2026 iTEACH Awards
The fifth annual iTEACH awards were held Thursday, April 16, 2026, to recognize UNMC students, faculty and staff for their contributions to campus, student and community life.
The iTEACH Awards are sponsored by the UNMC Office of Community Engagement, Student Life and Development Office (SLIDO), SHARING Clinics, Office of Global Engagement and UNMC Student Senate.
Office of Community Engagement (OCE) Awards
Community Impact Award
Honors student organizations creating impactful, sustainable health care initiatives in collaboration with community partners.
2026 winners:
- Gold Award: Harm Reduction Advocates
- Silver Award: Street Medicine Interest Group
- Bronze Award: Campus Against Cancer
Community Health Education Award
Recognizes student organizations delivering outstanding health-related education or programming with community agencies, schools or organizations.
2026 winners:
- Gold Award: Harm Reduction Advocates
- Silver Award: Graduate Student Association
- Bronze Award: Student National Medical Association
Faculty Advisor Excellence in Engagement Award in Community Engagement
Celebrates UNMC faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community engagement and service to students and colleagues.
2026 winner: Amber Golden, DNP, UNMC College of Nursing
Staff Excellence in Engagement Award
Honors a UNMC staff member who consistently goes above and beyond in community engagement and service.
2026 winner: Jackie Hankins-Berry, UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute
Community Partner Award
Recognizes a community organization that extends UNMC core values through partnership of shared initiatives that are impactful and sustainable in the community.
2026 winner: American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge in Omaha.
SHARING Clinics Awards
Ricki Otten Faculty Award – Service to SHARING
Honors a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated extraordinary service to SHARING beyond expectations.
2026 winner: Sheritta Strong, MD, MD, associate professor, psychiatry, UNMC College of Medicine, and assistant vice chancellor, UNMC Campus Engagement
SHARING Student Service Award
Recognizes a student board member for exceptional dedication and service to SHARING.
Recognition of Outstanding Involvement – Platinum, Gold & Silver Awards
Celebrates medical or PA students for sustained commitment to SHARING, RESPECT and VISION clinics over the past two years:
- Platinum: 30+ clinics
2026 winner: Aurora DePalma, MD, UNMC College of Medicine, and Wenxian Zhou, UNMC College of Medicine - Gold: 20+ clinics
2026 winners: UNMC College of Medicine students/graduates Jessica Preece, Will Srinivasan, Peter Maxwell, Rebeckah Rapoza, Anita Zhou, Grace Kelly, MD, and Jay Bryd, MD - Silver: 10+ clinics
2026 winner: Wenxian Zhou, UNMC College of Medicine
Student Life Involvement and Development Office (SLIDO) Awards
Collaboration Award
Recognizes two or more organizations that partnered to create a meaningful event, program or service benefiting the UNMC community.
- 2026 gold winner: UNMC American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
- 2026 silver winner: Harm Reduction Advocates
- 2026 bronze winner: Recruit, Encourage, & Advance Careers in Healthcare (REACH)
Advisor of the Year Award
Celebrates a faculty advisor who demonstrates outstanding dedication to their student organization while upholding iTEACH values.
2026 winners:
- Armando De Alba, MD, PhD, associate professor, family medicine, UNMC College of Medicine
- Sheritta Strong, MD, associate professor, psychiatry, UNMC College of Medicine, , and assistant vice chancellor, UNMC Campus Engagement
- Sara Pirtle, program manager, UNMC Office of Global Engagement
Student Senate Awards
Click a link below to access the nomination form(s).
Student Impact Award
Honors one student from each college who made a meaningful impact on education or the student experience.
2026 winner: Farzana Afrin Bithi, UNMC College of Public Health
Distinguished Teacher Award
Recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies exceptional instruction, leadership and commitment to student success.
2026 winner: Joseph Vetro, PhD, associate professor, pharmaceutical sciences, UNMC College of Pharmacy
Distinguished Mentor Award
Honors a UNMC affiliate who serves as an extraordinary mentor, advisor or role model.
2026 winner: Travis McCumber, PhD, associate professor, genetics, cell biology and anatomy, UNMC College of Medicine
Office of Global Engagement Award
D.J. and Janet Thayer Family Global Engagement Award
Recognizes a full-time faculty advancing global health and global engagement through teaching, research and service that connects UNMC with the international community.
2026 winner: Steven Yeh, MD, Stanley Truhlsen Jr. Professor and executive vice chair, ophthalmology and visual sciences, UNMC College of Medicine