As with many Nebraska Sports Council competitions and events, volunteer service runs in family.  Many of our current event directors and committee members were first volun-TOLD by a parent that they would be “helping out at the Games.”  In many cases, and especially this one, service to the Games at some point moves from being forced, to being enjoyed … or at least a point of deep appreciation for the joy being experienced by the participants.  That’s the best way I can describe what happened for this son of the Award’s namesake, but we can let him explain for himself.  For 35-plus years of blood-sweat-and-tears, most notably dedicated to the CSG Opening Ceremonies

 Members of the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club, they help see that communications are strong from site to site, and within sites that cover lots of area.  Several years ago, however, when the recurring challenge of getting lunches to hungry volunteers at 50+ sites became quite challenging, they offered their organizational expertise to help complete the process … which includes picking up the 1,500 donated sandwiches, dividing them into site orders, adding the chips, and delivering to the venues in time to quell the hangriness of our devoted volunteers.  No idea how many man-hours that takes, but it’s in the hundreds. It’s never been done better.

Aimee served as the CSG Ice Hockey Co-Director from 2013-2019. In the last couple years, she has retired from directing Ice Hockey, but if anything, has increased the time and effort devoted to the Nebraska Sport Council as a volunteer.  Whether it’s fundraising while serving on the NSC Board of Directors or delivering lunches to the Omaha area events, she is someone we can count on. This year she not only helped with lunch delivery in Omaha, but also helped hand out medals at the Jiu-Jitsu event and volunteered at the finish line for the Triathlon. She is someone who is special to the NSC Family and doesn’t go unnoticed by the participants and spectators.

Colleen has also served as the CSG Ice Hockey Co-Director from 2013-2019. In the last couple years, she has also retired from being the Director, but still plays a big role in helping run the event. She is a rockstar and everyone’s go-to-gal in the hockey community.

Todd has served our organization in various roles, as a member of the Medical/Safety Team, the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club, the Medical Reserve Corp and as a member of what we affectionately call “The Dirty Crew”.  The “Dirty Crew” does it all; whatever it takes to help get our events done, from start to finish. He is a guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to make our events the best they can be.

Deanna is a spouse of one of our sport directors and she has worked behind the scenes for 30 years.  She has worked on schedules, directed a site or two and done all of the little things to make one of the CSG’s biggest sports work, year in and year out.  She always has a smile on her face and always makes the athletes feel welcomed and appreciated.

Dan and Jan believe that, in retirement, it is their calling to help…and to do so with smiles on their faces whether it’s in 100-degree weather or driving rain.  Since 2015, when they signed up to volunteer for the State Games of America, they have volunteered for 20 different Nebraska Sports Council events and projects. 

Mike has volunteered at some time or another with just about every event the Nebraska Sports Council puts on.  His expertise is in the road race category, but he has helped with so many different events from the Mud Run to every sport that took place at Holmes Lake.

Kathy has been a member of the Opening Ceremonies Committee, and a State Games volunteer. You can find her pitching in as a course monitor at the 5K Run or helping stuff packets at headquarters. You can always find Kathy at the Mud Run and Pumpkin Run doing whatever it takes to make sure people have a good time and stay safe. 

For their thousands of miles getting to-and-from venues and delivering volunteer lunches.  For their emphasis on safety and what their communications mean to the safety of Cornhusker State Games Athletes.  For their loyalty and dedication over 28+ years of our partnership.

Dena became an Opening Ceremonies volunteer when her company NBC Bank sponsored the event.  That’s been a few years ago, and while the company left the Opening Ceremonies, Dena stayed on and served as the volunteer coordinator—a big job by anyone’s standards.  Over the years, she has volunteered for many of the NSC’s other events, and when she’s not volunteering, you’ll probably see her running, biking or swimming in the events, truly an advocate of the Nebraska Sports Council.

Steve helps with all Torch Run arrangements in Box Butte County, recruiting runners, organizing local celebrations and securing lodging and meal donations for the Torch Run support staff.  Steve is one of the main reasons we can truly say that the Cornhusker State Games is a statewide event.