Robert Hillestad to receive Doc Elliott Award

Robert Hillestad, professor emeritus of clothing, textiles and design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will receive the Doc Elliott Award at the University Scholars Convocation April 6.

Sponsored by the Nebraska Alumni Association, the Doc Elliott Award is presented annually to a retired faculty or staff member whose caring has made a difference in the lives of alumni and who has gone beyond traditional expectations at UNL. It is named in memory of Curtis Elliott, retired College of Business Administration professor known by his students as "Doc."

Since 1965, Hillestad has connected with others to encourage and inspire excellence, with an impact on thousands of UNL students and alumni. Although he retired in 1996, Hillestad is well-respected throughout academic and artistic communities and continues to be in high demand with gallery shows of his beautiful textile art and teaching engagements at major learning institutions across the United States and internationally. He has participated in more than 100 juried and invitational shows. His artwork is part of many corporate, private and museum collections and in more than 50 publications in print and electronic media.

Hillestad and fellow UNL retiree Audrey Newton were instrumental in organizing one of the first European textile and apparel study tours with stays in Paris and London and visits to fashion capitals in Milan, Florence, Venice, Berlin, Rome, Madrid and southern France. The Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery on East Campus was named in his honor in 1997.