Alumni Awards
Early Career Excellence Award
This award is for undergraduate or graduate alumni of the University of Nebraska’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering who have excelled and provided valuable leadership in their profession. Nominees should have up to 15 years of professional working experience, exclusive of graduate/professional school. Award recipients will be selected based on their demonstrated excellence, impact, and leadership within their respective fields. Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged.
There are four Early Career Excellence Awards:
-Early Career Excellence Award for Undergraduate Alumni with a Biological Systems Engineering Degree
-Early Career Excellence Award for Undergraduate Alumni with an Agricultural Systems Technology Degree (previously known as Mechanized System Management)
-Early Career Excellence Award for Undergraduate Alumni with an Agricultural Engineering Degree
-Early Career Excellence Award for Graduate Alumni from the Department of Biological Systems Engineering and all graduate degrees affiliated with BSE
Nomination letters must address the following:
- How the candidate has excelled in their profession;
- How the candidate has provided leadership in their community and profession;
- How the candidate has had a transformative impact on their chosen profession or stakeholders they serve.
Selection of awardees will be centered on how the candidate has demonstrated:
- Excellence
- Impact
- Leadership
Click here to nominate an alumni for the Early-Career Excellence Award.
Deadline for submission: July 1st, 2025
For questions about the early and mid-career awards, please contact Dr. Jenny Keshwani
Mid-Career Excellence Award
This award is for undergraduate or graduate alumni of the University of Nebraska’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering who have excelled and provided valuable leadership in their profession. Nominees should have between 15 and 25 years of professional working experience, exclusive of graduate/professional school. Award recipients will be selected based on their demonstrated excellence, impact, and leadership within their respective fields. Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged.
There are four Mid-Career Excellence Awards:
- Mid Career Excellence Award for Undergraduate Alumni with a Biological Systems Engineering Degree
- Mid Career Excellence Award for Undergraduate Alumni with an Agricultural Systems Technology Degree (previously known as Mechanized System Management)
- Mid Career Excellence Award for Undergraduate Alumni with an Agricultural Engineering Degree
- Mid Career Excellence Award for Graduate Alumni from the Department of Biological Systems Engineering and graduate degrees affiliated with BSE
Nomination letters must address the following:
- How the candidate has excelled in their profession;
- How the candidate has provided leadership in their community and profession;
- How the candidate has had a transformative impact on their chosen profession or stakeholders they serve.
Selection of awardees will be centered on how the candidate has demonstrated:
- Excellence
- Impact
- Leadership
Click here to nominate an alumni for the Mid-Career Excellence Award.
Deadline for submission: July 1st, 2025
For questions about the early and mid-career awards, please contact Dr. Jenny Keshwani
Early Career Excellence Award Recipients
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Aaron LaPointe
2024 Early Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Ankit Chandra
2024 Early Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Jonathan Zeger
2024 Early Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Chad Carlson
2024 Early Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Kurtis Charling
2023 Early Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Dr. Pengfei Song
2022 Early Career Excellence Award Recipient
Mid Career Excellence Award Recipients
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Christina O'Keefe
2024 Mid Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Matt Helmers
2024 Mid Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Nathan Mosier
2024 Mid Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Kelly Brunkhorst
2023 Mid Career Excellence Award Recipient
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Brian Magnusson
2022 Mid Career Excellence Award Recipient
Hall of Fame Award
The Hall of Fame Award status is awarded to graduates of the University of Nebraska's Department of Biological Systems Engineering and its predecessor (the Agricultural Engineering Department) and to others who have provided valuable leadership and made long-lasting impacts in academia, business, and/or government in the agriculture and biological engineering industry. Generally one or more Hall of Fame Awards are awarded annually.
Click here to nominate a Hall of Fame Award candidate
Deadline for submission: July 1st, 2025
For questions about the Hall of Fame awards, please contact Dr.Mark Stone
Most recent Hall of Fame Inductee (s)
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Bradley Rein
2024 Hall of Fame Award Recipient
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Trent Wiles
2024 Hall of Fame Award Recipient
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Dr. Kathryn (Kitt) Farrell-Poe
2023 Hall of Fame Award Recipient
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Dr. Dennis Schulte
2023 Hall of Fame Award Recipient
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Dr. Jack Nienaber
2022 Hall of Fame Award Recipient