Trustee Awards

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The University of Nebraska Foundation presents its highest honors to individuals who have exemplified extraordinary service.

The Perry W. Branch Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service commemorates the importance of volunteers to the organization. The award is named for Perry W. Branch, the first employee and executive director of the University of Nebraska Foundation.

The Harlan J. Noddle Award for Distinguished Development Service is given to a university or foundation employee who provides exemplary service in development while demonstrating the values of initiative, honesty, integrity, compassion, commitment, foresight, tolerance and diligence. The award is named in honor of Harlan J. Noddle, a longtime University of Nebraska advocate and former chair of the foundation’s Board of Directors.

Current Award Recipients

Perry W. Branch Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service

Ruth Scott and Bill Scott (Posthumously)

Ruth and Bill Scott have been among the most transformative donors in the University of Nebraska’s history. Through personal gifts and support from the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation, the couple’s generosity has benefited students, faculty and programs on all campuses of the University of Nebraska System. In 2009, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents presented Ruth and Bill Scott with the Regents Medal, which honors individuals whose contributions go beyond the support of a single campus. Ruth and Bill are both alumni of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Ruth earned her bachelor’s degree in education, went on to teach school and later founded the Omaha Bridge Studio. Bill graduated from the College of Business. He joined the Buffett Partnership in 1959 and Berkshire Hathaway in 1970. Bill passed away in February 2024.

Harlan J. Noddle Award for Distinguished Development Service

Susan M. Fritz, Ph.D.

Susan M. Fritz, Ph.D., was the first woman to lead the university system after being appointed in 2019. During her tenure as interim president, she championed universitywide priorities of student access and success, launching a statewide partnership focused on timely graduation, advocating to elected leaders for greater investment in scholarships and presiding over gains in student diversity. She also was actively involved in Women Investing in Nebraska, including serving as chair in 2022-23. She was instrumental in the planning for the University of Nebraska's Only in Nebraska campaign. Fritz also served as provost of the university system and as a professor of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She retired in 2021, capping a 32-year career at the university. Fritz is a three-time graduate, receiving her bachelor's, master’s and doctorate degrees from UNL.

Measure your life by the difference you’ve made in someone else’s.

Past Recipients of the Perry W. Branch Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service

2021 JoAnn Martin, Lincoln (posthumously)

2020 Kathryn R. LeBaron and Marc LeBaron, Lincoln

2019 Kelly Holthus, York and Jeff and Tricia Raikes, Seattle, Washington

2018 Tonn M. and Holly A. Ostergard, Lincoln

2017 Peter J. Whitted, M.D., Omaha

2016 Dr. Gail and Mr. Michael Yanney, Omaha

2015 Nancy Keegan, Los Angeles, California

2013 John E. Gottschalk, Omaha

2012 Harley Bergmeyer, DeWitt and James Young, Omaha

2011 Robert B. Harris, Denver, Colorado and Thomas E. Henning, Lincoln

2010 Carl G. Mammel, Omaha

2008 Catherine Schmoker, Edina, Minnesota and Duane Acklie, Lincoln

2006 Harlan J. Noddle, Omaha (posthumously) and Maryanne Harry, Denver, Colorado

2005 John C. Goldner, Omaha

2004 Leland and Dorothy Olson, Omaha

2003 Winston Wade, Denver, Colorado

2002 Larry Arth, Lincoln and Frank Hilsabeck, Lincoln

2001 Jeffrey Orr, Kearney

2000 James P. Abel, Lincoln

1999 Jack Maddux, Wauneta

1998 Corwin Moore, Lincoln, Ed Perry, Lincoln and Robert Perry, Harlingen, Texas

1997 Ken Power, Omaha and Ron and Carol Cope, Kearney

1996 B. Coffman, Houston, Texas, Lester Krogh, St. Paul, Minnesota, Tom Thomsen, New Hope, Pennsylvania and Dale Tinstman, Lincoln

1995 Edward J. Hirsch, Lincoln

1994 Edson L. Bridges II, Omaha

1993 Cliff Hillegass, Lincoln

1992 William C. Smith, Lincoln

1991 John Hay, Sacramento, California, Otto Kotouc, Humboldt and Glenn LeDioyt, Omaha

1990 Eugene Conley, Omaha and Warren “Bud” Johnson, Lincoln

1989 Margre Durham, Omaha, W. Marshall Jr., Grand Island (posthumously) and Walter Scott Jr., Omaha

1988 Gladys and Otto Baumann, Glendora, California and George Abel, Lincoln

1987 Harold and Marian Andersen, Omaha

1986 Durwood “Woody” and Paula Varner, Lincoln

1985 Barney Oldfield, Los Angeles, California, Dale TeKolste, Elkhorn, E.N. Thompson, Lincoln and Flavel Wright, Lincoln

1984 Gale E. Davis, Omaha, Charlotte Eaton, Grand Island and S. Burnham Yates, Lincoln

1983 Richard Armstrong, Minden, Emil Reutzel, Norfolk and Paul C. Schorr III, Lincoln

1982 Henry Pascale, Sea Bright, New Jersey, E.J. Faulkner, Lincoln and Gene Tallman, Lincoln

1981 Dana Cole, Lincoln and Joe W. Seacrest, Lincoln (posthumously)

1980 George B. Cook, Lincoln and A. Strauss, Omaha

1979 Latta Branch, Scottsdale, Arizona and John K. Selleck, Lincoln

Past Recipients of the Harlan J. Noddle Award for Distinguished Development Service

2023 John and Jan Christensen, Omaha

2020 Roger Jones, Minden

2019 Nancy and Tom Osborne, Lincoln and Paula and Woody Varner, Lincoln (posthumously)

2018 James B. Milliken and Nana G. H. Smith, Austin, Texas

2017 Michael F. Sorrell, M.D., Omaha

2016 Donde Ashmos Plowman, Lincoln and Daniel H. Morin, Lincoln (posthumously)

2015 Kenneth H. Cowan, M.D., Omaha

2013 Paul W. Sather, Bellevue

2012 Peter J. Longo, Kearney

2011 Harold M. Maurer, Omaha and John A. Niemann, Omaha

2008 Terry L. Fairfield, Lincoln