NU Foundation Earns Third Governor’s Harvester Wellness Award for Employee Wellness Programs
The University of Nebraska Foundation’s employee wellness program has been recognized with the Governor’s Harvester Wellness Award. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen presented the award on Sept. 8 to Brian Hastings, the foundation’s president and CEO, and Jessica Engel, director of talent development and wellness. This is the third time the foundation has received the Harvester Wellness Award.
The Harvester Award is the state’s highest recognition for workplace wellness programs. The award celebrates Nebraska employers with advanced wellness programs with high-quality outcomes that build a culture of health, safety and employee well-being.
“The Governor’s Wellness Award recognizes organizations that are leading the way in creating supportive, health-focused workplaces,” said Gov. Jim Pillen. “By making wellness a strategic priority and investing in their employees, these organizations are strengthening engagement, promoting healthier lives, and creating workplaces and communities where people feel empowered to thrive.”
The foundation’s wellness program, Heathy U, is now in its 17th year. The program has had a 97% participation rate over the past three years.
“The University of Nebraska Foundation is honored to again be recognized with the Governor’s Harvester Wellness Award,” Hastings said. “Healthy U enhances the lives of employees through its commitment to five core wellness components: beliefs, education, friends and family, involvement and total body awareness. We believe that a healthy employee is a strong asset to the workplace and ultimately a healthier University of Nebraska.”
The foundation’s Healthy U program includes a steps challenge that helps employees earn monthly credits toward their health benefits, as well as an extra day off. In addition, programming includes:
- annual health assessments and screenings;
- lunchtime seminars presented by various health experts;
- incentives for increasing personal activity levels;
- challenges to encourage the making of healthier choices; and
- several other opportunities and programs.
Program data shows that the vast majority of foundation employees continue to fall into low-risk screening categories, with a steady reduction in high-risk classifications over time. Key biometric indicators (including blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting blood glucose) compare favorably to broader benchmarks, demonstrating the positive impact of preventive care and early awareness. In addition, health risk assessment results indicate relatively low levels of high-risk stress and mental health indicators, underscoring the importance of addressing both physical and emotional well-being while reinforcing the foundation’s belief that investing in whole person wellness benefits both foundation employees and the university’s mission.
The foundation qualified for the Harvester Award due to the comprehensiveness of the wellness program, strong leadership support, data collection and analysis, interventional programming and program evaluation. The foundation was also recognized in 2019 and 2022.
“Receiving the Governor’s Award at the Harvester Level is a tremendous honor,” Engel said. “This achievement belongs to our entire organization. It represents the culture we’ve worked hard to build and the commitment our employees and leadership demonstrate every day to support one another’s well-being. We are grateful for this recognition and inspired to continue growing our efforts!”