Lincoln (Neb.) - Dec 12, 2001 - Sen. Ben Nelson will give the address at University of Nebraska-Lincoln commencement exercises on Dec. 22. Chancellor Harvey Perlman will preside over the ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Bob Devaney Sports Center, 1600 Court St.. Approximately 1,275 students will receive degrees.
Nelson was elected U.S. Senator in November 2000. He is a member of the Armed Services, Agriculture, and Veterans' Affairs committees.
Prior to his election to the Senate, Nelson, a Democrat, served two terms as governor of Nebraska. He was first elected in 1990, defeating an incumbent. Among his gubernatorial accomplishments were the proposal of a state lottery, approved by voters in 1992, with proceeds directed toward education and the environment. During Nelson's second term, he restructured the state's health and human services by consolidating five agencies into one. Nelson also promoted welfare reform and led efforts to cut and cap property taxes, to reduce income taxes by 5 percent, and to reduce the state sales tax. His initiatives in a statewide "university without walls" provided a structure for the education community and the private sector to develop long-term investments in information technology.
Nelson also worked to improve the rural economy by establishing the Nebraska Community Foundation, Community Builders and later the Nelson Institute, which promotes rural economic development.
Following completion of his second term in 1998, Nelson joined the Omaha law firm of Lamson, Dugan and Murray, where he specialized in insurance regulatory law, international trade and energy law. Nelson is co-founder of Kaufman, Nelson and Pattee in Washington, D.C., a governmental affairs firm. Nelson serves on numerous corporate boards.
Born in McCook in 1941, Nelson earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Nebraska in 1963, a master's degree in 1965 and a law degree in 1970. Prior to entering politics, he practiced law, specializing in insurance law. He was named the director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance in 1975.
A drop-off area for graduates and mobility restricted guests will be
available on the south side of the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Dec. 22.
Sign language interpreters for hearing impaired individuals will be
provided through the HuskerVision screens. Reserved seats for guests who
are ambulatory restricted will be available in the north and south sides
of the arena. Guests in wheelchairs will be seated on the northeast
corner of the arena floor. Golf carts will be located at the ramps on the
exterior north and south sides of the Devaney Center to assist disabled
guests entering and leaving the building. Tickets are not required and
admission is free.
For questions regarding these releases, contact:
tsimons1@unl.edu
(402) 472-8514, Fax: (402) 472-7825