Noteworthy

Corey Langford of Omaha was honored with the Nebraska Optometric Association's Young Optometrist of the Year Award at the association's recent annual convention in Kearney.

The class of 2009 in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy had a 100 percent pass rate on the national pharmacy licensing examination. All 61 students passed the examination on their first attempt. The national pass rate was 97.5 percent. UNMC students had an average score of 123.3, higher than the national average of 114.6.

Dan Owens submitted the winning business plan for his company Lost Coast and was named the recipient of Main Street Beatrice's $20,000 grant. Lost Coast will be a retail clothing store that focuses on quality and customer service for individuals who want a modern, casual look, Owens said. He plans to open his business within three months in downtown Beatrice, Neb.

Great Harvest Bread Co. and The World-Herald were recognized recently at the fourth annual Omaha Northwest Rotary “Able Workplace” program. It highlights employers doing an outstanding job of hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities. The program was held at the Champions Country Club.

The Kiwanis Club of Omaha recently held its annual Tribute Dinner at Anthony's Restaurant to honor its Nonprofit Organization of the Year, Nonprofit Individual of the Year and Kiwanian of the Year. The Assistance League of Omaha received the nonprofit award. Gary A. Perkins, president and chief executive officer of Children's Hospital & Medical Center, received the nonprofit individual honor. Arva Herman, executive director of Kiwanis Club of Omaha, received the George F. Hixson Fellowship Award, which was created by Kiwanis International Foundation in 1983 to honor the first president of Kiwanis International. Charles Cairns was named Kiwanian of the Year.

The Bellevue Artist Association recently held its premiere art competition for members. Katrina Methot-Swanson won best of show. Silver Palette Awards for first place went to Paula Yochim in the landscapes and seascapes category; Carol Meis Ellington in the abstract, nonobjective and three-dimensional category; Kathy Jurek in the portraits and figures category; Theresa Rhodus in the animals and birds category; Paul Swanson in the photography category; Methot-Swanson in the florals and still-life category; and John Slobodnik in the floral 3-D category.

Victoria Doty, 21, of Bellevue placed in the Top 10 of the 2009 American Morgan Horse Association Youth of the Year Contest held recently in Oklahoma City.

Teresa Mattern of the Southeast Community College Radiology Department has received a Patriot Award for her support to Staff Sgt. Jennifer Gubbels, 155th Services Flight of the Nebraska Air National Guard. The Nebraska Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve sponsors the award.

Dr. Angie Rizzino, a University of Nebraska Medical Center researcher, is one of 22 scientists nationwide to receive a one-year grant supplement from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to study induced pluripotent stem cells. Rizzino, a professor in the Eppley Institute, received about $115,000 for his portion of the project.

Cindy Hansen of Grand Island and Aloha Schmid of York recently were recognized by the Nebraska Hospice-Veteran Partnership for their work with veterans at the end of life. Awards were presented at the partnership's annual meeting at the Grand Island Veterans Home. Hansen received the Medal of Valor for contributing to the improvement of end-of-life care for veterans in Nebraska. She is the community health nurse with the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System-Grand Island Division. Schmid received the Medal of Honor for demonstrating commitment to the Hospice-Veteran Partnership. She is the client services liaison with Tabitha Health Care Services/Hospice of Tabitha.

Nebraskans Bob Feit of Pickrell and James Garver of Lincoln, members of Southeast Community College's Board of Governors, were elected to offices within the Association of Community College Trustees during the recent 40th Annual Leadership Congress in San Francisco. Feit was elected to the trustees' board of directors. Garver was elected chairman of the trustees' Western Region Nominating Committee. SCC board member Darryl Baker of Beatrice continues as sergeant-at-arms for the Western Region.

The Nebraska Board of Health has given a public health recognition award to the Youth for Christ's Teen Moms Program in Columbus. The program offers free parenting and relationship classes, mentoring and case management. The program is open to all youths ages 11-19 in the Columbus area. During 2008, Youth for Christ offered services to 5,455 students.

Council Bluffs native Bret Lehmer has been named an Einstein Fellow at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Lehmer earned his doctorate in astrophysics at Penn State University. Lehmer will continue his deep space research at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.