Alumni Association to present Student Leadership awards May 9

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 May 9 at the Nebraska Champions Club.

The Shane Osborn awards, named after the 1996 UNL graduate and Navy lieutenant, will be awarded to Cuyler C. Gembol, an ROTC senior studying secondary education from Broken Bow, and Ashlee Majorek, a junior studying veterinary medicine from Omaha. David Fast, a senior from West Point majoring in hospitality, restaurant and tourism management, is 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 Kinsey Hustad-Cole, a senior in music education from Lincoln.

Gembol is active in ROTC, his fraternity and his community. His innovative work as an Air Force ROTC recruiting officer earned the UNL program the No. 1 ranking in the nation and resulted in the program's second-largest class in 15 years. Gembol also has been lauded as National Financial Manager of the Year from among more than 200 chapters of Arnold Air Society. In addition, he serves his fraternity as secretary and as a member of the judicial committee. After military service, Gembol's goal is to become a teacher.

Majorek works in the NU Athletic Department while putting herself through college to become a veterinarian. Despite enduring financial hardships as a child, Majorek excelled in school, making Honor Roll and the National Hispanic Honor Society. She also was a member of the Speech Club and National Forensic League and was selected to serve on her school's recruitment team. Majorek also volunteered at her church and Bergan Mercy Hospital and has been employed since the age of 15 to supplement her family's income.

Fast serves as president of the UNL chapter of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and is project coordinator for his advanced lodging and advanced event-planning classes. Fast also is a teaching assistant at UNL and banquet assistant manager at the Holiday Inn Downtown. He volunteers as a speech judge for the Nebraska Schools Activities Association, as an adviser and mentor for a Wells Fargo Junior Achievement team and as leader of a high school missionary group.

Hustad-Cole has been a member of the Nebraska Alumni Association's Scarlet and Cream Singers for four years. She is also a member of the University Singers. In August 2007, Hustad-Cole became student music director for Scarlet and Cream, a position that demands leadership and the ability to relate to her peers in a unique manner. She has also served as choreography captain for the ensemble.

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 30.