt Rhoads, ’81
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Roger Jones, ’65
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Kip Anderson, ’90
Jack Garlock, ’77
Joe Higgins, ’64
JoAn Scott, ’86
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Paul Wagner, ’58
*2002
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Curt Coffman, ’84
Joe Green ’75
Dr. Larry Hardesty, ’69 & ’71
Dr. Marge Kindvall Harouff, ’62
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Janell Godberson Beveridge, ’79
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Joyce Focken Blackwell ’79
Lori Goa McClurg ’82
Dennis Nelson ’73
Larry Schulte ’70, MA ’78
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Jim Armagost ’65, MAE ’67
Betty Jo Gillespie Armagost ’67
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Ron ‘Gus’ Gustafson ’88
Jerry Kriha ’59
Marilyn Prososki McGahan ’65, MAE ’77
Paul Younes ’75
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Jennie Silas Gutierrez ’73, MAE ’81
Dale Kastens ’64
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Dianne Gabrukiewicz Bystrom ’75
Dayle Fitzke ’51
Judge Karen Jueck Hunt ’61
Dr. Robert Kupper ’73
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Jim Van Marter ’53
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Tyler Martin ’81
Dr. Verla Worthing Robbins ’43
Dr. Mike Shada ’43
Jacklyn Brunke Smith ’72
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Dottie Holcomb Lowe
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
George Beattie ’69
Dr. Tom Green ’77
Joyce Bryan Strout ’70
Dr. Gary Thomas ’55
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Ethel Rother ’73
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Merle Hinrichs ’64
Bettelee Frahm Lewis ’47
Mark Lundeen ’81
Dr. Paul Paulman ’74
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Dick Hock ’48
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Ronald Crampton ’63
Dr. Elisabeth
Wright Erling ’42
Dr. Daniel Mowrey ’73
Dr. Larry Peterson ’58
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Jean Nama ’53
June Nama Murty ’55
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Jim Griess ’63, MSE ’68
Lucile Wiley Ring ’44
Dr. Warren Treptow ’75
Barc Wade ’48
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Al Lybarger ’57
Addie Lewis Lybarger ’55
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Karen Kilgarin ’79
Duane Obermier ’65
Dr. Kenneth Schroer ’69
E. K. Yanney ’49
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Lori Lienhart Waters ’74
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Betty Kort ’64
Dr. Daniel Lydiatt ’73
Norman Otto ’49
Juanetta Strohmyer ’66
Jim Rundstrom Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Joe Davenport ’53
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
James Barton ’38
Dr. Lynn Casey ’65
Dr. Helen Stauffer ’64
Dr. Dick Triplett ’58
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Dale Falter ’59
Joan Christ Falter ’59
*1990
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Halvor Christensen ’35
Dr. Louis Kenney ’39
Celann LaGreca ’79
Dr. Joe Lutjeharms ’58
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Maureen Neary Miller ’74
*1989
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Neal Dunning ’44
Larry Hall ’64
Dr. Charles Lindly ’52
DiAnna Schimek ’63
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Ron Landstrom ’53
.
*1988
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Gary Haller ’62
Dr. Jim Hansen ’58
Larry Ludden ’46
Scott Nelson ’71
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Dallas Sinnen ’56
*1987
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Carlisle Anderson ’36
Bill Beavers ’58
Thelma Lang ’59
Dr. Clifford Trump ’59
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Dr. Ora Lindau ’41
*1986
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Leland Holdt ’71
Dr. Elizabeth McMahan ’43
Jim Morey ’66
Dr. Leonard Skov ’56
Dr. Herbert Welte ’24
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Connie Shivers Hatcher ’69
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Homer McConnell ’27
Wayne McKinney ’48
Dr. Ward Newcomb ’44
Burnell Saum ’50
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Barry Sherman ’64
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Stan Miller ’66
John Payne ’62
Marilyn Peterson ’55
Bob Phares ’62
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Don Briggs ’51, MAE ’57
*1983
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Mildred Hansen ’28
John Marrow ’40
Wayne Smithey ’44
Dr. Don Welch ’54
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Earl Rademacher ’54
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Bill Milldyke ’58
John Mitchell ’47
Clayton Morey ’40
Edross “Kay” Uehling Robinson ’31
Jim Rundstrom
Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Jim Rundstrom ’64
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Pete Kotsiopulos ’70
Dr. Clarence Lindahl ’29
Dr. Jim Nielsen ’45
UNK Alumni
Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Ewald Ehly ’58
Dr. Milton Hassel ’41
Richard Mengler ’33
Mary Elaine House ’40
Rae Weimer ’26
* No booklet available for this time period.
