Science Department Students Receive 2023 Honors

Concordia University, Nebraska’s Department of Science recently held their annual banquet and recognized students for their outstanding work in the department.  

“The science department has given a banquet for our students near the end of the school year every year since about 2000, except the Covid year of 2020, where we held a virtual event,” said Professor of Physics and Natural Science Department Chair Dr. Robert Hermann. “The banquet is an opportunity for the students and faculty to get together socially, relax, and celebrate the end of a school year. It’s also an opportunity for the faculty to thank the students for the hard work they did during the year, and for just being such great people to be around that we looked forward to working with them every day.” 

Concordia Nebraska’s Department of Science 2023 awards and scholarships include: 

Faculty Scholarship 

The Faculty Scholarship is the department’s highest honor and is awarded to the most outstanding science student – both in the classroom and in terms of service to the department and the university – going into their final academic year. This scholarship is funded entirely by donations from current and past faculty members in the department. 

• Sara Huss, junior, Fairbury, Neb. 

Daenzer Scholarship 

The Daenzer Scholarship is awarded to students who will be graduating in the coming year and who are outstanding students, helpful to the department and the university, and reflect the love and awe for creation exhibited by the scholarship’s namesake Gil Daenzer, who was a long-time physics faculty member at Concordia University, Nebraska. 

• Avery Lewis, junior, Seward, Neb. 

• Kellie Rhodes, junior, Mullinville, Kan. 

• Jordan Fasnacht, junior, Bellevue, Neb. 

• Luke Johnson, junior, Kansas City, Kan. 

Outstanding Lab Assistants 

• Physics: Ben Moll, senior, Seward, Neb. 

• Biology: Rachel Battershell, senior, Wheatland, Wyo. 

• Biology and Chemistry: Katie Birtell, senior, Columbus, Neb. 

• Chemistry: Madalyn Woodburn, senior, York, Neb. 

Golden Scalpel 

The Golden Scalpel is awarded to the most outstanding student in BIO 450 Advanced Human Dissection. 

• Mary Nibbe, senior, Red Cloud, Neb. 

Golden Sower Award in Agriculture 

The Golden Sower Award is given to the most outstanding and most promising first-year student in the Agricultural Science program. 

• Kayla Svoboda, freshman, Pender, Neb. 

Outstanding Freshman in Chemistry 

• Nora Fingerlin, freshman, Parker, Colo.

Interested in being part of the science department at Concordia? Learn more here.