Recent achievements for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln community were earned by Somdatta Achar, Roberto Cortiñas, Kiyomi Deards, Catherine Eichhorn, Mackenzie Long, Leonardo Luna-Duran, Rhonda Revelle, Mark Svoboda, Cephas Sithole, Sarah Winn and Dance Marathon.
Honors
Somdatta Achar, a graduate student and research assistant in agronomy and horticulture; Mackenzie Long, graduate student in plant health and agronomy and a graduate research assistant of agronomy and horticulture; and Cephas Sithole, graduate student in agronomy, have each been awarded the 2026 Wirth/McGowen/Poley Fellowship. The fellowship — which includes a $2,500 award — supports the education and research of graduate students who are working to advance global food and nutrition security for a growing world population in agriculture, natural resources and human sciences.
Roberto Cortiñas, faculty adviser for the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has received the NACADA Region 6 Advising Excellence Award for Faculty Advisers. NACADA is a nonprofit that supports academic advising in higher education and has 14,000 members in about 40 countries. Read more about Cortiñas' award.
Catherine Eichhorn, associate professor of chemistry, has received the American Chemical Society's E. Ann Nalley Midwest Region Award for Volunteer Service in recognition of her contributions to chemistry outreach, mentoring and service to the scientific community. The award honors volunteer service that advances the chemistry community and supports others. Read more about Eichhorn's award here.
Leonardo Luna-Duran, a junior political science and management major, has been selected as a 2026-28 recipient of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service. The Voyager Scholarship provides financial support, travel-based learning opportunities and access to a network of mentors and leaders for students pursuing careers in public service. Luna-Duran is one of 100 college juniors nationwide to receive the award. Read more about Luna-Duran's award.
Rhonda Revelle, head coach for Nebraska softball, earned the Excellence in Women's Athletics honor during the 2026 Inspire: Celebrating Women's Leadership Awards. Established in 2015 by the Lincoln Journal Star, the awards recognize women making a positive impact in Lincoln through leadership, service and community involvement. The university had 15 faculty, staff and students nominated for the annual honors.
Mark Svoboda, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center and professor in the School of Natural Resources, was elected as an American Geophysical Union Fellow, joining a distinguished group of 53 individuals in the 2026 Class of Fellows. The American Geophysical Union, the world's largest Earth and space sciences association, bestows the honor annually to a select number of individuals who have made exceptional contributions. Svoboda also received the American Geophysical Union Ambassador Award. The award honors individuals whose achievements extend beyond those recognized by traditional scientific discipline awards.
Sara Winn, student success coordinator for the School of Natural Resources, has received the national Outstanding Adviser Award from NACADA, a professional association with members in roughly 40 countries. This award honors her contributions to the field of academic advising, which follows other awards received by her this year. Read more about Winn's Outstanding Adviser Award.
Dance Marathon earned the 2026 Excellence in Event Experience Award at the annual Ignite Peer to Peer Leadership Conference held in Indianapolis in July, sponsored by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The university's Dance Marathon raised a total of over $190,000 during the 2025-26 academic year, culminating at their annual HuskerThon on Feb. 28. All funds raised by the organization go toward supporting Children's Nebraska in Omaha.
Publications
Kiyomi Deards, professor in the University Libraries, and other collaborators, published their edited open access book from the University of Minnesota Libraries, "Reflections from the Field: Celebrating 20+ Years of the Minnesota Institute." The Minnesota Institute focuses on librarians from traditionally underrepresented groups who are in the first three years of their professional careers and creates community building and career development opportunities for them over the course of the week-long program.
