Wisherd Award for Outstanding National/International Humanitarian Service

Content

Nomination Form

Purpose 

Each year currently paid-up members of the UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association (UNL ERA) administrators (departmental chairs and heads, directors, deans, vice chancellors, etc.) will be asked to nominate members of the UNL ERA who have provided outstanding humanitarian service nationally or internationally. Such services may include sharing time and talents with non-governmental organizations; governmental committees/boards/agencies; health, education and economic development organizations; disaster relief organizations; and similar entities that exist for the purpose of providing humanitarian assistance to others. 

The Maude E. Wisherd Fund provides a $500 award to recognize outstanding national/international humanitarian service by an Association member. 

Eligibility and Criteria

  • Nominees must have been retired from the University for at least two years. 
  • Only volunteer service provided since retirement shall be considered. 
  • To be considered volunteer service, there must be no compensation. 
  • Only volunteer service to governmental or tax-exempt organizations shall be considered. 
  • Members of the selection committee must recuse themselves if nominated for this award. 

Nomination Process 

  • During the first week of April each year, a call will be issued for nominations. 
  • Any UNL ERA member or UNL Administrator may nominate a member of the UNL ERA who has provided outstanding humanitarian service nationally or internationally for a sustained period. 
  • Nominators should complete and submit the nomination form. 
  • Deadline for submitting the nomination is May 15. 
  • The Awards Selection Committee will conclude its work by the end of May. 
  • Only the nominee chosen to receive this award will be notified of his/her nomination/selection. This will happen no later than August 1.
  • The name of each award winner will remain confidential until a public announcement is made in September.

Recognition Process

  • The names of the Wishard  award winners will be  announced at the UNL ERA  September Association meeting . Each awardee will receive a letter from the UNL ERA President underscoring the honor.
  • Each award winner will receive a certificate of congratulations during a Fall Semester Luncheon co-sponsored by the  UNLERA in collaboration with the UNL Chancellor’s Office, the University of Nebraska Foundation and the NU Alumni Association. The Chancellor will be asked to speak to the importance of the occasion and to the value of the work being celebrated.
  • Each award winner will be profiled in a UNL ERA Newsletter following the public announcement of their award. 
  • The UNL ERA will contribute $500 in honor of the recipient to the UNL Emeriti & Retirees Scholarship Fund.
  • The UNL ERA will broadly publicize the award in campus publications, community publications, the Association’s newsletter and website with a picture of the recipient and a brief description of the volunteer work that led to the recognition. at led to the recognition. 

Last revised July 2026