Hennings establish UNL scholarship for Crete and Wauneta area students
Tom and Candy Henning of Lincoln have established a scholarship fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation to help enable students from their Nebraska hometowns attend and complete degrees at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
The Henning Family Scholarship will enable the university to award scholarships to students who graduate from Crete High School in Crete, Nebraska, and Wauneta–Palisade High School in Wauneta, Nebraska.
The Hennings, who graduated from these high schools and met while attending UNL, want future generations of students to continue their education at the university.
“We both grew up in rural communities in Nebraska and have been fortunate in our lives in so many ways,” said Candy Henning. “We believe that is, in part, due to the education and experiences we received at UNL. We feel the best way for us to personally give back to our hometowns is to help young people attend UNL and believe this investment will benefit both our hometowns and state.”
The Henning Family Scholarship will provide scholarship awards annually to two first-year students, with a scholarship awarded to a Crete High graduate and a Wauneta–Palisade High graduate. Based on the students’ academic standing at the university, the scholarships may be renewed for up to three additional years.
“An education at Nebraska can be transformative for students in various ways,” said Katherine Ankerson, UNL executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. “Tom and Candy Henning experienced this for themselves and have been ambassadors of the university ever since. We are grateful for what their scholarship will enable students to accomplish.”
The Hennings graduated from high school in 1971, with Tom Henning attending Crete High School and Candy Henning attending Wauneta–Palisade High School.
Tom Henning devoted his career to the banking and insurance industries, serving in leadership roles with Assurity Life Insurance Company since 2005, including 26 years as the president and CEO. He currently serves as its non-executive chairman of the board of directors. He served on the University of Nebraska Foundation board of directors from 1993 to 2009 and served a term as its chair from 2005 to 2007.
Candy Henning held a long career in the broadcasting industry. She is a founding member of Women Investing in Nebraska (WIN) and is a past chair of WIN, which enables women to collectively fund bold projects addressing important issues in Nebraska.
The Hennings have served as trustees of the University of Nebraska Foundation since 1987.
Contact: Robb Crouch, senior director of public relations, 402-458-1142, [email protected]
