1998 Nebraska Public Health Association
Award Winners
Distinguished Service Award:
The Distinguished Service Award is awarded to an individual, agency, organization or business for the long term enhancement of community health through public health activities.
Jim Dills
Jim Dills heads the Health Promotion & Education Division in Nebraska's Health & Human Services System. He has long had his hand on the pulse of public health in Nebraska. He has been a longtime supporter of NPHA and he has served many roles within the public health community. One of his biggest strengths is building bridges between people, organizations and projects, and providing current information and resources.
Special Recognition Awards:
The Special Recognition Award is awarded to an individual, agency, organization or business that has made a significant public health contribution to the community.
Great Plains Trails Network
Ross Greathouse, Board of Directors member of the Great Plains Trails Network
Founded in Lincoln 1998 by Elaine Hammer, this group has contributed to public health by making trails in Nebraska widely available for walking, hiking, biking, roller blading and commuting. This has allowed thousands of Nebraska's citizens to increase their fitness and to commute, without polluting the air, while traveling safe and accessible trails.
Project Extra Mile
Diane Riibe, Executive Director, Project Extra Mile
Project Extra Mile, directed by Diane Riibe, started in the Omaha Metropolitan area in 1995. It is a broad-based community coalition whose mission is to create a community consensus that clearly states that underage alcohol use is illegal, unhealthy and unacceptable. Their committee structure addresses public information and education, access and availability, enforcement and adjudication, and policy development, as well as the sponsorship of a "Youth in Action" group.
Senator Don Wesley
Senator Wesley has served in the Unicamerial for many years. Without him the recent passage of LB 1070 which established a public health trust fund in Nebraska, would not have been possible. This major step forward for public health in Nebraska will help improve the health of Nebraskans for generations to come. Senator Wesley's years as chair of the Health and Human Services Committee have been vital to maintaining the public health of Nebraska's citizens.
NPHA Service Awards:
The NPHA Service Award is given to a member of NPHA who has made a significant contribution in support of NPHA and is awarded in recognition of activities which directly enhance NPHA.
Melissa Janulewicz
Melissa Janulewicz is Health & Nutrition Director of Central Nebraska Community Services in Loup City. She has been NPHA secretary for the past two years and has been a strong and important voice on the NPHA Board of Directors. She has spearheaded the proposed changes in the NPHA bylaws and she has been a major player in the Robert Wood Johnson/Kellogg Foundations, "Turning Point" grant.
Pat Lopez
Pat Lopez of Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department has been the driving force behind the public health nurse section of NPHA. This section continues to move forward because of her leadership. Her consistent message of collaboration within NPHA to spread the word about public health has impacted many public health professionals throughout the state. In addition, Pat has been instrumental in coordinating and facilitating leadership workshops for the local health department directors in Nebraska.
Young Professionals Award:
The Young Professionals Award is to recognize special efforts and initiatives by young public health professionals. This award recognizes those who have made noteworthy contributions to the public health of Nebraskans.
Monique Summers
Monique Summers served on the advisory board at FirstStep in Omaha where she exhibited a passion to work with adolescent mothers. She has worked in the Douglas County Health Department and is currently an instructor in the Gerontology Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is on the NPHA board and she is active in the newly formed Nebraska Minority Public Health Association. She and Tiffany Sutter worked together to put on this year's NPHA conference.
NPHA Lifetime Membership
This award acknowledges people who have an established record of having served the public health community in Nebraska with distinction.
Dan Worthing, retired director of the Douglas County Health Department.
Others recent awardees are: M. Jane Ford, former director of the LLCHD and Mark Horton, former director of the Nebraska Department of Health.
1997 NPHA Award Winners
Romeo Guerra and the Office of Minority Health (HHSS) received the Special Recognition Award .
Carole Douglas (Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Dept.) received the Distinguished Service Award.
The American Cancer Society, Heartland Chapter received the NPHA Service Award.for its efforts to advance comprehensive school health education in Nebraska.
Keynoter, Janice Hiland of CDC and the Panel Discussion