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.

NDHA Award Recipients

NDHA Hygienist of the Year
(Est 1982)

1982-83  Constance Jean Erdstrom
1983-84  Gwen L. Hlava
1984-85  Mary Lou Burns
1985-86  Darlene Carritt
1986-87  Lona May Lowell
1987-88  Nancy C. DeBlauw
1988-89  Cindy Carlson
1989-90  Patricia A Eikmeier
1990-91  Gwendy Meginnis
1991-92  Deb Bals
1992-93  Jane M. Broekemeier
1993-94  Gwen Johnson
1994-95  Trudy Meinberg
1996-97  Mary Bolamperti
1997-98  Kendra Haynes
1998-99  Patty Meister
1999-00  none?
2000-01  Sheri Hibberd
2001-02  Lezley Riley
2002-03  Belinda Bridges
2003-04  Dana Mabus
2004-05  Roxanne Denny
2005-06  Annette Byman
2006-07  Amy Gehle
2007-08  Julie Niles
2008-09  None
2009-10  Jane Stratman
 

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 Asbornson
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  None
2009-10  Doug Hohman

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)
209-10   Amaris Taylor (CCC), Brandi Dorau (IWCC), Nicole Benigno (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  Unknown?
1982-83  Unknown?
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)
209-10   Erica Jasa (UNMC), Lisa Bruch (UNMC-WD), Andi Harvey (CCC)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Honorary Members

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