Every year, the School of H&K asks students to nominate deserving part-time faculty for the Aja Kneip Pelster Part-Time Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. A committee of full-time and part-time faculty reviews the nominations students submit and selects the winner.
The winner is recognized at the annual H&K Awards Banquet in the spring.
This award is named in honor of the late Dr. Aja Kneip Pelster, who served UNO and the School of Health and Kinesiology for over a decade in multiple roles, including graduate assistant, part-time faculty member, instructor, and assistant professor. Dr. Kneip Pelster is best remembered for her dedication to high-quality teaching and mentoring students. She was a previous recipient of this award.
Nominate a deserving part-time faculy member today!
Faculty, staff, and students from the School of Health and Kinesiology would like to recognize part-time faculty for their contributions and to honor the Aja Kneip Pelster Part-Time Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award recipients.
Lauren Paulsen Smith
Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theater Performance with an emphasis in dance from Oklahoma City University in 2010. She is also a certified Zumba instructor and holds an AFAA GX certification.
Lauren has been with the School of Health & Kinesiology for one year, teaching fundamentals of group exercise, group exercise leadership, and Zumba.
Mary Watson
Megan earned her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in 1985 and her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the MGH-Harvard Institute of Health Professions at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1988.
Mary has been with the School of Health & Kinesiology for twenty years, teaching applied nutrition.
The following instructors are recognized for their years of teaching service:
Five Years: Jaisy Girija Kumar
Ten Years: Skyler Brooke and Amber Shepherd
Twenty Years: Mary watson
Thirty Years: Joel Bauch
Previous Winners
2022 - Stacy Hartwig & Megan Mikolajczyk
2021 - Nicole Malene & Skyler Brooke
2020 - Whitney Vessar
2019 - Jen Pflug & Matt Dykstra
2018 - Brent Bloom & Mark Frillman
2017 - Mary Watson & Jon Day
2016 - Tracy Stratman, Kent Templien & Stacia Weaver
2015 - Rita Corell
2014 - Glen Wragge
2013 - Aja Kneip Pelster
2012 - Marcia Adler
2011-2012 - Jon Carey, Matt Dykstra & Chris Gadsden
2010-2011 - Jeff Kaipust & Chris Richardson
2009-2010 - Craig Johnson & Bob Herold
2008-2009 - Beth Gruber & Rose Shires
2007-2008 - Glen Wragge & Ted Anderson
2006-2007 - Mary Waugh-Taylor & Lisa Schniepp
2005-2006 - Caroline Olson & Chad Kinart
2004-2005 - Pat Behrns & Joe Kaminski
2003-2004 - Don Klosterman & Suk Ki Shin
2002-2003 - Michele Merrill & Mike Denney
2001-2002 - Rusty Mckune & Jason Paladino
2000-2001 - Karen Povondra & Mark Williams
1999-2000 - Marti Rosen Atherton
1998-1999 - Sue Selde & Tom Frette