Alumni Association to present Student Leadership Awards May 5

The Nebraska Alumni Association will present leadership awards to four outstanding University of Nebraska-Lincoln students during the All-University Celebration and Salute to Alumni Achievement at the Nebraska Champions Club May 5.

The Shane Osborn awards, named after the 1996 UNL graduate and Navy lieutenant, will go to Amanda Ponce, a junior in political science from Omaha, and Curtis R. Michael, a senior in biological science from Albion. Andrew Kousgaard, a senior in the College of Engineering from Lincoln, will be the recipient of the Vann Leadership Award, established by the late Howard Vann and his wife Judy. The Roy and Catherine Yaley Student Leadership Award, named in memory of a former alumni association president and his wife by their daughters, will be presented to Jennifer Green, a junior in advertising from Grand Island.

Ponce is president of the Mexican American Student Association and one of the peer mentors for the NU Connections Peer Mentoring program, a two-year program for UNL freshmen and sophomores. A first-generation college student who has overcome many obstacles, she is helping her grandmother raise her younger siblings, is a full-time student, has a part-time job, and still finds time to have a positive impact in the Latino community.

Michael has chosen the career path of military aviation despite his acceptance into medical school. His leadership as the Air Force ROTC Cadet Maintenance Group Commander led to an accident-free year. Michael also has been a driving force in fundraising for the American Cancer Society, has volunteered at a local soup kitchen, and is always present for volunteer and booster activities such as stadium cleanup after football games and stadium security events.

Kousgaard majors in construction management and also is an AFROTC cadet. He has been a part of the New Orleans community cleanup and is active in Campus Crusade for Christ and booster club stadium security and cleanup. In AFROTC, he has taken a number of leadership roles, participating in the Marshall/Arnold 5 Star Award Symposium and serving as campus affairs squadron commander, inspector general and field training preparation leader.

Green, the reigning Big 12 Conference pole vault champion, is a member of Cather Circle, the Official University Ring Committee and the Student Alumni Association, where she serves on the board of directors. She was in the first group of Breakfast for Champions honorees and was one of the first two recipients of a BFC scholarship. Also an alumni association intern, Green helped launch the SAA discount card program and has assisted on everything from the Homecoming Pizza Pass to the student awards program.

Reservations for the All-University Celebration and Salute to Alumni Achievement may be made by calling the Nebraska Alumni Association, (888) 353-1874 or (402) 472-4250. The cost is $25 per person and the deadline for registrations is April 28.

CONTACT: Marti Paquette, Nebraska Alumni Association, (402) 472-4250