Nebraska Alumni Association names RED Scholars

Three Nebraska high schools seniors are the recipients of 2009 RED Scholars Fund scholarships. The scholarships will be presented May 8 at the All-University Celebration and Salute to Alumni Achievement at the Nebraska Champions Club.

The scholarships are funded by proceeds from the RED Gala, a Nebraska Alumni Association event designed to generate additional scholarship dollars to encourage Nebraska's best and brightest high school scholars to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The RED Gala was held from 2005-2008 and then moved to a biennial schedule this year. The next Gala is set for 2010. The event has raised more than $150,000 and resulted in the awarding of UNL scholarships to 12 Nebraska high school graduates. At least 50 percent of the proceeds fund university scholarships for Omaha-area (Douglas and Sarpy counties) high school students, with the rest earmarked for other high-achieving students.

Recipients of the 2009 scholarships are Landon Arthur Bloedorn, a senior at Wisner-Pilger High School; Mary Claire Rice, a senior at Pius X High School in Lincoln; and Garett P. Williams, a senior at Papillion-LaVista High School.

Bloedorn has been a standout 10-year Cuming County 4-H member and a competitive force in the photography, food preparation, computer and rabbit projects. He was selected as a Nebraska delegate to the 2006 National 4-H Club Congress. In school he has been a member of the Academic Team, band, numerous Quiz Bowl teams, and football, basketball and golf teams. In the community, he has assisted with Orphan Grain Train, coached youth flag football, served as an election poll worker, helped with SHARE food distributions, served as a camp counselor, and provided leadership in his church youth group.

Rice ranks first in her class academically, serves as student body president and is involved with the arts, including dance, visual art, singing and theater. She has been involved in a wide variety of organizations, including Student Council, Dance Team, Show Choir and Club World Aid. In the community, Rice has volunteered at the library and the literacy festival at her former grade school. She also weeds and maintains the Butterfly Garden at her church; prepares and serves meals at the Matt Talbot Kitchen; and was an assistant at a summer camp for youth where she helped with the development of software.

Williams is a member of National Honor Society, the marching band/drumline, the jazz band and jazz combo, the show choir band and the wind ensemble. He has also been selected for the All-State Jazz Band and the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra. In the community, he tutors and assists with math competitions, volunteers with the Papillion-LaVista Tournament of Bands and has participated in the community summer musical, the AIDS benefit and Safe Night Out. Williams is a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has received leadership awards as a Tae Kwon Do boot camp counselor for three years.

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) 472-4217. The cost is $35 per person and the deadline for registrations is May 1.