MENTOR Nebraska is thrilled to honor champions of mentoring with the 2023 Excellence in Mentoring Awards! This free virtual event will honor individuals, organizations, and businesses that have made tremendous contributions to young people and the mentoring field in Nebraska.
2023 Excellence in Mentoring Awards
Wednesday, April 19
12:30-1 p.m. CT
Virtual: Streamed live on Facebook and YouTube
NOMINATE A CHAMPION OF MENTORING!
The Excellence in Mentoring Awards will be presented in the four categories listed below.
YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes a young person (8-21 years old) who is involved in a mentoring program and has demonstrated service to their community and great leadership potential. The Young Leader of the Year recipient receives a $500 scholarship.
MENTOR OF THE YEAR
This award honors an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to mentoring by helping a young person reach their full potential.
MENTORING PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR
This award celebrates a mentoring practitioner who has made tremendous contributions to young people and the mentoring field.
Nominate a Mentoring Practitioner
MENTORING ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes a foundation, company, organization, or individual who has made a significant impact on young people by using their influence and public platform to support mentoring opportunities or mentoring initiatives.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
MENTOR Nebraska is committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion for all. We embrace our differences and celebrate our common humanity in advancing the need and transformative power of supportive relationships for our young people. We believe that varied experiences and opinions are central assets in our mission to close the mentoring gap. Through the Excellence in Mentoring Awards, we seek to elevate the voices, contributions and accomplishments of leaders who are diverse in skill, perspective and experience and encourage nominations for people from all backgrounds.
Past Award Recipients
2022
- Young Leader of the Year
- Laila McComb, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Nebraska
Emily Than, STRIVE Refugee Mentoring
- Laila McComb, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Nebraska
- Mentor of the Year
- Jason Merz, Community Connections
Johnny Nesbit, 100 Black Men of Omaha
- Jason Merz, Community Connections
- Mentoring Practitioner of the Year: Angela Hipp, Community Connections
- Mentoring Advocate of the Year: Dr. Cheryl Logan, Omaha Public Schools
2021
- Young Leader of the Year
- Nyankoor Timothy, Community Learning Centers - Civic Nebraska
- Zach Brisnehan, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Nebraska
- Mentor of the Year
- Adrian Fuentes Sanchez, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands
- Mahatma Largaespada, Latino Center of Midlands
- Mentoring Practitioner of the Year: Damien Coran, Partnership 4 Kids
- Mentoring Advocate of the Year: Dr. Anne Hobbs, Juvenile Justice Institute, University of Nebraska Omaha
2020
- Mentor of the Year: Erica McGruder, Nominated by Partnership 4 Kids
- Business of the Year: University of Nebraska Medical Center
2019
- Mentor of the Year: Vicky Muli, Nominated by Girls Inc. of Omaha
- Business of the Year: Greater Omaha Chamber
- Advocate of the Year: Willie Barney & The Empowerment Network
2018
- Mentor of the Year: Edward Stevens, Nominated by 100 Black Men of Omaha
- Business of the Year: First National Bank
- Advocate of the Year: Lisa Utterback
2016
- Mentor of the Year: Ben Ries, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands
- Business of the Year: KETV News Watch 7
- Advocate of the Year: Richard Holland, Nominated by Partnership 4 Kids
2015
- Mentor of the Year: Amy Nelson, Nominated by Kent Bellows Mentoring Program
- Business Advocate of the Year: Creighton University, Nominated by Kids Can Community Center, Youth Emergency Services, Girls Inc. and Ollie Webb Center, Inc.
2014
- Mentor of the Year: Dakotah Taylor, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands
- Business Advocate of the Year: Mutual of Omaha & Mutual of Omaha Foundation, Nominated by Youth Emergency Services
2013
- Outstanding Collaborator: Oanh Heiser
- Mentor of the Year: Tess Larson, Nominated by Girls Inc.
- Business Advocate of the Year: OPPD, Nominated by Partnership 4 Kids
2012
- Mentor of the Year: Laura Hopp, Nominated by Ollie Webb
- Business Advocate of the Year: Kiewit Company, Nominated by TeamMates
2011
- Mentor of the Year: Elaine Bankey, Nominated by TeamMates
- Business Advocate of the Year: Kutak Rock, Nominated by Partnership 4 Kids
2010
- Mentor of the Year: Don Bend, Nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands