Distinguished Alumnus and Young Alumnus Award Recipients
2010 Award Recipients:
Honorary Alumnus Award: Ruth Scott
Distinguished Alumnus Award: Linda Hemminger, R.N., M.S.N., 1985
Early Career Achievement Award/Nursing Excellence Award:
Michelle Kowalczyk – B.S.N., 2004, M.S.N., 2010
Biographies
Ruth Scott
Ruth Scott and her husband, Bill, are deeply rooted and invested in the Omaha community where they have lived for nearly 55 years. They contribute to its progress, health and vitality in a quiet but exceptional way.
When the Scotts learned of the nursing shortage across Nebraska and nationwide, they wanted to be part of the solution. Ruth’s passion for nursing and the health of others inspired their decision to make the lead gift to the Center for Nursing Science at UNMC.
The Scotts’ generosity has benefited key UNMC priorities in education, research and patient care. Recently, Ruth and Bill have provided the lead gifts for the construction of the Sorrell Center for Health Science Education and the Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health as well as development of the Student Plaza.
In 2009, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents presented Ruth and Bill Scott with its most prestigious award, the Regents Medal, for their extraordinary contributions to the university’s academic programs, scholarships and facilities. Ruth Scott earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1952. She taught school in Lincoln and later founded the Omaha Bridge Studio.
Linda Hemminger
Maj. Gen. Hemminger retired in 2009 as the mobilization assistant to the Deputy Surgeon General in the U.S. Air Force headquarters at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
A native of Pierre, S.D., Maj. Gen. Hemminger entered the Air Force in 1975. In 1978, she transferred from active duty to the Air Force Reserve. She was promoted to captain in 1980, major in 1986, lieutenant colonel in 1991, colonel in 1995, brigadier general in 2002 and major general in 2006.
In 1985, she received her master's degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. During her nursing career, she has served as unit commander, chief nurse, staff development officer, flight nurse, family practice nurse practitioner, intensive care nurse and obstetrical clinical nurse.
Since her retirement, she lives in Adair, Iowa, with her husband.
Michelle Kowalczyk
Kowalczyk graduated from the UNMC College of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2004. She spent the next three years working as a travel nurse specializing in cardiology.
In 2007, she went to Tanzania to volunteer and found a passion in a small village called Rau. She was instrumental in creating the Knock Foundation. Through the foundation, she helped supervise the completion of a community/children’s center in Rau and developed a healthy living seminar, which focuses on life skills and HIV/AIDS.
In 2010, Kowalczyk received her Master of Science in Nursing degree from the UNMC College of Nursing. At the end of December, she will return to the United States to begin working as an acute care nurse practitioner at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She plans to pursue her doctoral degree in the next five years while focusing on international health and global development. .
Past Recipients
2009- Distinguished Alumnus Award: Kathleen E. Chavanu Gorman R.N., (M.S.N. '89)
2009- Honorary Alumnus Award: Charles S. Wilson M.D.
2008 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Col. Kimberly A. Siniscalchi R.N., (MSN '88)
2007 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Susan B. Hassmiller – (MSN '83)
Honorary: Judith S. Billings
2006 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Linda J.Miers - (BSN '71, PhD)
2005 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Marcy J. Echternacht - (BSN '74, MS)
Excellence Award: Rebecca Keating-Lefler - (ASN '86, BSN '87, MSN '92, PhD '01)
Honorary: Ada Lindsey
2004 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Sandra Borden - (MSN '87, PMC '96)
Excellence Award: Angie Andersen - (MSN '94, PMC, '01)
Honorary: Bill Lohr
2003 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Audrey Nelson - (BSN '72, PhD)
Excellence Award: Leann Stofferahn - (MSN '98)
2002 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Martha Foxall – (MSN ’76, PhD)
Excellence Award**: Jo Marsh – (MSN ’99, PMC '03)
Honorary: Del Lienemann
2001 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Nancy Schneckloth – (BSN ’60, MSN ’75)
Young Alumnus Award: June Eilers – (BSN ’71, MSN ’74, PhD ’96)
2000 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Marilyn McCubbin – (BSN ’60)
1999 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Peggy Hawkins – (BSN ’74, MSN ’79)
1998 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Barbara A. Winfield – (BSN ’56)
1997 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Patricia Lopez – (MSN ’90)
Young Alumnus Award: Barbara J. Sittner – (BSN ’90, MSN ’94)
1996 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Gloria O’Dowd – (BSN ’61)
Young Alumnus Award: Carol Iverson – (MSN ’94)
1995 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: JoAnn Mulligan – (BSN ’58)
Young Alumnus Award: Michele Cornay – (BSN ’90)
1994 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Rosalie Yeaworth, PhD
Young Alumnus Award: Dawn Duncan (ASN ’83, BSN ’84, MSN ’94)
1993 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: L. Colette Jones, Ph.D. – (BSN ’58, MS, PhD)
1992 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Carol M. Wilson – (GND ’51, BA, MA)
Young Alumnus Award: Susan Daubman – (ASN ’82, BSN ’91)
1991 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Gwen Macklem Finn – (GND ’52, MSN ’74) –
Young Alumnus Award: Elizabeth Dorencamper Schneider – (BSN, MSN ’89
1990 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Kay Barnard – (BSN ’60)
1989 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Marian Olson – (GND ’44, BSN ’53, MSN ’61, PhD)
Young Alumnus Award: Kristine Turner Norvell – (ASN ’79, BSN ’85, MSN ’87)
1988 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Emily Brickley – (BSN ’30)
Young Alumnus Award: Ann Berger – (MSN ’84, PhD '96)
1987 - Alumni Achievement Award: co-winners
Marjorie Moore Cantor – (GND ’47, BSN ’49, MA, PhD)
Elizabeth Kentopp - (BSN ’48, MS)
1986 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Gladys Sorensen – (BS ’45, MS, EdD, HDS)
1985 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Beatrice Petersen Kalisch – (BSN ’65, PhD)
1984 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Velma Sexmith Mason – (BSN ’31)
1983 - Distinguished Alumnus Award: Theta Cole Bullington – (GND ’38, BSN '39)
**Young Alumnus changed to Excellence Award in 2002
