2005 Alumni Achievement Award in Art Bruce Conner San Francisco, Calif. B.F.A. 1956 Identified as "one of the most influential artists of his generation," Conner has created pivotal work in many media, including assemblage, film, painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and photography. Born in McPherson, Kan., in 1933, Conner attended the Brooklyn Museum Art School and the University of Colorado following his graduation from UNL in 1956. In 1957, he moved to San Francisco. His work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. These include a major retrospective organized by the Walker Art Center (2000BC: The Bruce Conner Story) in 2000, which traveled to the Museum of Modern Art in Fort Worth, the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. More recently, his films were exhibited at the Foundation Cartier in Paris and his inkblot drawings are in the SITE Santa Fe biennial installation entitled "Disparities and Transformations: Our Grotesque" curated by Robert Storr.

(L-R) UNL Alumni Association's Kirk Cerny, Colonel Gary F. Lamb, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

2005 Alumni Achievement Award in Music Colonel Gary F. Lamb Ft. Meyer, Va. B.M.E. 1971, M.M. 1976 Lamb is Leader and Commander of "Pershing's Own" United States Army Band. A native of Hardin, Mt., Col. Gary Lamb graduated high school in Alliance, Neb., earned Bachelor and Master degrees in music from UNL and a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Prior to his military career, he was a public school teacher in Nebraska and served as Director of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre. Lamb became the Leader and Commander of the U.S. Army Band in April 2000. Since that time, he has led them in the revival of Spirit of America and led them during the inaugurations of President George W. Bush.

(L-R) UNL Alumni Association's Kirk Cerny, Kent Broadhurst, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Alumni Achievement Award in Theatre Arts Kent Broadhurst New York, N.Y. B.F.A. Art and Art History 1962 While technically a graduate in the Department of Art and Art History and an accomplished artist, Broadhurst is receiving the Alumni Achievement Award in Theatre Arts due to his outstanding accomplishments in that field. After graduating from UNL, Broadhurst trained with Uta Hagen, Stella Adler, Herbert Berghof and others, who encouraged him to act. As a professional actor, he's performed on Broadway, off Broadway, in films and on television. In addition, he is a published and produced playwright with seven titles to his credit. His screenplay for "Wild Iris," produced by Showtime and Paramount, directed by Dan Petrie, starred Gena Rowlands, Laura Linney, Fred Ward and Emile Hirsch. Linney won the 2002 Best Actress Emmy in dramatic film for television. Broadhurst continues as an artist with commissions across the U.S.

Award of Merit

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Joseph M. Ruffo, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

2005 Award of Merit Joseph M. Ruffo Lincoln, Neb. After nearly 20 years of service as Chairman of the Department of Art and Art History at UNL, Ruffo retired in 2003 to continue his work as an independent artist in Lincoln. His efforts as an administrator focused on curriculum improvement, program development and enhancement, faculty development and most recently at UNL, on graduate program improvement. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and continues to serve as an accreditation reviewer across the nation to review art departments for the association. At UNL, he developed the first department gallery and later as Richards Hall was renovated, he reestablished and renamed the gallery the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery. He was the instigator of the Visual Literacy Program, which unified the freshman foundation curriculum. Along with art alumnus Bob Culver, he helped establish MEDICI, a friends group for the department. His artwork has been shown throughout the United States in various juried and invitational exhibitions. He also consults as a graphic designer for several local and national clients.

Student Leadership Award

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Heather Morris, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Undergraduate Student Leadership Award Heather Morris B.F.A. in Art Heather Morris will graduate this May with a Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts. Having completed her coursework, she is currently in New York, where she accepted a position at Dye-Namix. She is doing textile design and graphic design of presentation and promotional materials for the company, which is a textile design studio that create textiles for fashion, Broadway, film, television, interiors and art projects. While at UNL, Morris excelled academically. She was in the honors program and maintained a 3.8 GPA. Her artistic production is equally impressive. She has won a range of prizes, including the Faulkner Award for outstanding work in the Undergraduate Student Show in 2004, and she was awarded the AIGA Silver Medal for her graphic design work. Morris has also served in a leadership award both in the department and the College. She has served as both a College Ambassador and as a member of the College Undergraduate Student Advisory Board. Last year, she served on the Department Chair Search Committee.

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Christopher Werner, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Graduate Student Leadership Award Christopher Werner D.M.A. Christopher Werner is a D.M.A. candidate in wind band conducting. Almost immediately upon his arrival on campus, Werner won the trust and goodwill of the students and faculty through long hours, attention to detail and good humor. The students look to him as a role model and follow his lead without question. As a conductor, he is perfectly at home addressing large groups of people in formal and informal settings. His duties include teaching, conducting and administrative duties with the Cornhusker Marching Band; directing and administrative duties with the Big Red Express pep band; assistant conductor of the UNL Wind Ensemble; conductor and music director of the UNL Brass Ensemble, which he built from the ground up; guest conductor with the UNL Symphonic Band and Campus Band; teaching assistant for Music Education 411 Instrumental Conducting and Literature; research assistant to the director of bands; and web master for the UNL band program. Werner also presented at the College's Graduate Student Showcase in 2004.

Dean's Award for Academic Excellence

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Jeff Weber, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award Jeff Weber, Department of Theatre Arts Jeff is a scenic artist, who is pursuing his Master of Fine Arts in the Department of Theatre Arts. He received his BA in fine arts in 2000 from the State University of New York College at Cortland. Currently, he is a co-scenic designer and charge artist for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival in Omaha and a scenic designer for the UNL Theatrix production of "The Illusion." He was also a scenic designer for the UNL production of "The House of Blue Leaves" and a charge artist for the UNL Opera, "The Gondoliers." His other UNL credits include "Romeo and Juliet," "Terodactyls," "How I Learned to Drive" and "A Flea in Her Ear." He has also been a scenic artist for the Opera productions "Susannah" and "Elixir of Love." In 2003, he did freelance work on "Treat Street" for Midlands Marketing and for the Nebraska Theatre Caravan. He also worked on "Measure for Measure" and "Twelfth Night" for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival. He was a charge artist for the Des Moines Metro Opera in 2004.

F. Pace Woods Scholarship Awards

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Matthew Miller, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

F. Pace Woods Scholarship Award Matthew Miller, Department of Theatre Arts Matt is a sophomore at UNL working towards a BFA in Design/Tech Theatre with an emphasis in lighting and a BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in performance. Last Fall, Matt was inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and has been on the Dean's List every semester since he started College. Recently Matt has been seen in a number of UNL productions, including Kusari, Woyzeck, and Guys and Dolls. Most recently he played the role of Don Pedro in UNL's production of Much Ado About Nothing; and is currently playing the role of Pleribo/Adraste "The Rival" in UNL's production of The Illusion, in which he will give his final performance later on this evening. He also was the Lighting Designer for Kusari, the Master Carpenter for Much Ado About Nothing, and has been a staff carpenter in the scene shop for the past two years. Matt is currently serving as the Technical Director for Theatrix, UNL's student-run theatre company.

Anne and William Porter Awards for Creativity in the Department of Theatre Arts and

the Dance Division in the School of Music

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Candace Frank, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Porter Award-Department of Theatre Arts Undergraduate Student Candace Frank Candace is junior, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Film and New Media Program. She is a member of Cinema 16, a UNL student film organization, which, by the way, just recently won $250 as a finalist in the Real Nebraska Film Contest, sponsored by UNL. Candace was a producer for their entry, "Exploring Our Roots Volume 1." Some of her other recent credits include those of producer of "The Mundane Adventures of Thomas P. Goldsby;" 2nd Assistant Director and Gaffer on "Hap's Diner;" Producer and Director of Photography on "The Difference Between Jacob Bodlin and Everyone Else;" and Director of Photography on "The Stars are Projectors." Candace also recently began a new job as webmaster for the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and serves as a student worker at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Jeff O'Brian, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Porter Award-Department of Theatre Arts Graduate Student Jeff O'Brien Hailing from Paris, Illinois, Jeff graduated from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in theatre and in communications. He began sound designing because of his love of editing and creating music to fit moments on stage. Some of Jeff's many credits include "Miss Saigon" at the Forestburgh Playhouse, "The Fifth of July" at the Griffin Theatre, and "Much Ado About Nothing" here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jeff is a founding member of the Quest Theatre Ensemble in Chicago and resident sound designer at the newly formed Crossroads Repertory Theatre Company in Terre Haute, Indiana.

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Kaycee Uribe, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Porter Award-Dance Kaycee Uribe Kaycee, a senior dance major from Holdrege, Nebraska, has been dancing since she was four years old. She has had a lot of wonderful opportunities in dance here at UNL, including travels performing in New York City and in Washington, D.C. Kaycee said that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been a great place for her to get her education. She currently is a dance teacher at our YWCA here in Lincoln and she hopes to continue to teach and perform.

Vreeland Awards

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Adam Tourek, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Francis William Vreeland Award-Department of Art and Art History Undergraduate Student Adam Tourek Hailing from Omaha, Adam will receive his BFA degree with an emphasis in sculpture and a minor in Art History in May, and has recently added video and performance to his repertoire. He recently won the Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation Sculpture Competition and will have his winning sculpture installed by Iron Horse Park in the Haymarket. Among his influences were his parents, Robert and Nancy, his second grade teacher and piano instructor, Christine Ryktarsyk, his friends, and his high school art teacher, Robert Willits. He currently resides in the North Bottoms of Lincoln, where he has made his home for the past four years, but plans to migrate to Baton Rouge where he will work toward a Master of Fine Arts at Louisiana State University.

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Amanda Hext, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Francis William Vreeland Award-Department of Art and Art History Graduate Student Amanda Hext Amanda is nearing completion of her Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing. She received her Bachelor of Arts in drawing and painting from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. While at UNL, Amanda has been an instructor for the Beginning Painting course and a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Perceptual Drawing Foundations course. Her exhibitions include her MFA Thesis Exhibition this spring, a UNL Graduate Students Exhibition at University Place Art Center in Lincoln, the 6th Annual Art Auction at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha in 2004, and Kimmel Fellows Exhibitions in 2004 and 2003. She is the recipient of both a Kimmel Fellowship and Woods Graduate Assistantship.

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Christine Hofman, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Ida M. Vreeland Award-School of Music Undergraduate Student Christine Hofman Christine is a senior who plans to finish her Bachelor of Music degree in May 2005, under the guidance of Professor Clark Potter. Her other private teachers include Dr. Alan Asher, Dr. Gerald Feese, and Charles Pikler, Principal Violist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Christine was Associate-Principal violist of the National Youth Symphony with a performance at Carnegie Hall under maestro Lucas Foss in January 2001, and this past December, she performed as a soloist with the University of NE-Lincoln Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the Undergraduate Competition for the 2004-2005 school year. Christine has also served as associate-principal violist of the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, violist of the Hastings Symphony Quartet, and Principal Violist of the UNL Symphony Orchestra for the third year, and has also played as a violist in the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra for 3 years. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars as well as the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She has been a member of the UNL Dean's List all four years and was published in the 2004-2005 edition of the National Dean's List. Next Fall, Christine plans to attend graduate school at DePaul University in Chicago to continue her music study in performance.

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Jeffery Richmond, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Ida M. Vreeland Award-School of Music Graduate Student Jeffrey Richmond Jeffrey is pursuing his Master of Music degree, studying music composition and theory. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree in music composition from the University of South Florida. While at the University of South Florida, he earned the top Theory Student of the Year Award both years he was eligible for it. Jeffrey has worked as a freelance composer and arranger for various individuals and groups, and has created works for high schools, Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, The Florida Orchestra, and many smaller chamber ensembles, wind ensembles and jazz bands. He has also worked as a freelance trumpeter in Florida. Jeffrey is a graduate teaching assistant at UNL with assignments in music theory, composition, history of jazz, history of rock and wind band. He plays lead trumpet in the Jazz Ensemble I and is vice-president of the UNL chapter of the International Association for Jazz Education.

Nexus Awards

(L-R) Jeremy Johnson, Katrina Pierce, Trudie Teijink, Elizabeth Estudillo and Dean Giacomo Oliva.

Three semi-finalists were selected, who will each receive $250: • Elizabeth Estudillo is a senior in the College of Education and Human Sciences majoring in Art K-12 Education from Ord, Nebraska. Her emphasis is in painting and portfolio. • Jeremy Johnson is a second-year Master of Fine Arts student from Green River, Wyoming. His research is concerned with the emergence of patterns and forms under the influence of force and field. • Trudie Teijink is a senior Art History major originally from the Netherlands who is focusing on studying printmaking. She has taught art workshops for children and adults and exhibited in Europe and the United States. The winner of the $1,000 purchase award is Katrina Pierce. Katrina is a Bachelor of Fine Arts studio major with an emphasis in printmaking. Her goals are to think "outside the box" and to explore science through art.

College Distinguished Teaching Award

(L-R) Associate Dean Robert Fought, Carolyn Barber, Dean Giacomo Oliva.

College Distinguished Teaching Award Carolyn Barber, School of Music Dr. Carolyn A. Barber is Associate Professor and Director of Bands. She earned a B.M. in horn performance at Northwestern University. She received her M.M. in horn performance from Yale University, and returned to Northwestern to earn her D.M. in conducting. Dr. Barber began her career as a lecturer and assistant to the dean of the Northwestern University School of Music. Prior to her appointment at UNL, Dr. Barber also served as the director of bands at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. There, her teaching responsibilities included advanced conducting, marching band techniques, applied French horn, music appreciation, wind symphony, symphonic band and marching band. She was also a member of the faculty woodwind and brass quintets. Under her direction, the UW-L Wind Symphony performed at the 1998 National Band Association - Wisconsin Convention, and the 2000 Wisconsin State Music Conference. Apart from her conducting and teaching, Dr. Barber also served for five years as the principal horn of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. At UNL, Carolyn teaches both graduate and undergraduate conducting and literature courses and coordinates the graduate wind conducting program. She is the conductor and music director of the UNL Wind Ensemble (which many of you will see later tonight in concert), and as director of bands she is actively involved with all facets of the band program. In addition to her academic appointment, Dr. Barber performs as a substitute/extra with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Barber has received numerous awards for musical and academic achievement. Her research interests include extensive involvement in 12 compact disc recording projects, and a growing list of commissions of new works for wind band. She has also published in the Journal of Band Research. Dr. Barber maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician. As a performer she has presented six solo recitals, 2 lecture recitals, and has performed with ensembles throughout the USA, in Canada, England, Austria, Germany, and twice in Carnegie Hall.