Every year, the Board of Directors presents various Foundation Awards to publicly recognize lawyers who make significant contributions to the Foundation and who enhance the legal profession as a whole.
The Foundation Fellows have the honor of nominating all award recipients except the Silver Quill Award recipients, who are selected by the faculty of Creighton University Law School and the University of Nebraska College of Law. Nominations are reviewed by the Awards Committee, and the Board of Directors then determines the final award recipients. The Foundation only bestows awards as the occasion arises.
Legal Pioneer Award
The Foundation's Legal Pioneer Award honors the lifetime achievements of a lawyer who makes innovative contributions to the improvement of justice.
1992 Legal Pioneer Award
Chief Justice William C. Hastings, Lincoln
1994 Legal Pioneer Award
Leo Eisenstatt, Omaha
1995 Legal Pioneer Award
Judge Leslie Boslaugh, Lincoln
1996 Legal Pioneer Award
Judge Hale McCown, Lincoln
1998 Legal Pioneer Award
Bert L. Overcash, Lincoln
1999 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. Patricia Lamberty, Omaha
2000 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. Lindsey Miller-Lerman, Lincoln
2003 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. Donald P. Lay, St. Paul, MN
John P. Miller, Blair
2005 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. Karen B. Flowers, Lincoln
2006 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. Richard C. Kopf, Lincoln
2008 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. John M. Gerrard, Lincoln
2010 Legal Pioneer Award
Linda R. Crump, Lincoln
2013 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. Warren K. Urbom, Lincoln
2019 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. Mary C. Gildbride, Wahoo
2022 Legal Pioneer Award
Michael G. Mullin, Omaha
2023 Legal Pioneer Award
Hon. James E. Doyle IV, Lexington
Outstanding Legal Educator Award
This award recognizes significant contributions to the field of legal education by a legal educator, a lawyer who volunteers his or her time to instruct, and a lawyer who serves in continuing legal education capacities.
1990 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Judge Warren K. Urbom, Lincoln
1994 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
William A. Day Jr., Omaha
1995 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Barbara J. Gaskins, Omaha
John M. Gradwohl, Lincoln
Albert T. Reddish, Alliance
1996 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Gregory B. Minter, Omaha
1997 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Dr. Richard E. Shugrue, Omaha
1998 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Ronald R. Volkmer, Omaha
1999 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Rodney Shkolnick, Omaha
2000 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Hon. Robert O. Hippe, Gering
2003 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
William H. Lyons, Lincoln
2009 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Patrick J. Borchers, Omaha
2011 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
John P. Lenich, Lincoln
2016 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Marianne B. Culhane, Omaha
2017 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Roger W. Kirst, Lincolnf
2019 Outstanding Legal Educator Award
Edward Birmingham, Omaha
Shining Light Award
The Foundation gives this award in acknowledgement of outstanding legal research conducted by a lawyer in Nebraska, whether a practitioner, academician, or non-practicing lawyer.
1989 Shining Light Award
Michael L. Johnson, Grand Island
1992 Shining Light Award
Professor G. Michael Fenner, Omaha
Professor Roger W. Kirst, Lincoln
Professor Josephine R. Potuto, Lincoln
1993 Shining Light Award
John M. Gradwohl, Lincoln
Donald H. Kelley, North Platte
James E. Rembolt, Lincoln
1997 Shining Light Award
Hon. John T. Grant, Omaha
Robert M. Slovek, Omaha
1998 Shining Light Award
Daniel A. Morris, Omaha
1999 Shining Light Award
Richard C. Mangrum, Omaha
2005 Shining Light Award
Professor Susan Poser, Lincoln
2013 Shining Light Award
Christine P. Costantakos, Omaha
Public Service Award
The Foundation confers its Public Service Award on a lawyer in the employ of local, state or federal government in Nebraska or on a Nebraska lawyer in government employment outside the state for outstanding service in the performance of duty.
1990 Public Service Award
Robert M. Spire, Lincoln
1994 Public Service Award
Judge W.W. Nuernberger, Lincoln
1995 Public Service Award
Dennis R. Keefe, Lincoln
1997 Public Service Award
Hon. William H. Norton, Osceola
1998 Public Service Award
Brenda J. Council, Omaha
1999 Public Service Award
Kathleen M. Severens, Washington D.C.
2002 Public Service Award
Deborah K. R. Gilg, Omaha
2003 Public Service Award
Karen L. Shepard, Omaha
2005 Public Service Award
Hon. John V. Hendry, Lincoln
2009 Public Service Award
Charles Thone, Lincoln
2012 Public Service Award
Hon. Todd J. Hutton, Papillion
2014 Public Service Award
Hon. Ben Novicoff, Lincoln
2016 Public Service Award
Hon. Susan M. Bazis, Omaha
2017 Public Service Award
Laura Garcia-Hein, Bennington
2018 Public Service Award
Justice Jeffrey J. Funke, Lincoln
Hon. Leigh Ann Retelsdorf, Omaha
2019 Public Service Award
Chief Justice Michael Heavican
2020 Public Service Award
Douglas F. Johnson
2023 Public Service Award
Patty Pansing Brooks
2024 Public Service Award
Hon. Shelly R. Stratman, Omaha
Hon. Sheryl L. Lohaus, Omaha
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Foundation recognizes a lawyer who has made significant contributions to the legal profession, to the Bar Foundation, and to his or her community.
1997 Lifetime Achievement Award
Governor Frank B. Morrison, Lincoln
1999 Lifetime Achievement Award
James I. Shamberg, Grand Island
2000 Lifetime Achievement Award
James A. Lane, Ogallala
2001 Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard S. Harnsberger, Lincoln
2002 Lifetime Achievement Award
Thomas M. Davis, Lincoln
2004 Lifetime Achievement Award
Thomas E. Brogan, Norfolk
Daniel D. Jewell, Norfolk
2009 Lifetime Achievement Award
Hon. C. Alren Beam, Lincoln
2012 Lifetime Achievement Award
Theodore L. Kessner, Lincoln
2014 Lifetime Achievement Award
Charles V. Sederstorm Jr., Omaha
2015 Lifetime Achievement Award
Howard J. Kaslow, Omaha
2017 Lifetime Achievement Award
J. Terry Macnamara, Omaha
2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
Gary M. Gotsdiner, Omaha
2020 Lifetime Achievement Award
Hon. Laurie Smith Camp (given posthumously)
2024 Lifetime Achievement Award
Hon. John A. Colborn, Lincoln
Distinguished Service Award
This Distinguished Service Award is a special award to recognize a lawyer's service to the legal profession.
1991 Distinguished Service Award
Governor Robert B. Crosby, Lincoln
Jack W. Marer, Omaha
1993 Distinguished Service Award
Otto Kotouc Jr., Humboldt
1994 Distinguished Service Award
Edward Shafton
Robert M. Spire, posthumously
1995 Distinguished Service Award
Judge Lyle E. Strom, Omaha
1996 Distinguished Service Award
Judge Harry A. Spencer, Lincoln
1997 Distinguished Service Award
Hon. F. A. Gossett III, Blair
1998 Distinguished Service Award
John C. Brownrigg, Omaha
2000 Distinguished Service Award
Steven R. Voigt, Kearney
2001 Distinguished Service Award
Lynn D. Hutton Jr., Norfolk
2002 Distinguished Service Award
Harold L. Rock, Omaha
2011 Distinguished Service Award
Hon. D. Nick Caporale, Omaha
2013 Distinguished Service Award
Gerald E. Matzke, Sidney
2015 Distinguished Service Award
Todd V. Elsbernd (Posthumously)
2016 Distinguished Service Award
Dennis G. Carlson, Lincoln
2018 Distinguished Service Award
M. Douglas Deitchler, Lincoln
2019 Distinguished Service Award
Hon. Ronald D. Lahners, Omaha
2020 Distinguished Service Award
Dennis Collins
2023 Distinguished Service Award
Patrick S. Cooper
Foundation Award
The Foundation Award is the most prestigious award given by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation. This award honors exemplary service to the Foundation and is presented to lawyers who have made and who continue to make a strong commitment to the goals of the Foundation.
1989 Foundation Award
Deryl F. Hamann, Omaha
1990 Foundation Award
Robert G. Scoville, posthumously
1992 Foundation Award
Hans J. Holtorf Jr., posthumously
Howard H. Moldenhauer, posthumously
1993 Foundation Award
Milton R. Abrahams, Omaha
1994 Foundation Award
Flavel A. Wright, Lincoln
1995 Foundation Award
Senator Roman L. Hruska, Omaha
1996 Foundation Award
Keith I. Frederick, Omaha
Richard A. Knudsen, Lincoln
1999 Foundation Award
Harvey S. Perlman, Lincoln
2001 Foundation Award
Hon. Lyle E. Strom, Omaha
2002 Foundation Award
Charles Thone, Lincoln
2006 Foundation Award
Thomas M. Davies, Lincoln
2008 Foundation Award
George E. Svoboda, Fremont
2010 Foundation Award
Robert H. Berkshire, Omaha
2012 Foundation Award
Charles E. Wright, Lincoln
2014 Foundation Award
Dean G. Kratz, Omaha
2015 Foundation Award
Hon. William Jay Riley, Omaha
2018 Foundation Award
Kile W. Johnson, Lincoln
2022 Foundation Award
Charles F. Gotch
Silver Quill Award
The Silver Quill Award was established to recognize a law student's legal writing ability as displayed in the classroom and other writing situations as selected by the faculty at the University of Nebraska College of Law and Creighton Law School. Recipients receive a cash award of $500 at the Foundation's Legacy of Liberty Breakfast, as well as have their name permanently inscribed on a plaque which hangs at each respective law school.
1990 Silver Quill Award Winners
Michelle Wernimont, Creighton University Law School
Chad M. VonKampen, University of Nebraska College of Law
1991 Silver Quill Award Winners
Greg O'Kief, Creighton University Law School
Patrick Straka, University of Nebraska College of Law
1992 Silver Quill Award Winners
Sharon Rosse, Creighton University Law School
Timothy Moll, University of Nebraska College of Law
1993 Silver Quill Award Winners
Amy Erlbacher-Anderson, Creighton University Law School
Jennifer Gilg, University of Nebraska College of Law
1994 Silver Quill Award Winners
Lisa Gottula, Creighton University Law School
Christian Stewart, University of Nebraska College of Law
1995 Silver Quill Award Winners
Bruce Gragert, Creighton University Law School
Nilesh Patel, University of Nebraska College of Law
1996 Silver Quill Award Winners
Steven C. Likes, Creighton University Law School
Brian Keller, University of Nebraska College of Law
1997 Silver Quill Award Winners
Kristine Becker, Creighton University Law School
Heidi Lysne, University of Nebraska College of Law
1998 Silver Quill Award Winners
Edward D. Williamson, Creighton University Law School
Kevin O'Neil, University of Nebraska College of Law
1999 Silver Quill Award Winners
Cassandra Volanges, Creighton University Law School
David R. Mayer, University of Nebraska College of Law
2000 Silver Quill Award Winners
John A. Sharp, Creighton University Law School
Brian Sobczyk, University of Nebraska College of Law
2001 Silver Quill Award Winners
Richard Winders, Creighton University Law School
Karen Iossi, University of Nebraska College of Law
2002 Silver Quill Award Winners
Nicole Englehardt, Creighton University Law School
Amanda J. Karr, University of Nebraska College of Law
2003 Silver Quill Award Winners
Thomas M. Worthington, Creighton University Law School
Tara Scholz, University of Nebraska College of Law
2004 Silver Quill Award Winners
Kourtney Greenfield, Creighton University Law School
Samuel R. Randall, University of Nebraska College of Law
2005 Silver Quill Award Winners
Aimee L. Lowe, Creighton University Law School
Mark Buckwalter, University of Nebraska College of Law
2006 Silver Quill Award Winners
Anna Yost, Creighton University Law School
Kelli Church, University of Nebraska College of Law
2007 Silver Quill Award Winners
P. Brian Bartels, Creighton University Law School
Valerie McGill, University of Nebraska College of Law
2008 Silver Quill Award Winners
Robert A. Stark, Creighton University Law School
Adam W. Barney, University of Nebraska College of Law
2009 Silver Quill Award Winners
April N. Erke, Creighton University Law School
Andrew Conroy, University of Nebraska College of Law
2010 Silver Quill Award Winners
Julie Roberts, Creighton University Law School
Lyudmila Kishchun, University of Nebraska College of Law
2011 Silver Quill Award Winners
Alexander Boyd, Creighton University Law School
Shannon H. Kelly, University of Nebraska College of Law
2012 Silver Quill Award Winners
Kara Stockdale, Creighton University Law School
Martin Demoret, University of Nebraska College of Law
2013 Silver Quill Award Winners
Dewey Kennison, Creighton University Law School
Jessop Adams, University of Nebraska College of Law
2014 Silver Quill Award Winners
Eric Walser, Creighton University Law School
Christopher Schmidt, University of Nebraska College of Law
2015 Silver Quill Award Winners
Justine Piatek, Creighton University Law School
Gregory Vinton, University of Nebraska College of Law
2016 Silver Quill Award Winners
Rachel Lee, Creighton University Law School
Jared Koch, University of Nebraska College of Law
2017 Silver Quill Award Winners
Janessa Cruz-Alfaro, Creighton University Law School
Troy Anderson, University of Nebraska College of Law
2018 Silver Quill Award Winners
Shai Gonzales, Creighton University Law School
Lyzz Smith, University of Nebraska College of Law
2019 Silver Quill Award Winners
Ryan Baker, Creighton University Law School
Jessica Robinson, University of Nebraska College of Law
2020 Silver Quill Award Winners
Creighton, Hallie Hamilton
UNL, Hayley Kaiser
2021 Silver Quill Award Winners
Creighton, Nathan Heimes and Lexi Weisbeck
UNL, Kaitlyn Moore
2022 Silver Quill Award Winners
Creighton, Justin Pritchett
UNL, Abbey Penton
2023 Silver Quill Award Winners
Creighton, Kara Stark Smith
UNL, Amanda Landaverde
2024 Silver Quill Award Winners
Creighton, Caleb Chmelka
UNL, Christopher Thorpe