Awards | NSCTA

By honoring distinguished educators and administrators who champion fine arts education across the state, NSCTA not only celebrates individual excellence but also highlights the critical role these leaders play in shaping vibrant, creative communities.

These awards serve as a public acknowledgment of the dedication, innovation, and advocacy that sustain and elevate speech, communication, and theatre programs in Nebraska schools.

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Each year at our fall convention, the NSCTA recognizes individuals for their contributions to communication activities in the state of Nebraska. If you'd like to nominate an individual for one of our awards, just click on the button below.

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John Thurber Distinguished Teacher

This award is given to persons who have been teaching for longer than seven years at the elementary, secondary, or university level. The honor is designed to recognize individuals who have displayed exceptional teaching ability, innovation in teaching methods, and contributions to the growth and professionalism of organizations in speech communications and/or publications.

2024 Kris Simon, Centura
2023 Tyler Thompson, Gering
2021 Becca Hier, Bellevue West
2020 Sabrina Denney Bull, Millard North
2019 Peggy Belt, Norfolk
2018 Brenda Broeker, Lincoln North Star
2017 Jeanne Gentry, Hyannis
2016 Jeffrey Horner, Minden
2015 Jarod Ockander, David City
2014 Toni Heimes, Lincoln Southwest High School
2013 Tommy Bender, Lincoln Southeast School
2012 Matt Heimes, Lincoln Southwest High School
2010 Jennifer Jerome, Millard West
2009 Kelly Millington, Norris
2008 Kevin Brown, Loup County
2007 Peg Slusarski, Columbus Lakeview
2006 Dan Johnson, Raymond Central
2005 John Foster, Anselmo-Merna
2004 Robyn Baker, Millard South
2003 Rob & Deb Whitt, Wayne State and Kathy Fowler, Wallace
2002 Janet Rose, Kearney
2001 Dave Hastings, Ord High School
2000 Allen Janovec, Norfolk High School
1999 Matt Davis, Lincoln East
1998 Nancy Woeppel, Stanton
1997 Steve Foral, Lincoln High
1996 Skip Altig, North Platte
1995 Dick Cross, Norfolk
1994 Betty Brackhahn, Wymore
1993 Shirley Cawiezel, Morrill
1992 George Lawson, University of Nebraska-Kearney
1991 Dutch Fichthorn, Lincoln East
1990 Maurine Eckloff, Kearney State College
1989 Mary Winn, Gering
1988 Jack Garrison, Kearney State College
1987 Gayleen Flood, Lexington
1986 Mel Shoemaker, North Loup-Scotia
1985 Patsy Koch, Cozad
1985 Connie Madison, North Platte St. Pat's
1984 Diane Fichthorn, Norris
1983 Gerald Oswald, Loup City
1981 Melissa Beall, Lincoln Southeast
1980 Linda Mead, Creighton Prep
1979 Arlis Patterson, Bellevue West
1978 Alice Jaswal, Nebraska Wesleyan
1977 Dale E. Black, Hastings
1975 Louise McDonald, Lincoln Southeast
1974 Maxine Trauemicht, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1974 John Bjorklun, Kearney
1973 Phil Kaye, Nebraska Wesleyan
1973 Amy Price, Winnebago
1972 John Thurber, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Gerald S. Oswald Outstanding Service

This award is given to persons who have demonstrated truly outstanding dedication to the discipline of speech communication. The award is reserved for those persons retiring, leaving the state, or changing assignments. The award may be presented posthumously.

2024 Clark Kolterman, Seward
2023 Mary Winn, Gering
2021 Candie Johnson, Gordon-Rushville
2020 Adrys Dunsmoor, McCool Junction
2019 Linda Crandall, Overton
2018 Tammy Schindler, Battle Creek
2017 Enid Hansen, Lexington
2016 Janet Rose, Kearney
2015 Jane Teply, Kearney
2014 Linda Clark, Southwest
2013 Skip Altig, North Platte
2012 Jan Knispel, Valentine
2011 Lee Meyer, Fremont
2010 Shirley Cawiezel, Morrill
2007 Laura Spatz, Burwell
2006 Fred Robertson, Fremont
2005 Shirley Huck, Bayard
2004 John Bitunjac, Sutton
2003 Dick Cross, Norfolk
2002 Sr. Rosemary Floresch, Omaha Mercy
2001 Mel Shoemaker, Kearney & George Lawson, UNK
2000 Steve Foral - Lincoln High
2000 Patsy Koch, Cozad
1999 Carol Scott, Lincoln East
1998 Inez Brettman, Humboldt
1997 Diane Finch, Arnold
1996 Debbie Velder, NSAA
1996 Connie Madison, North Platte St. Pat's
1995 Kevin Heineman, Hastings College
1994 Gerald Oswald, Loup City
1993 Eric Kringle, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1991 John Heineman, Lincoln High
1990 Melissa Beall, University of Northern Iowa
1990 Dr. Jack Kay, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1989 Phil Kaye, Nebraska Wesleyan
1986 Hugh Beall

Dale E. Black Outstanding Young Teacher of Speech and Theatre

Two awards may be given: one from the elementary/secondary and one from the college/university level. "Young" is defined as having a maximum of seven years (including the present year) of teaching experience (not including student teaching or teaching as a graduate student). The award is given for such traits as enthusiasm for work, scholarly integrity, knowledge of subject matter, innovation, ability to motivate and stimulate students, worthy goals in teaching, and professional promise including such areas as involvement in professional associations, research, and writing. Primary emphasis will be given to the individual's classroom performance. Other areas (e.g. extracurricular activities) will be given secondary consideration.

2024 Elias Dallman, York
2023 Aaron Leibel, Fairbury
2021 Luke Ziemba, Norfolk
2020 Elle Barts, Lincoln East
2019 Cherri Thieman, McCool Junction
2018 Nick Herink, Lincoln East
2017 Summer Lukasiewicz, Blue Hill
2016 Matt Eledge, Millard North
2015 Jonathan Anderson, Kearney
2014 Tyler Thompson, Gering
2013 Becky Stahr, York
2012 Jill Collura, Fremont
2011 Dana Christensen, Omaha Westside
2010 Taryn Retzlaff, Bridgeport
2008 Chris Begeman, Norfolk
2007 Candace Cain, Burwell
2006 Jarod Ockander, David City
2005 Diane Schiefer, Fremont
2004 Russel Crouch, Ansley
2003 Chris Maly, Lincoln High
2002 Gailen Volquardsen, Wolbach
2001 Kara Rada - Mitchell
2000 Peggy Belt - Battle Creek
1999 Bob Henrichs, Hastings
1998 Clark Kolteman, Seward
1997 Toni Heimes, Wauneta-Palisade
1996 Matt Heimes, South Platte
1995 Dan Senstock, Lincoln East
1994 Lori Wewel, Geneva
1993 Gwen Whipple (Walz), Alliance
1992 Jed Friedrichsen, Millard
1991 Doug Frank, Leyton
1990 Derek Lane, Scottsbluff
1989 Carole Carraher, Gretna
1988 Todd Harrison, Pawnee City
1986 John Heineman, Lincoln High
1985 Ruth Kay, Irving Junior High
1984 Mary Alice Moore (Konz), Leyton
1983 Barb Pickering, Bellevue East
1981 Alex Pritchard, Creighton Prep
1980 Mary Kassmeier, Omaha Marian
1979 Randy McCutcheon, Lincoln East
1978 Cindy Rasmussen, Syracuse
1977 Dan Twarling, Lincoln East
1975 Melissa Beall, Lincoln Southeast
1974 Nan Berghel, Lincoln Pius X
1973 William Robart, Crete
1972 Sandi Hoffman, Beatrice
1971 Linda Freeman, Lincoln East
1970 Sarah Boatman, Lincoln Southeast

College Award Winners

1996 Veronica Duncan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1992 Kevin Heineman, Hastings College
1989 Akbar Javidi, Kearney State College
1988 Diane Badzinski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1986 Bruce Henderson, Kearney State College
1984 Larry Underberg, Kearney State College
1981 Jack Kay, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1980 Dean Curtis, Kearney State College
1978 Jim Klumpp, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1977 Ed Hill, Kearney State College
1975 William Seiler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1974 Vincent DiSalvo, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1973 Jim Hunter, Nebraska Western College
1972 Rich Gartrell, Doane College
1971 William Crenshaw, Chadron State College
1970 John Wanzenreid, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Outstanding Administrator

This award is granted to school administrators that have shown a great support of and dedication to the Fine Arts, including speech, debate, and theatre in our schools. It may be given to individuals in administrative positions at the elementary, secondary or college/university levels.

2024 Tyler Herman, York
2023 Nick Krause, Conestoga
2021 A.J. Johnson, Hartington-Newcastle
2019 Deb Velder, NSAA
2018 Rob Giese, Louisville
2016 Dr. Curtis Cogswell, McCool Junction
2015 Aaron Plas, York
2014 Dennis Dolliver, Norfolk
2011 Kim Carson, Lincoln Southwest
2007 Ron Lamberty, Seward
2006 David Gordon, Lexington
2004 Steve Joekel, Millard West
2003 Kirk Begley, Scottsbluff
2002 John Fero, Crete
2001 Pat Friesen, Lincoln High
2000 Dan Twarling, North Platte
1999 Dr. Dick Wollman, Millard South
1998 Leroy Cundall, Bayard
1997 Dr. William Kenagy, Kearney
1996 Bill Gettman, Cozad
1995 Jeff Burkink, Norfolk
1994 Dr. Wayne Bell, Gothenburg
1993 W. C. McGahan, North Platte St. Pat's
1993 Dr. Kevin Riley, Gretna