Awards of Excellence

Awards Of Excellence 2023

Awards of Excellence

2025 Awards of Excellence: Applications Now Closed. 

 

These awards are given to students who demonstrate good character, balanced achievement, and outstanding commitment to the community. Eligible students are graduating high school seniors who have a parent who is a first responder, paid or non paid, that works in Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington and Pottawattamie Counties in Nebraska and Iowa. Read below for more details on the program.

Applications must submitted online to the First Responders Foundation on or before March 1, 2025. There is no option for a mailed application. For questions please email: contact@firstrespondersfoundation.org.  

Winners will be announced on or around March 31, 2025, here on our website and on social media.

Student recipients will also be notified and all correspondence regarding the Awards of Excellence Reception will be communicated using the email provided on the application.

Awards of Excellence

Applications for our 2024 Awards of Excellence are now closed.

 

These awards are given to students who demonstrate good character, balanced achievement, and outstanding commitment to the community. Eligible students are graduating high school seniors who have a parent who is a first responder, paid or non paid, that works in Douglas, Sarpy, Pottawattamie, Cass, or Washington County, in Nebraska and Iowa. Read below for more details on the program.

Applications must submitted online to the First Responders Foundation on or before March 1, 2024. There is no option for a mailed application. For questions please email contact@firstrespondersomaha.org.  

Winners will be announced on or around March 31, 2024, here on our website and on social media.

Student recipients will also be notified and all correspondence regarding the Awards of Excellence Reception will be communicated using the email provided on the application.

Awards of Excellence

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected as recipients of the First Responders Foundation Awards of Excellence 2025.

Ella Anderson – Bellevue West

Madelyn Anderson – Bellevue West

Kellen Bees – Bellevue West

Lainey Bosiljevac – Marian

Gabrielle Clements – Elkhorn North

Katie Crick – Bellevue West

Victoria Doble – Papillion LaVista South

Ember Hemmer – Conastoga

Luke Johnson – Gretna East

Bradyn Johnson – Millard West

Luke Krause – Creighton Prep

Claire Laney – Plattsmouth

Anna Mallory – Fort Calhoun

Blake Mazur – Papillion LaVista

Briella McLaughlin – Marian

Landon Miller – Millard South

Megan Miller – Gretna

Casey Olson – Millard West

Eva Philippi – Ralston

Zoe Retikis – Papillion LaVista South

Eliza Ricker – Arlington

Lauren Sash – Millard West

Addison Schuka – Gretna

Aiden Smith – Atlantic

Caden Sterling – Papillion LaVista

Jack Stolinski – Skutt Catholic

Lauren Wemhoff – Skutt Catholic

Bridget Whitney – Bishop Neumann

Baily Williams – Abraham Lincoln

We thank all of the outstanding students who applied for the award this year. The committee was impressed with the number of exceptional applicants.

The recipients represent families from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Council Bluffs Fire Department, Douglas County Corrections, Fort Calhoun Fire Department, Gretna Volunteer Fire Department, Iowa Department of Corrections, Nebraska Department of Corrections, Omaha Police Department, Omaha Fire Department, Papillion Fire Department, Papillion Police Department, Weeping Water Volunteer Fire Department, and Waterloo Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.

Awards of Excellence are made possible thanks to the following donors who fully-funded one or more of the 2024 awards:

Rod Rhoden, Acura and Honda of Omaha
Bob & Betsy Nelson
Carl Mammel Foundation
Northwest Rotary Club
Chuck and Karen Sederstrom
Keith and Stephanie Basham
Nelson Murphy Insurance & Investments
Carol Stolp
Jim McGill, McGill Brokerage

Awards Of Excellence 2023

Behind the Award

Every spring the Foundation presents Awards of Excellence to students who demonstrate good character, balanced achievement, and outstanding commitment to the community. The recipients of this prestigious award receive $500 and recognition at an annual Awards of Excellence reception.

The First Responders Foundation started the Awards of Excellence in 2017 to acknowledge outstanding high school seniors who are children of first responders. Every year the accomplishments of these exceptional students are remarkable. The award is not given to those with just good grades, but to students who are involved in their school and community, family activities, who volunteer and work with nonprofits, and have impressive work histories. These students have exceeded expectations and give society hope and confidence for the future.

Part of the mission of the First Responders Foundation is to serve and honor all first responders and their families. Most parents don’t wear bullet-proof vests or fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus or take life and death calls when at work.

Children of first responders live a different life not knowing if their loved one will return home at the end of their shift or what emotional stress they may endure. They also learn to live with parents that often miss special events and holidays, because the life of a public servant is 24/7. The Foundation believes it takes a special person to become a first responder and their whole family shares in their service and sacrifice.

Every year the accomplishments of these exceptional students are remarkable. The award is not given to those with just good grades, but to students who are involved in their school and community, family activities, who volunteer and work with nonprofits, and have impressive work histories. These students have exceeded expectations and give society hope and confidence for the future.

Part of the mission of the First Responders Foundation is to serve and honor all first responders and their families. Most parents don’t wear bullet-proof vests or fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus or take life and death calls when at work.

Children of first responders live a different life not knowing if their loved one will return home at the end of their shift or what emotional stress they may endure. They also learn to live with parents that often miss special events and holidays, because the life of a public servant is 24/7. The Foundation believes it takes a special person to become a first responder and their whole family shares in their service and sacrifice.

Eligibility

Students must:

  • be graduating high school seniors
  • have “C” or higher grade point average
  • have a parent who is a first responder, paid or non-paid, that works in Douglas, Sarpy, Pottawattamie, Cass, or Washington Counties in NE and IA

Demonstrate good character, balanced achievement, outstanding commitment to and interest in furthering their success.

The recipients will be selected by the First Responders Foundation Awards of Excellence Selection Committee. If selected they must agree to allow the First Responders Foundation to use their name and photo. There are a limited number of Awards of Excellence awards.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online to the First Responders Foundation.
Students are required to submit an application with supporting documentation detailing:

  • High school activities
  • Senior Photo (required)
  • Achievements and awards
  • Community involvement
  • Accomplishments
  • Personal essay for the selection committee to learn more about the applicant
  • Please include future career and/or vocation goals.

Donors

Awards of Excellence are made possible thanks to the following donors who fully-funded one or more of the 2023 awards:

Bob & Betsy Nelson
Chuck & Karen Sederstrom
Keith & Stephanie Basham
Carol Stolp
Tim & Jonna Holland
Jim McGill
Art Jetter

Corporate Donors

Rod Rhoden
Nelson Murphy Insurance & Investments
Paul Davis Restoration
Farmers Insurance
Northwest Rotary Club of Omaha
Million Dollar Round Table
NCAA Men’s College World Series

 

 

Nelson Murphy Insurance & Investments logo
Rotary Club of Omaha Northwest logo
Farmers Insurance logo

Past Recipients