Kacie Baum, UNMC’s events and science outreach coordinator, was recently chosen as one of the 2018 recipients of the Midlands Business Journal’s annual 40 Under 40 Awards.
The award honors 40 Greater Omaha, Council Bluffs and Sarpy County entrepreneurs, executives and professional men and women under the age of 40. Baum was honored at a breakfast on Nov. 2.
Baum, who has been at UNMC for 10 years, spearheads the university’s science outreach efforts such as the annual Nebraska Science Festival and monthly Science Cafes — both of which she conceived and created — as well as numerous other events and collaborations.
She also helps organize groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings and special events on UNMC’s campus, oversees the annual UNMC United Way campaign and is active in several community organizations, including “Omaha Girls Rock,” an organization that empowers girls through music education.
Baum said she was surprised both to receive the recognition and at the response from beyond the UNMC community.
“I’ve gotten letters from a senator, from people I don’t even know,” she said. “Friends that I do not work with would congratulate me on this. It really shocked me and humbled me to see how big a deal it was. I’m grateful people thought I was deserving of such an honor.”
Baum joins past UNMC winners such as Melanie Stewart, Athena Ramos, Ph.D., Howard Liu, M.D., Geoff Talmon, M.D., Michael Dixon, Ph.D., and William Thorell, M.D., as a “40 Under 40” honoree.
“It’s really cool that UNMC has had multiple winners,” Baum said. “I think it’s important to show that UNMC does a lot of work outside of what you might typically think. With our students and faculty here, it’s great to see people doing things in the community being honored and recognized.”
“We could not be more pleased for Kacie to receive this recognition,” said Baum’s supervisor, Bill O’Neill, the UNMC director of public relations. “Her work at UNMC — specifically with the Nebraska Science Festival and the Science Cafes — has been instrumental in bringing important science topics to Nebraskans, young and old alike, in lay-friendly and fun formats.”
The Midlands Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” issue, featuring Baum and other Omaha-area business leaders, is now available.
Congratulations! Well deserved! Best wishes!
Congratulations! No surprise to hear you were honored
Congratulations Kacie!
So well-deserved, Kacie! Congratulations.
Congratulations Kacie! Way to go 🙂
Congratulations, Kacie!
That's terrific news Kacie! Congratulations on the recognition. CA
Congrats, Kacie! You deserve the honor!
Congrats, Kacie!!!! Such a well-deserved honor. Happy that you could join the UNMC 40 Under 40 group.
Kacie is the "bomb!" Kudos to her on this awesome recognition!
You Rock, Kacie!
Congrats Kacie – always a blast working with you!
Congrats, Kacie!
Congrats! They could not have selected a better person.
A well-deserved honor! Congratulations Kacie! It is always great to work with you.
Very deserving!! Congratulations!
WOW! You are a champion. The TOP DOG! I have always enjoyed working with you. A real professional, always on top of things and a go getter.
Congrats Kacie. You are most deserving of this honor.
Congratulations, Kacie! It's great to see you being recognized for all of the awesome work you do for UNMC and the community.
Congratulations, Kacie!
This is wonderful!!! Congrats, Kacie!
Congratulations, Kacie! What a great recognition!!
Well deserved!! Congratulations!!!
Congratulations, Kacie!
Kacie – you rock girl! Congratulations!
Yay, Kacie! Congrats!
Congratulations, Kacie!
Awesome news!
Well deserved, Kacie!! Congratulations!!