2010 Spring Conference Awards
by Mary Jo Smith on May 05, 2010
Thursday night April 15th during the NeASFAA Conference, an Awards Banquet was held which highlighted many extraordinary and dedicated members of our community.
The theme for the Conference “Extreme Makeover” gave the Awards Committee a basis for the theme of our awards presentations. We took on an Extreme Makeover construction theme with Ty Pennington as our guest host. The extreme makeover of Randy Lovins became Ty Pennington for the evening, which was worth the price of admission. After greeting his fans, he declared that the crew should “Move That Bus” in order to reveal the awards for the evening.
Before we presented the prestigious awards we added a little humor with some “fun awards”. Below is a list of the “Fun Makeover Awards” that Ty and his crew presented:
“The Supreme Extreme Make It Up As You Go Award” was given to all state of NE Financial Aid professionals who were in attendance who have been going through the People Soft conversion. Their award was a plastic hard hat with an Extreme Makeover label on it.
Next was the “Hammer Down Award” which was given to Bruce Honor from the Department of Education for mandating that all schools move their loan bus from FFELP to Direct Lending. Bruce received a very large plastic blow-up hammer.
Many schools have been reluctant to make the change from FFELP to DL, but the awards crew wanted to honor two schools in particular with the “Procrastination Award” for holding out until the signing of the bill before making the decision to plan for DL. Wayne State and Creative Center were given construction cones to mark this fun award.
Finally, the crew knew this past year had caused quite a mess for many of our offices and even our association, so they felt one last fun award was in order, the “Clean Up the Mess” award was given to the incoming President, Terri Graham.
After all of that fun, it was time to announce the prestigious award winners.
Rookie of The Year: Bailey Nelsen, Clarkson College
Committee of the Year Award: Communications Committee
Feel the Excitement Award: Kent Wolfe, NSLP
Distinguished Service Award: Laura Schultz, Wells Fargo, Robb Cummings, Sallie Mae, Mark Schilmoeller, Nelnet and Mary Jo Smith, US Bank
Bob Minturn Special Recognition Award: Kay Dinkelman
NeASFAA Members Retiring this Year: Brenda Boyd, Nebraska Methodist College, Danni Warrick, St. Mary’s College and Ted Fellers, McCook Community College.
5 Year Awards went to:
Phyllis Kroger, Bellevue University
Deb Rich, Bellevue University
Sarah Rogers, Bellevue University
Kim Poplau, Hastings College
Marian Kraft, Metro CC
Thomas Oshsner, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Crystal Quarterio, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Marcy Kastrick, Vatterott College
Doug Henely, Vatterott College
Stephanie Jorgensen, Wayne State College
Brenda Royer, EducationQuest
10 Year Awards went to:
Sandy LaRocca, Creative Center
Theresa Haarberg, UNL
Treve Florom, EducationQuest
Marron Keady, EducationQuest
Barbara Stapleton, TG
Jeff Recker, US Bank
Laura Schultz, Wells Fargo
15 Year Awards went to:
Hylee Asche, Central Community College
Janice Volker, Peru State College
Melissa Troyer, Southeast Community College
Matthew Petr, UNL
Joan Jurek, EducationQuest
Beth Vollan, NSLP
20 Year Awards went to:
Sherry Douglas, Chadron State College
Susan Frodyma, UNL
Lynn Shriver, UNO
Anita Myles, American Student Assistance
25 Year Awards went to:
Brenda Boyd, Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing
Carol Buchli, USA Funds Service
30 Years of awards went to:
Bob Walker – Creighton University
Mike Evert, Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing
Kyle Rose, Wayne State College
Janet Dodson, NSLP
35 Year Awards to :
Merlyn Williams, Southeast Community College
New Babies and Grandbabies were recognized with a Piggy Bank or a picture frame. Welcome the following:
New Baby:
Kate and Toby Burger, UNL, Baby Boy, Donovan Reese Burger
Grandbabies:
LeAnn Hoffman – Wayne State College – granddaughter
Margarita Gurrola – Western Nebraska CC – grandson
Margie Harris, Clarkson College – granddaughter
Vicki Kucera – Central Community College – grandson
Bob and Judy Walker – Creighton and UNMC - grandson