Each year at our annual fundraising event, the Morrison Exon dinner, we celebrate the volunteers and Party leaders who build and grow the Nebraska Democratic Party.
On June 29, 2018, the State Central Committee voted to approve changing names of our annual awards to reflect Nebraska leaders. Previously, our state party honored national Democratic leaders with awards named after them, however Chair Jane Kleeb and the leadership team believed it was critical we honor Nebraska leaders with our award names.
The year’s event is tentatively set for Oct. 2 in Omaha
Award Descriptions
State Party Chair Award
Nominations are not accepted for this award. The State Party Chair designates a person in the Party for this annual award.
Carrie Howard Sunshine Award
Nominees should be individuals who are dedicated to improving both the Nebraska Democratic Party and their community as an ally to our Democratic values. The award is open to any ally working or volunteering in the community and do not have to be serving in a party role. This award is given in honor of Carrie Howard, sister of Senator Sara Howard and daughter of Senator Gwen Howard.
Anne Boyle Young Democrat Award
Nominees for this award should be a young person (using the age criteria of the Young Democrats which is under 35-years-old) honored for their exceptional volunteer activities and participation within the Nebraska Young Democrats organization and the State Party. Commissioner Anne Boyle was the first woman to serve on the Public Service Commission and served three, six-year terms beginning in1996. Boyle was our State Party Chair from 1998 to 2001. Boyle was committed to lifting young people up and mentoring fellow Democrats.
Bob Kerrey Volunteer Award
Nominees for this award should be volunteers who personify the spirit of the Nebraska Democratic Party. The award is given to an individual who is tireless in supporting the Nebraska Democratic Party, county parties and candidates’ campaigns within District 1, 2, and 3, respectively. An award is given to one volunteer per Congressional District. Bob Kerrey served our state as Governor from 1983 to 1987, as a U.S. Senator from 1989 to 2001 and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992. Kerrey served our nation on the 9/11 Commission and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during Vietnam as a Navy SEAL.
Ben Nelson County Party Volunteer Award
Nominees should be a County Party volunteer who has worked tirelessly to promote the activities and values of the Democratic Party in their county. Nominees should demonstrate a dedication to service, integrity, the organizing of their county party infrastructure, and support for local Democratic candidates. Senator Ben Nelson served our state as Governor from 1991 to 1999 and as U.S. Senator from 2001 to 2013. Nelson founded the CHIP program ensuring kids in our state had access to health insurance. A champion for the environment and property rights, Nelson denied a nuclear waste dump from being built in the Sandhills.
Frank LaMere Hall of Fame Award
Nominees should be a former or current elected County Party officer, State Party officer or an elected official who are dedicated to the principles of the Nebraska Democratic Party and who have contributed above and beyond the call of duty to the Nebraska Democratic Party along with local issues that impact the state and national level. This is the highest award given by the Nebraska Democratic Party. Frank LaMere was the first Native American to serve as a DNC member and he founded both the state and national Native American Caucus. LaMere was the longest serving Native American on the DNC. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention seven consecutive times from 1988 to 2012. LaMere also served as the NDP’s First Associate Chair. LaMere dedicated his life to social justice and helped close down illegal beer sales at Whiteclay, NE, just across the border from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
2020 Award Recipients
| Bob Kerrey Volunteer Award |
Emma Craig |
| Bob Kerrey Volunteer Award |
Denise Blaya Powell |
| Bob Kerrey Volunteer Award |
Leanne Prewitt |
| Bob Kerrey Volunteer Award |
Chair Kris Kinzie |
| Ben Nelson County Party Volunteer Award |
Chair Janet Chung |
| Frank LaMere Hall of Fame Award |
Trevor Fitzgerald |
| Carrie Howard Sunshine Award |
Yolanda Chavez Nuncio |
| Anne Boyle Young Democrat Award |
James Michael Bowers |
| State Party Chair Award |
(individual names per award) Senator Justin Wayne ; Board Member Kimara Snipe ; Black Caucus Chair Precious McKesson ; Jasmine Harris ; Alisha Shelton |
| State Senator Courage Award |
Senator Carol Blood |
Past Award Recipients
2019
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2019 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Roger Eschliman |
| 2019 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Lilia Franciscony |
| 2019 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Haley Mazour |
| 2019 |
Ben Nelson County Party |
Judy Vohland |
| 2019 |
Frank LaMere Hall of Fame |
Senator Patty Pansing Brooks |
| 2019 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Lisa Fricke |
| 2019 |
Anne Boyle |
Caleb Rohrer |
| 2019 |
Anne Boyle |
Krystal Fox |
| 2019 |
State Chair |
The Women of CD1:
Pastor Janet Banks
Adelle Burk
Sydney Rae Butler
Janet Chung
Marthaellen Florence
Mary Harding
Jessica McClure
Megan Mikolajczyk
Michele Tilley
Christa Yoakum
Laurie Martinez |
2018
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2018 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Shirl Mora James |
| 2018 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Scott Williams |
| 2018 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Tom Genung and Doc Moore |
| 2018 |
John F. Kennedy |
Zachary Mora James |
| 2018 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Senator Bob Kerrey |
| 2018 |
Hall of Fame |
Senator Tony Vargas |
| 2018 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Brian Mikkelsen |
| 2018 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Lauren Williams |
| 2018 |
Morrison Exon |
Delmer Adam |
| 2018 |
State Chair |
Big Mama’s Kitchen |
2017
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2017 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Mike Pittz |
| 2017 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Rachel Huggins |
| 2017 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Terry Wegner |
| 2017 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Meg Mandy |
| 2017 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Patsy Koch-Johns Volunteers–Inonge Kasaji, Kaylie Schnittker-Hogan, Cooper Christiancy, Brodey Weber, Michael Maly and Maluba Mudundulu |
| 2017 |
John F. Kennedy |
Mina Davis |
| 2017 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Frank LaMere |
| 2017 |
Hall of Fame |
Senator Rick Kolowski |
| 2017 |
Morrison-Exon |
John Quirk |
| 2017 |
State Chair |
Janet Stewart and Stephanie Matejka |
2016
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2016 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Tom Havelka |
| 2016 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Susan Tafini |
| 2016 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Bud Pettigrew |
| 2016 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Paige Hutchinson |
| 2016 |
John F. Kennedy |
Jose Jimenez |
| 2016 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Dennis Crawford |
| 2016 |
Hall of Fame |
Senator Paul Hartnett |
| 2016 |
Morrison-Exon |
Sharlette Schwenninger |
| 2016 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Kathy Moore-Jensen |
| 2016 |
State Chair |
Charlene Ligon |
2015
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2015 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Ellen Moore |
| 2015 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Romona Lisa Fricke |
| 2015 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Ismael Valadez |
| 2015 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Meg Mikolajczyk |
| 2015 |
John F. Kennedy |
Marque Snow |
| 2015 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Tom Tilden |
| 2015 |
Hall of Fame |
Dave Newell |
| 2015 |
Morrison-Exon |
John Yoakum |
| 2015 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Dave Domina |
| 2015 |
State Chair |
Andy Holland |
2014
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2014 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Marta Nieves |
| 2014 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Bryon Line |
| 2014 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Shaun Baker |
| 2014 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Jeremy Nordquist |
| 2014 |
John F. Kennedy |
Lacey Merica |
| 2014 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Jim “Doc” Moore |
| 2014 |
Hall of Fame |
Senator Bob Kerrey |
| 2014 |
Morrison-Exon |
Charlene Ligon |
| 2014 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Amanda McGill |
| 2014 |
State Chair |
Deena Province |
2013
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2013 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Jon Rehm |
| 2013 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Susan Tafini |
| 2013 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Terry Sigler |
| 2013 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Bob Holmstedt |
| 2013 |
John F. Kennedy |
Rebekah Caruthers |
| 2013 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Peg O’Dea Lippert |
| 2013 |
Hall of Fame |
|
| 2013 |
Morrison-Exon |
Jeff Leanna |
| 2013 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Joey Adler |
| 2013 |
State Chair |
Ken Mass |
2012
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2012 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Mary Herres |
| 2012 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Shelisa Minnifield |
| 2012 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Deena Province |
| 2012 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
|
| 2012 |
John F. Kennedy |
Bri McLarty |
| 2012 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Lanny Munson |
| 2012 |
Hall of Fame |
Benjamin Nelson |
| 2012 |
Morrison-Exon |
Bud Pettigrew |
| 2012 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Chuck Hassebrook |
| 2012 |
State Chair |
2011
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2011 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Bennie Shobe |
| 2011 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Joe Higgins |
| 2011 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Judy Vohland |
| 2011 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Jim Rogers & Missy Wigley |
| 2011 |
John F. Kennedy |
Karlee Coleman |
| 2011 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Joan Killingsworth |
| 2011 |
Hall of Fame |
Don Eret |
| 2011 |
Morrison-Exon |
Bill Forsee & Christa Yoakum |
| 2011 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Jane Raybould |
| 2011 |
State Chair |
Mayor Jim Suttle |
2010
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2010 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Becki Gaston |
| 2010 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Charlene Ligon |
| 2010 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Frank Johannsen |
| 2010 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Danielle Conrad |
| 2010 |
John F. Kennedy |
Crystal Rhoades |
| 2010 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Ted Kessler |
| 2010 |
Hall of Fame |
James Quigley |
| 2010 |
Morrison-Exon |
Tom Brown |
| 2010 |
Carrie Howard Sunshine |
Jan Osten |
| 2010 |
State Chair |
John Yoakum |
2009
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2009 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
John Yoakum |
| 2009 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Sandi Skorniak |
| 2009 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Bud Pettigrew |
| 2009 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Mark Fields |
| 2009 |
Hall of Fame |
Mike Fahey |
| 2009 |
John F. Kennedy |
Jessica Rathbun |
| 2009 |
Kathleen Fahey Service |
Kyle Michaelis |
| 2009 |
Morrison-Exon |
Carol Blood |
| 2009 |
Special Services to the State |
John Berge |
| 2009 |
State Chair Award |
Chris Jerram |
2008
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| Year |
Award |
Winner |
| 2008 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Vic Covalt |
| 2008 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Peg O’Dea Lippert |
| 2008 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Carolee Koehn |
| 2008 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Donna Noll |
| 2008 |
Hall of Fame |
Don Preister |
| 2008 |
John F. Kennedy |
Heath Mello |
| 2008 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Vince Powers |
| 2008 |
Morrison-Exon |
Marion Bahensky |
2007
| 2007 |
Bob Kerrey CD1 |
Rick Carter |
| 2007 |
Bob Kerrey CD2 |
Phyllis Ebey |
| 2007 |
Bob Kerrey CD3 |
Mike Zgud |
| 2007 |
Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
Selma Mesner |
| 2007 |
Hall of Fame |
Colleen Seng |
| 2007 |
John F. Kennedy |
Jeremy Nordquist |
| 2007 |
Kathleen Fahey Young Democrats of Service |
Bill Avery |
| 2007 |
Morrison-Exon |
Duane Jones |
