IN RECOGNITION OF INNOVATIVE FACULTY MEMBERS, OR A TEAM LEAD BY FACULTY, IN THE AREAS OF TEACHING, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EDUCATION

About: The Omtvedt Innovation Award is made possible by Leone and the late Neal Harlan, great friends of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in honor of Dr. Irv Omtvedt and his distinguished career at the University of Nebraska.  The Harlans had the vision and foresight to realize the importance of recognizing and supporting outstanding and innovative work in the Institute.  These awards recognize innovation and excellence in teaching, research and extension. Recognizing that innovations are often facilitated through teamwork there is a special award for teams. One award is given out in each category; teaching, research, extension and teams. 

Award: $2500 (or $5000 per team)

Eligibility: IANR faculty, or a team lead by a faculty, who has demonstrated exceptional abilities in the areas of teaching, research or extension education.

Awards Home

 

Nomination Instructions

The full nomination packet should be submitted electronically via "NOMINATION FORM" link below and include;

  • Letter of recommendation; the nomination packet must include a letter of recommendation from the nominator. The letter should include a detailed description of the qualities which make the individual or group deserving of the award, including specific examples and quotes from colleagues when available. 
  • A current position description(s)
  • An abbreviated CV; maximum of 5 pages. CVs are not required for the group category.

Submit completed nomination packets electronically via the "Nomination Form". Once submitted, nomination packets are forwarded to the nominee's unit administrator for final approval.

All nominations are due August 1.

Nomination Form

 

Past Awardees

Omtvedt Innovation Awards
Year Core Area RecipientDepartment
2022Teaching Brad LubbenAgricultural Economics
2022Research Lilyan FulginitiAgricultural Economics
2022Extension David AikenAgricultural Economics
2022Team Cultivate ACCESSAgronomy & Horticulture, Biological Systems Engineering, and the CASNR’s Dean’s office
2021Teaching Kathleen BrooksAgricultural Economics
2021Research Patricio GrassiniAgronomy & Horticulture
2021Extension Kristin MalekNutrition and Health Sciences
2021Team TAPS TeamUniversity of Nebraska Testing Ag Performance Solutions
2020 Teaching Brad GoetschCenter for Grassland Studies
2020 Research Andrea CuppAnimal Science 
2020Extension Maria De GuzmanChild, Youth and Family Studies
2020Team Food Processing Center Hand Sanitizer TeamFood Processing Center
2019 Teaching Dirac Twidwell Agronomy and Horticulture
2019 Research Samodha FernandoAnimal Science 
2019 Extension Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel Agricultural Economics
2019 Team NUTrack Livestock MonitoringTy Schmidt, Benny Mote and Eric Psota
2019 Team - NUTrack Livestock MonitoringTy SchmidtAnimal Science
2019 Team - NUTrack Livestock MonitoringBenny MoteAnimal Science
2019 Team - NUTrack Livestock MonitoringEric PsotaElectrical and Computer Engineering
2018 Teaching Fabio D. Mattos Agricultural Economics
2018 Research Richard BischoffIANR Vice Chancellors Office 
2018 Extension Lisa Franzen-Castle Nutrition and Health Science
2018 Team Backyard Farmers Team various
2017 Teaching Deepak Keshwani Biological Systems Engineering 
2017 Research Edgar Cahoon Biochemistry 
2017 Extension Jean Ann Fischer Nutrition and Health Sciences 
2017 Team Award - Commodity Marketing Education Team Kathleen Brooks Agricultural Economics 
2017 Team Award - Commodity Marketing Education Team Cory Walters Agricultural Economics 
2017 Team Award - Commodity Marketing Education Team Jessica Groskopf Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center
2017 Team Award - Commodity Marketing Education Team Robert Tigner West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center
2016 Teaching and Research Carlos Urrea Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center
2016 Research Jiri Adamec Biochemistry 
2015 Research Janos Zempleni Nutrition & Health Sciences 
2015 Teaching John Rupnow Food Science & Technology 
2015 Extension - Farm Bill Team Jessica Groskoph Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center
2015 Extension - Farm Bill Team Jim Jansen Northeast Research, Extension, and Education Center
2015 Extension - Farm Bill Team Tim Lemmons Northeast Research, Extension, and Education Center
2015 Extension - Farm Bill Team Brad Lubben Agricultural Economics 
2015 Extension - Farm Bill Team Roger Tigner South Central Research, Extension, and Education Center
2015 Extension - Farm Bill Team Monte Vandeveer Southeast Research, Extension, and Education Center
2015 Extension - Farm Bill Team Allan Vyhnalek Northeast Research, Extension, and Education Center
2015 Team Award - Precision Ag Management Workshop Team Joe Luck Biological Systems Engineering 
2015 Team Award - Precision Ag Management Workshop Team Nathan Mueller Southeast Research, Extension, and Education Center
2015 Team Award - Precision Ag Management Workshop Team Laura Thompson Southeast Research, Extension, and Education Center
2014 Research Sally Mackenzie Agronomy & Horticulture 
2014 Teaching David Gosselin School of Natural Resources 
2014 Extension Rick Funston West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center
2014 Team Award - Broadband Planning Team Connie Hancock Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center
2014 Team Award - Broadband Planning Team Charlotte Narjes Agricultural Economics 
2014 Team Award - Broadband Planning Team Becky Vogt Agricultural Economics 
2014 Team Award - Broadband Planning Team Janice Jackson Cejka Extension 
2014 Team Award - Broadband Planning Team Roger Terry Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communication 
September 2013  Dave Hardin School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences 
September 2013  Greg Kruger West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center
September 2013 Team Award - Water Dean Eisenhauer Biological Systems Engineering 
September 2013 Team Award - Water Suat Irmak Biological Systems Engineering 
September 2013 Team Award - Water Derrel Martin Biological Systems Engineering 
September 2013 Team Award - Water Ron Yoder IANR Vice Chancellor's Office 
January 2013  Jim Alfano Plant Pathology 
January 2013 Team Award - Gut Function Andy Benson Food Science & Technology 
January 2013 Team Award - Gut Function Jens Walter Food Science & Technology 
January 2013 Team Award - Gut Function Bob Hutkins Food Science & Technology 
January 2013 Drought Mike Hayes National Drought Mitigation Center 
June 2010  Ron Hanson Agriculture Economics 
December 2009  Kim Todd Agronomy & Horticulture 
November 2009  Keith Glewen Southeast Research, Extension, and Education Center
October 2009  Steve Baenziger Agronomy & Horticulture 
January 2009  Sharon Skipton Southeast Research, Extension, and Education Center
January 2009  Tom Clemente Agronomy & Horticulture 
2008  Don Adams West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center
2008  Terry Klopfenstein Animal Science 
2007  Allen Blezek LEAD 
2006  Marilyn Fox Extension 
2006  James Goeke West Central Research, Extension, and Education Center
2005  Linda Boeckner Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center
2005  Donald Lee Agronomy & Horticulture 
2005  Donald Wilhite School of Natural Resources 
December 2004  Tiffany Heng-Moss Entomology 
December 2004  Alice Henneman Lancaster County 
December 2004  Alan Moeller IANR Vice Chancellor's Office 
December 2004  James Van Etten Plant Pathology 
October 2004  Chris Calkins Animal Science 
October 2004  Rodger Johnson Animal Science 
October 2004  Steve Jones Animal Science 
October 2004  Sheila Scheideler Animal Science