Concordia Nebraska recognizes outstanding service and scholarship

Concordia University, Nebraska’s Department of Natural Sciences held its annual banquet on April 15, recognizing graduating seniors and select students from the department for their outstanding service and scholarship.  

Students and faculty enjoyed each other’s company, fellowship, prayer and the game, “Are you smarter than a middle schooler?” The banquet featured a presentation from Dr. Kimberly Clark, associate professor of agricultural sciences, who presented “Everything I learned about Holy Scripture I learned on a tractor.” She described the challenges faced by those called into agricultural vocations, specifically when it comes to conflicts with regular worship times and provided strategies for students and faculty to build upon their faith. 

Concordia Nebraska’s Department of Science 2026 awards and scholarships  

The Faculty Science Scholarship is the department’s highest honor and is awarded to the most outstanding science student – both in the classroom and in terms of service to the department and the university – going into their final academic year. This scholarship is funded entirely by donations from current and past faculty members in the department. This year the scholarship was awarded to two students, Maxwell Carlson of Norfolk, Nebraska, and Luke Hammang of Arlington, Nebraska.  

The Daenzer Scholarship is awarded to students who will be graduating in the coming year and who are outstanding students, helpful to the department and the university, and reflect the love and awe for creation exhibited by the scholarship’s namesake Gil Daenzer, who was a long-time physics faculty member at Concordia University, Nebraska. This year’s winners were Jenna Muntz of Louisville, Nebraska, Piper Seidl of Newton, Kansas, and Eden Dehne of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  

The Outstanding Lab Assistant award was presented to Molli Martin of Lincoln, Nebraska (biology), Eden Weygandt of Omaha, Nebraska (biology), Easton Cooper of Lincoln, Nebraska (chemistry), Nora Fingerlin of Parker, Colorado (chemistry), and Kellen Martinez of Sacramento, California (physics).  

The Golden Scalpel is awarded to the most outstanding student in BIO 450 Advanced Human Dissection. This year’s winner was Adrianna Rodencal of Lincoln, Nebraska.  

This year also marked the introduction of a new award, the “Golden Goat Award” given to a student in the agricultural sciences who exhibited excellent academic performance and outstanding leadership both inside and outside the classroom. The inaugural award was given to Jenna Muntz. 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s Department of Natural Sciences provides students with strong foundations in research, discovery and critical thinking to equip them for their future career, as well as their many vocations serving their communities, the church and the world. Here, students can grow their sense of scientific inquiry and knowledge of God’s universe as they pursue a career in health, education, research or industry.