Humanities Nebraska (HN) has announced the recipients of its spring round of educator grants,
supporting 30 projects and helping dozens of teachers to reach thousands of Nebraska students.
The purpose of the grants is to help celebrate HN’s 50th anniversary in 2023 and to spark the next
50 years of humanities learning, programming, and exchange of ideas. Recipients are listed below.
A second round of applications for a limited number of $1,000 educator grants is now open,
with a deadline of September 1. New applicants and educators in central and western Nebraska
are especially encouraged to apply.
Grants are available to full-time educators and can be used for expenses including, but not limited
to, tools and materials for humanities projects, professional development opportunities in the
humanities, humanities speaker fees, and humanities field trips. No matching funds are required.
Educators may apply through any Nebraska organization that educates students within the Pre-K
through grade 12 age range. Priority may be given to underserved schools based on geographic
location, economic conditions, ethnic background, and disability.
For complete details and access to the grant application, visit humanitiesnebraska.org/edugrant.
Spring 2023 recipients are:
Alliance: Mary Theresa Green, Alliance High School, Writing Poetry Project
Arnold: Jason Wehnes, Arnold Public Schools, Custer County Historical Project
Bassett: Lynne Pedersen, Rock County Schools, Mural
Bridgeport: Elisa Rodak, Bridgeport Schools, Sixth Grade Novel Exploration and Living
History Museum
Burwell: Candace Cain, Burwell High School, “Nebraska Authors: A Focus on Their
Impact in Reading”
Columbus: Jennifer Weber, Immanuel Lutheran School, DBQs and Novels
Crete: Sister Mary Guadalupe and Sister Peter Marie, St. James School, Classroom Resources
to Promote Cross Curricular Integration
Elmwood: Cindy Backemeyer, Elmwood-Murdock Elementary, Exploring Literature Through Art
LaVista: Amy Diegel, G. Stanley Hall Elementary, Hawks as Human Project
Lincoln: Emily Brown, University of Nebraska State Museum, Dingelhopper Dilemma –
Learning to Research
Chi Bui, Rousseau Elementary School, Celebrating Students’ Heritage
and Multiculturalism
Allix Catlett, Park Middle School, Scholastic Magazine Subscription
Deena Curtis, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lincoln/Lancaster County, Park Middle School
Photo Voice, Multicultural Night at North Star High School, Multicultural Night
at Northwest High School
Carol Flora, Lincoln High School, Native American Studies
Sarah McMaster, Family Service Lincoln, Spring Break Camp: Exploring Humanities
Through the Arts
Terri Schilmoeller, St. Teresa, Music of Asia Experience
Rose Walsh, Cathedral of the Risen Christ, Social Emotional Literature Project
Mitchell: Brittni Chancellor, Mitchell Jr/Sr High, 7th Grade Nelson Mandela Presentation Project
Norfolk: Karl Henkel, Norfolk Junior High, Show Choir Socialization Strengths Training
Xochitl Naranjo, Washington Elementary, Books
Omaha: Misty Banks Noon, St. Pius X/St. Leo School, Novel Study and Field Trip
Beth Cohen and Denise Bennett, Friedel Jewish Academy, Connecting the
Unconnected 6th Grade Curriculum
William Johnson, Omaha North High, Humanities Curriculum
Scott Maiorca, Omaha Street School, Other People’s Stories
Kassandra Mayo, Omaha Christian Academy, Early Childhood Multi-Cultural
Classroom Project
Paul Sanchez, Film Streams, School to Screen
Susie Sisson, Marian High School, Summer Reading Program
Seward: Lisa Crane, St. Vincent de Paul, Preschool Reading Center
Humanities Nebraska is celebrating 50 years of what connects us and makes us human. Let your
curiosity get the best of you and discover events throughout 2023 and during Humanities Week
in October. HN is a private nonprofit with a mission to help people explore what connects us and
makes us human. HN is funded in part by the National Endowment for the HUmanities, an
appropriation from the Nebraska Legislature, private donations, and the Nebraska Cultural
Endowment, a public-private partnership with state dollars matching private dollars to benefit
the arts and humanities in Nebraska.
