Sealock, Weidner Recognized as Kudos Recipients

By Andrew Washburn, Public Relations

Diane Sealock and Marilyn Weidner have been named Regents' Kudos recipients for the month of February.

Weidner has an unparalleled and unique knowledge of her position in the Entomology department as a staff secretary. Her proficiency on the computer and her unique and unparalleled knowledge of the department are vital to the daily operations of her office. Accuracy, promptness and time-management have helped her to gain the respect of the faculty, staff and students who rely upon her for information and cooperation. She is widely recognized as an individual who can produce high-quality work in virtually no time at all. She emphasizes her recognition of the department's mission and goals in all she does, and always has tabs on an approaching deadline or possible problem. Her professionalism and positive image of the Entomology department makes her a role-model for others across the university campuses, and a pleasure to work with.

In addition to being an administrative assistant in the certification department in the Teachers College, Sealock uses her skills and cheerful attitude to make her department more efficient and precise in its daily functions. In her seven years with the Teachers College, Sealock has proven to be an invaluable resource for students seeking financial aid, as she compiles several organized lists for the scholarship committee. Such lists save students and committee members innumerable hours in the application and selection processes. When problems arise, Sealock is the first to recognize them, and formulate several effective suggestions in an effort to resolve them. Going above and beyond the normal duties of her job in combination with her constant care for her colleagues, students and fellow office workers make her a valuable asset to the university community.

Annual Prairie Schooner Writing Prizes Awarded

Thanks to generous donations, Prairie Schooner was able to give 13 writing prizes totaling more than $6,000 for work published in its 1998 volume. Prairie Schooner magazine is published with the support of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln English Department and the University of Nebraska Press.

Minnie Bruce Pratt is the recipient of the $1,000 Larry Levis Prize for Poetry for five poems published in the Winter 1998 issue. The Larry Levis Prize for Poetry is made possible by the financial support of Marcia Southwick and Murray Gell-Mann.

The $1,000 Lawrence Foundation Award for the best short story in the 1997 volume goes to Trudy Lewis for "Geographic Tongue" published in the Winter issue. This prize is made possible by contributions from the Lawrence Foundation of New York City.

Marcia Southwick is the winner of the $1,000 Virginia Faulkner Award for Excellence in Writing for five poems, which appeared in the Winter issue. Southwick is a visiting associate professor at the University of New Mexico. The Faulkner Award is supported by charitable contributions to honor Virginia Faulkner, former editor-in-chief at the University of Nebraska Press and fiction editor at Prairie Schooner.

The 1998 Bernice Slote Award, a $500 prize for the best work by a beginning writer, goes to Kate Myers Hanson for her story "Book of Names" published in the Summer issue. The Slote Award is supported by the estate of Bernice Slote, Prairie Schooner editor from 1963 through 1980.

The Prairie Schooner Strousse Award of $500 goes to Marilyn Hacker for her translations of six poems by Claire Malroux from the Spring issue.

The Edward Stanley Award for Poetry, $500, goes to Alberto Rios for four poems published in the Winter issue. Charitable contributions from the family of Edward Stanley, a member of the committee that founded Prairie Schooner in 1926, make possible this award.

Judith Ortiz Cofer is winner of the $250 Hugh J. Luke Award for four poems in the Wiinter issue. The Hugh J. Luke Award was established in memory of Prairie Schooner's editor from 1980 through 1987.

Prairie Schooner Readers' Choice Awards of $250 each go to Vivian Shipley of New Haven, Conn., for three poems in the Spring issue, Larry Wayne Johns of Tallahassee, Fla., for the poem "First Kiss," in the Spring issue, Ruth Schwartz of Oakland, Calif., for two poems in the Spring issue, Kathleen Hill of New York City for her story "Shame in the House," Summer 1998, Timothy Schaffert, of Omaha, for his story "Wolves at Bay" in the Summer issue and Albert Goldbarth, of Wichita, Kan., for three poems in the Spring issue.

To obtain the 1998 prize-winning material and future issues of the magazine, write to Prairie Schooner, 201 Andrews Hall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0334, call 472-0911, or seek out the magazine at the local bookstore. Subscriptions are $22 for one year; single copies are $7.95.

Danny Ladely Elected to NAMAC Board

Danny Lee Ladely, director of the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture, one of this country's major advocacy organizations for the media arts field. The Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater, represented by Ladely, was among the founding members of NAMAC in 1980.

The National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture is an association of organizations and media professionals dedicated to building a broad vision of diversity through audio, video, film, multimedia and new sound/image technologies.

NAMAC organizations engage in activities such as the preservation of historical works, media literacy in the schools, hands-on equipment training, film and video festivals, distribution of works and nurturing the talents of emerging artists.

Savery's Devotion to Children's Education Remembered

Millicent Savery, who joined the University of Nebraska faculty as a part-time instructor in 1952 and retired as an associate professor of curriculum and instruction in 1985, died Feb. 25 in Lincoln at the age of 84.

"She had a real devotion to the education of very small children," recalled Jim O'Hanlon, dean of Teachers College. "In a sense, she was out in front of the rest of us in recognizing the importance of pre-school. She always said if we want to get the best results with kids, that's where we have to start.

"On a personal level, I would use two words to describe her - 'gracious' and 'cheerful.' She always seemed to enjoy children and her students."

A native of McCool Junction, Savery taught elementary students in Ong, Scottsbluff and Hastings and was an education professor and interim dean of women at York College. In the 1960s, she directed the 11-state Head Start Training Center at NU.

She earned her bachelor's degree in education (1936) and her master of education degree (1953) at Nebraska, then earned a doctor of education degree at Columbia University (1965).

Savery received the Norman Thorpe Community Service Award from Teachers College in 1985. She was a founding member of the Malone Center Foundation and at various times a member of the Clyde Malone Community Center board, the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women, the Lincoln Action Program and Women in Community Service.

She is survived by her brothers Gilbert and Norman of Lincoln and many nieces and nephews.

Gunderson Was Museum Associate Director

Harvey L. Gunderson, professor of zoology and associate director of the University of Nebraska State Museum from 1967 until the mid-1980s, died Feb. 23 in Minneapolis. He was 85.

A native of Gary, Minn., Gunderson earned his bachelor's degree at Concordia (Minn.) College, his master's at the University of Minnesota and his doctorate at the University of Michigan. He came to Nebraska in 1964 as associate professor and curator of zoology and records in the NU State Museum.

Gunderson was a past president of both the Nebraska and Minnesota Ornithologists' Unions. as well as the Nebraska Section of the Wildlife Society. He was a member of American Society of Mammalogist (and wrote a text book for introductory mammalogy classes), the Wilson Ornithological Society, the Wildlife Society and Sigma Xi, scientific honor society. He was a fellow of the Explorer's Club (New York) and served for 40 years on the board of directors and as senior editor of Minnesota Naturalist, published by the Minnesota Natural History Society.

A World War II veteran, he served four years in the U.S. Army (1942-1945) and was with ski troops in northern Europe.

He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Sharon Gunderson of Cookeville, Tenn., and Jim and Susan Gunderson of Shoreview, Minn.; daughter Nancy Gunderson of Minneapolis; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Erika.

Law's Harnsberger Honored by Groundwater Foundation

By Tom Simons, Public Relations

Richard Harnsberger, Cline Williams-Flavel A. Wright professor of law, will receive the 1999 Maurice Kremer Groundwater Achievement Award from the Groundwater Foundation at the Nebraska Water Conference in Kearney March 9.

The Kremer award is named for a former Nebraska state senator and is given to a Nebraskan who has given lifelong and substantive service to the preservation of Nebraska's groundwater resources.

"The decision to honor Dick with the 1999 Kremer award is especially appropriate given Dick's dedicated service to and scholarship at the University of Nebraska," said foundation president Susan Seacrest. "Thanks to Dick's work, all of us involved in water education and management have a more complete and clear understanding of the policies and issues affecting our groundwater supply. Many of the students that Dick has taught over the years have gone on to become distinguished teachers themselves."

Seacrest also cited the many important publications Harnsberger has written, including "Nebraska Water Law and Administration" with fellow law professor Norm Thorson in 1984 and law review articles about water policy, water rights, Nebraska's groundwater supply and inter-basin transfers.

"Dick introduced many students to a sensitivity to the environment before the field of environmental law was even developed," Thorson said. "In addition, Dick is one of the greatest people the law school has ever had and he is remembered fondly by all of his students.

The foundation's executive committee cited Harnsberger's scholarship, mentoring of students and service to Nebraska's environment through his active support of and participation in environmental organizations. His career has included private practice, time with the Lancaster County Attorney's office. He has taught full-time at the College of Law since 1956.

UNL Sophomore Wins Jazz Scholarship

The UNL Jazz Ensemble I directed by Gene Smith, director of Jazz Activities and assistant professor, performed at the Kansas State University Jazz Festival on Feb. 13.

Cory Biggerstaff, a UNL music education sophomore from Lincoln, received a $1,500 scholarship to the Berklee College of Music Summer Jazz Program at the festival.

Portions of the Jazz Ensemble's performance will be broadcast on National Public Radio's Jazz Set with Branford Marsalis in early April.