Nebraska State Bar Foundation

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Awards

Awards

The Board of Directors believes it is important to recognize publicly lawyers who make extraordinary contributions to the Foundation and to those that enhance the legal profession as a whole. Foundation Fellows have the honor of nominating all award recipients except the Silver Quill Award Recipients, who are selected annually by the faculty of Creighton University Law School and the University of Nebraska College of Law. The Foundation developed eight (8) awards to formally acknowledge the professional contributions of lawyers and the important roles Nebraska lawyers perform in :
  • Interpreting the law,
  • Educating citizens regarding important aspects of the law,
  • Contributing to the creation of new laws, and
  • Supporting the Nebraska State Bar Foundation and thereby enabling it to better serve Nebraska citizens.
The Awards Committee makes recommendations of award recipients that are presented to the Board of Directors for final approval. The Foundation only bestows awards as the occasion arises.

 Legal Pioneer Award
The Foundation's Legal Pioneer Award honors the lifetime achievements of a lawyer who makes innovative contributions to the improvement of justice.

1992
1994
1995
1996
1998
1999
2000
2003

2004
2005
2006
2008
Chief Justice William C. Hastings, Lincoln
Leo Eisenstatt, Omaha
Hon. Leslie Boslaugh, Lincoln
Hon. Hale McCown, Lincoln
Bert L. Overcash, Lincoln
Hon. Patricia Lamberty, Omaha
Hon. Lindsey Miller-Lerman, Lincoln
Hon. Donald P. Lay, St. Paul MN
John P. Miller, Blair
Hon. N.W. Nuernberger, Lincoln
Hon. Karen B. Flowers, Lincoln
Hon. Richard C. Kopf, Lincoln
Hon. John M. Gerrard, Lincoln

Shining Light Award
The Foundation's Shining Light Award recognizes the outstanding legal research conducted by a lawyer in Nebraska, whether a practitioner, academician, or a non-practicing lawyer.

1989
1992


1993


1997

1998
1999
2005
Michael L. Johnson, Grand Island
Professor G. Michael Fenner, Omaha
Professor Roger W. Krist, Lincoln
Professor Josephine R. Potuto, Lincoln
John M. Gradwohl, Lincoln
Donald H. Kelley, North Platte
James E. Rembolt, Lincoln
Hon. John T. Grant, Omaha
Robert M. Slovek, Omaha
Daniel A. Morris, Omaha
Richard C. Mangrum, Omaha
Professor Susan Poser, Lincoln

Foundation Award
The most prestigious award given by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation is the Foundation Award. This award honors exemplary service to the Foundation and is presented to lawyers who have made and who continue to make a strong commitment to the goals of the Foundation.

1989
1990
1992

1993
1994
1995
1996

1999
2001
2002
2006
2007
Deryl F. Harmann, Omaha
Robert G. Scoville, posthumously
Hans J. Holtorf, Jr., posthumously
Howard H. Moldenhuer, posthumously
Milton R. Abrahams, Omaha
Flavel A. Wright, Lincoln
Senator Roman L. Hruska, Omaha
Keith I. Frederick, Omaha
Richard A. Knudsen, Lincoln
Harvey S. Perlman, Lincoln
Hon. Lyle E. Storm, Omaha
Charles Thone, Lincoln
Thomas M. Davies, Lincoln
George E. Svoboda

Outstanding Legal Educator Award
This award acknowledges momentous contributions to the field of legal education by a legal educator, a lawyer who volunteers his or her time to instruct, or a lawyer who serves in continuing legal education capacities.

1990
1994
1995


1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2003
Hon. Warren K. Urbom, Lincoln
William A. Day Jr., Omaha
Barbara J. Gaskins, Omaha
John M. Gradwohl, Lincoln
Albert T. Reddish, Alliance
Gregory B. Minter, Omaha
Dr. Richard E. Shugrue, Omaha
Ronald R. Volkmer, Omaha
Rodney Shkolnick, Omaha
Hon. Robert O. Hippe, Gering
William H. Lyons, Lincoln

Public Service Award
The Foundation bestows its Public Service Award to a lawyer who has been, or is, in the employ of local, state or federal government in Nebraska lawyer in government employment outside the state for outstanding service in the performance of duty.

1990
1994
1995
1997
1998
1999
2002
2003
2005
2008
Robert M. Spire, Lincoln
Hon. W.W. Nuernberger, Lincoln
Dennis R. Keefe, Lincoln
Hon. William H. Norton, Osceola
Brenda J. Council, Omaha
Kathleen M. Severens, Washington, D.C
Deborah K. R. Gilg, Omaha
Karen L. Shepard, Omaha
Hon. John V. Hendry, Lincoln
Charles Thone, Lincoln
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award is a special award to recognize a lawyer's service to the legal profession.

1991

1993
1994

1995
1996
1997
1998
2000
2001
2002
Governor Robert B. Crosby, Lincoln
Jack W. Marer, Omaha
Otto Kotouc jr., Humboldt
Edward Shafton, Omaha
Robert M. Spire, posthumously
Hon. Lyle E. Strom, Omaha
Hon. Harry A. Spencer, Lincoln
Hon. F.A. Gossett III, Blair
John C. Brownrigg, Omaha
Steven R. Voigt, Kearney
Lynn D. Hutton Jr., Norfolk
Harold L. Rock, Omaha

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Foundation recognizes a lawyer who has made significant contributions to the legal profession, to the Bar Foundation, and to his or her community.

1997
1999
2000
2001
2002
Governor Frank B. Morrison, Lincoln
James I. Shamberg, Grand Island
James A. Lane, Ogallala
Prof. Richard S. Harnsberger, Lincoln
Thomas M. Davies, Lincoln

Silver Quill Award
The Silver Quill Award was established to recognize a law student's legal writing ability as displayed in the classroom and other writing situations. The faculty at Creighton Law School and the University of Nebraska College of Law select the award recipients. At the Foundation's Annual Fellows Dinner, a $500 cash award is presented to each student. Additionally, the students' names are permanently inscribed on a plaque displayed at each respective law school.

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998
 
1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009
 
Michell Wernimont (C)
Chad M. VonKampen (N)
Greg O-Kief (C)
Patrick Straka (N)
Sharon Rosse (C)
Timothy Moll (N)
Amy Erlbacher-Anderson (C)
Jennifer Gilg (N)
Lisa Cottula (C)
Christian Stewart (N)
Bruce Gragert (C)
Nilesh Patel (N)
Steven C. Likes (C)
Brian Keller (N)
Kristine Becker (C)
Heidi Lysne (N)
Edward D. Williamson (C)
Kevin O'Neil (N)
Cassandra Volanges (C)
David R. Mayer (N)
John A. Sharp (C)
Brian Sobczyk (N)
Richard Winders (C)
Karen Iossi (N)
Nicole Engelhardt (C)
Amanda Karr (N)
Tom Worthington (C)
Tara Scholz (N)
Kourtney Greenfield (C)
Samuel R. Randall (N)
Aimee Lowe (C)
Mark Buckwalter (N)
Anna Yost (C)
Kelli Church (N)
P. Brian Bartels (C)
Valerie McGill (N)
Robert Stark (C)
Adam Barney (N)
April N. Erke (C)
Andrew Conroy (N)
(C) = Creighton University Law School
(N) = University of Nebraska College of Law
 
 

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