In 1949 the Nebraska Legislature passed the bill providing for the licensing of Dental Hygienists. The measure stated that qualified applicants, graduates of a two year course approved by the Board of Examiners, could practice in Nebraska after passing a state examination. Nebraska Dental Hygienists organized 11 years after the hygienists bill was enacted.

Employer of the Year
(Est 1982)

1983-84 Drs. Sam Martin and Clem McGill
1984-85 David J. Higgins, DDS
1985-86 Dr. Susan Cooper
1986-87 Dr. Robert Howard
1987-88 Dr. Gerald Tussing
1988-89 Dr. Norman Carlson
1989-90 None
1890-91 Robert Green, DDS
1991-92 David L. Hoffman, DDS, MS, PC
1992-93 Dr. Donald Absbjornson
1993-94 Dr. Scott Morrison
1994-95 Dr. Tim Lebsack
1995-96 None
1996-97 None
1997-98 None
1998-99 None
1999-00 Dr. David Hoffman

2000-01 Dr. James B. Lewer
2001-02 No nomination/No award given
2002-03 Jessica Meeske, DDS
2003-04 Alan Hrabak, DDS
2004-05 Wanda Cloet, RDH, MS
2005-06 Lannie Weak, Jr., DDS
2006-07 None
2007-08 Dr. Guy Gross, DDS
2008-09 Harold Rosenau, DDS
2009-10 Doug Hohman
2010-11 Kelly Family Dentistry

Student Scholarship Award
(Est 1993)

1993-94 Kathryn Marche Goeke (CCC), Jill M. Johnson (UNMC)
1994-95 Angela McShane (CCC), LeAnn York (UNMC)
1995-96 Karen Seim (CCC), Ruby E. Holm (UNMC)
1996-97 Shannon Shoemaker (UNMC), May Bose (CCC)
1997-98 Kathy Bowers (CCC), Jodi Beat (UNMC)
1998-99 Kelli Harvey (CCC), Chris Dolezal (UNMC)
1999-00 Miranda Gipfert (UNMC), Sarah Thilliander (CCC),
Merry Schuerman (IWCC)
2000-01 Corinne Tenski (CCC), Lisa Jo Moravec (UNMC),
Amy Lafrentz (IWCC)
2001-02 Hannah Randell (CCC), Angela L. Bakke (UNMC),
Lynn Ruchman (IWCC)
2002-03 Jill Hanson (CCC), Tara Weed (IWCC)
2003-04 Hayley Button (IWCC), Jennifer Ardery (CCC),
Melinda Doernemann (UNMC)
2004-05 Anne Greenwell (UNMC), Kristina Tremel (IWCC),
Crystal May (CCC)
2005-06 Gaye Delka (CCC), Chelsea Cunning (UNMC)
2006-07 Carely Herin (CCC), Kate Oswald (UNMC),
Gretchen Jones (IWCC)
2007-08 Bethany Yoch (IWCC), Rachel Perterson (CCC),
Nina Howe (UNMC)
2008-09 Christy Goodman (IWCC), Haley Schmitz (CCC),
Erica Jasa (UNMC)
2009-10 Amaris Taylor (CCC), Brandi Dorau (IWCC), Nicole Benigno (UNMC)
2010-11 Abigail A. Weiner (IWCC), Megan Dee Adams (CCC), Emily Frank (UNMC)

Outstanding Dental Hygiene Student
(Est 1980)

1979-80 Jean Welniak (UNMC), Barbara Timm (CCC)
1980-81 Cindy McCoy (CCC), Julie Larsen (UNMC)
1981-82 Dee Ann Peterson CCC, Cindy Krager UNMC
1982-83 Diane Schaaf CCC, Joyce Schumacher UNMC
1983-84 Christine M. McGrath (UNMC), Erin Blank (CCC)
1984-85 Margaret Jorgensen (CCC)
1985-86 Mary Merritt (UNMC), Lonnie Kay Willey (CCC)
1986-87 Sandra Post (UNMC), Sharon Byrd (CCC)
1987-88 Beth Creevan (UNMC), Annette Eckhout (CCC)
1988-89 Jane Lott (CCC), Kimberly Harte (UNMC)
1989-90 Sally Moon (UNMC), Pam Brabec (CCC)
1890-91 Dawn Lynch (CCC), Janet Russell (UNMC)
1991-92 Cindy Marie Parde Ronspies (UNMC), Jodi McIntosh (CCC)
1992-93 Susan Blaha (CCC), Dana Schepler (UNMC)
1993-94 Jennifer Denny (UNMC), Diedre Nutter (CCC)
1994-95 Kandace G. Stineman (UNMC), Colleen Benson (CCC)
1995-96 Beth Highby (UNMC), Maxine Wehling (CCC)
1996-97 Pamela Jacobson (UNMC), Patricia Kirkegaard (CCC)
1997-98 Shannon Shoemaker (UNMC), Shirlette Hershiser (CCC)
1998-99 Kathy Bowers (CCC), Jodi Beat (UNMC)
1999-00 Jami Gowler (UNMC), Jennifer Zalewski (CCC),
Andrea Matthews (IWCC)
2000-01 Jacque Lingbloom (UNMC), Brandi Lang (CCC),
Valerie Tieman (IWCC)
2001-02 Lisa Jo Moravec (UNMC), Julie Rotherham (CCC),
Seana O’Flynn (IWCC)
2002-03 Hannah Randell (CCC), Julie Monie (IWCC),
Stacy Summers (UNMC)
2003-04 Melissa Hill (UNMC), Tori Thompson (CCC),
Virginia Van Horn (UNMC)
2004-05 Misiti Maisey (UNMC), Sara Lien (UNMC-WD),
Stacy Baxter (CCC), Elizabeth Bakunas (IWCC)
2005-06 Jessica Reznicek (CCC), Lanet Shirley (IWCC),
Jennifer Murray (UNMC), Alyssa Derry (UNMC-WD)
2006-07 Becky Schweitzer (CCC), Kelly Loftus (IWCC),
Danielle Spicka UNMC), Linsey Dobson (UNMC-WD)
2007-08 Gretchen Jones (IWCC), Katie McDonald (CCC),
Jessica Buckinham (UNMC), Nicole Fritschie (UNMC-WD)
2008-09 Tracy Menard (UNMC), Margaret Smith (UNMC-WD),
Stacy Nielsen (CCC), Bethany Yoch (IWCC)
2009-10 Erica Jasa (UNMC), Lisa Bruch (UNMC-WD), Andi Harvey (CCC)
2010-11 Christine Stech (CCC), Monica Silke (IWCC)

Advocate of the Year Award
(Est 1996)

1996-97 Dr. Yosh Ameku
1997-98 Greg Slaymaker
1998-99 Ron Jensen
1999-00 None
2000-01 Dr. Dennis Anderson and Dr. Wayne Ganow
2001-02 None
2002-03 Natalie Moritz
2003-04 Kyle Mabus
2004-05 Dr. Brian Burgess
2005-06 Carol Miller
2006-07 Dr. Karen Sorenson
2007-08 Jacquelyn Miller, DDS
2008-09 None
2009-10 None
2010-11 Chuck Cone

Legislator of the Year Award
(Est 2000)

2000-01 DiAnne Schimek
2001-02 none
2002-03 None
2003-04 Donald Preister
2004-05 none
2005-06 none
2006-07 DiAnna Schimek
2007-08 None
2008-09 Arnie Stuthman
2009-10 Russ Karpisek
2010-11 Scott Lautenbaugh

Community Service Award
(EST 2004)

2003-04 Karen Hicks
2004-05 Maxine Wehling
2005-06 None
2006-07 Carole Schenkelberg
2007-08 None
2008-09 Jan Hillis
2009-10 Cynthia Carlson
2010-11 Toni Van Horn, RDH

Component with the highest Increase
(EST 2005)

2005-06 Lincoln Dental Hygienists’ Association
2006-07 Lincoln Dental Hygienists’ Association, Omaha Dental
Hygienists’ Association (Tie)
2007-08 Lincoln Dental Hygienists’ Association
2008-09 Panhandle Dental Hygienists’ Association
2009-10 Omaha Dental Hygienists’ Association
2010-11 Omaha Dental Hygienists’ Association

Dental Hygiene Program with highest conversion of students from SADHA to NDHA
(EST 2005)

2005-06 Iowa Western Community College
2006-07 University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
2007-08 Central Community College
2008-09 University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
2009-10 University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
2010-11 Central Community College

Schools with 100% full-time faculty membership in ADHA
(EST 2005)

2005-06 Central Community College
2006-07 Central Community College
2007-08 Central Community College, University of Nebraska
Medical Center, College of Dentistry
2008-09 Central Community College, University of Nebraska
Medical Center, College of Dentistry
2009-10 Central Community College, University of Nebraska
Medical Center, College of Dentistry
2010-11 Central Community College, University of Nebraska
Medical Center, College of Dentistry

NDHA Lifetime Membership Award

1978-1979 Marilyn Fricke, Cokie Irvin, Judy Hansen, Lona Lowell
1980-1981 Kathleen McPherson
1987-1988 Connie J Tussing (1996-1997 ADHA President)
1989-1990 Mary Lou Burns
1997-1998 Darlene Carritt, Carol Brown, John Haizlip, Becky Wisell
2003-2004 Judy Roberts
2009-2010 Jane Stratman

Honorary Members

Dr. William Ahrens, DDS
Helen Boosalis, April 1984
Senator Shirley Marsh April 1986
George Monnier, April 1999

NDHA Mini Clinics/Table Clinic Awards
(Est 2010)

2010 – Research Category

1st: Shellie Boesch & Ashton Neuvirth (IWCC)
2nd: Tara Van Meter & Jill McCall (IWCC)

Poster Category

1st: Jodi Thompson & Christy Pirraglia (IWCC)
2nd: Kathy Ray & Elizabeth Sieben (IWCC)
3rd: Samantha Shelton & Maggie Bose (CCC)
Honorable Mention in poster: Erin Terveer & Shanieka Swierczek (IWCC)
Honorable Mention in poster: Andrea Harvey & Nicole Kaelin (CCC)

2011 – Research Category

1st (IWCC) Brittany Bothwell, Kara Kersten
2nd (IWCC) Carla Nunez
3rd (IWCC) Angie Doll/ Kelly Morales

Poster Category

1st (IWCC) Betsy Krienert/ Brandi Bebout
2nd (IWCC) Kristen Lorenzen
3rd (IWCC) Jess Richards/ Jennell Campbell

History of Dental Hygiene Advancements in Nebraska

1996 – Local Anesthesia Permit
2007 – May – Public Health Supervision Permit
2008 – January – Nebraska Dental Hygiene Initiative -501 ( c ) 3
subsidiary formed
2008 – November 22 – Medicaid Enrollment of Licensed Dental
Hygienists
2011 – June 15 – NDHA contracts with a management company to oversee the
association headquarters and duties: Advanced Association Management, LLC.
Kathi Schildt, AAM owner, is appointed NDHA Executive Director.
AAM is located in Lincoln, Nebraska.