Nominations for the 2026 Inspire Awards will begin in February/March of 2026

2020-2025 Winners

Woman of the Year Award Winners
Michaella Kumke

2025 Woman of the Year

Michaella Kumke

Food Bank of Lincoln
Dr. Colleen Jones

2024 Woman of the Year

Dr. Colleen Jones

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Susanne Blue

2023 Woman of the Year

Susanne Blue

Matt Talbot Kichen & Outreach

Angie Muhleisen

2022 Woman of the Year

Angie Muhleisen

Union Bank & Trust

Dr. Anitra Warrior

2021 Woman of the Year

Dr. Anitra Warrior

Morningstar Counseling and Consultation

Pat Lopez

2020 Woman of the Year

Pat Lopez

Lancaster County Health Director

2025 Award Winners

Erin Hart

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (LARGE)

Erin Hart

Duncan Aviation
Amy Green

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (SMALL/MEDIUM)

Amy Green

Ivanna Cone
Dr. Abla Hasan

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Dr. Abla Hasan

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Brenda Kasaty

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Brenda Kasaty

Rose Cat Coffee Company
Chief Michon Morrow

EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Chief Michon Morrow

Lincoln Police Department
Dr. Farrah Plate

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Dr. Farrah Plate

Align Dental
Sandra Rojo

EXCELLENCE IN NON-PROFIT

Sandra Rojo

Lincoln Literacy
Kayla Abel

EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY

Kayla Abel

Family Service Lincoln
Dr. Heather Kiefer

EXCELLENCE IN WOMEN'S ATHLETICS

Dr. Heather Kiefer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Anne Burkholder

FOUNDERS AWARD

Anne Burkholder

The Burkholder Project
Vittoria Quaranta

INSPIRE SCHOLARSHIP

Vittoria Quaranta

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Rafa Ahmed

YOUNG LEADER'S AWARD

Rafa Ahmed

LPS Student

2024 Award Winners

Dr. Karen Kassebaum

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (LARGE)

Dr. Karen Kassebaum

Hudl

Christine Weeks

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (SMALL/MEDIUM)

Christine Weeks

Eleanor Creative

Amanda Woodward

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Amanda Woodward

Lincoln Public Schools-North Star Aviation Focus Program

Liza Mendoza-House

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Liza Mendoza-House

LP Fitness Transformation Center

Maggie Stuckey Ross

EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Maggie Stuckey-Ross

Lincoln Parks and Recreation

Dr. Ameeta Martin

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Dr. Ameeta Martin

Children's Hospital & University of Nebraska Medical Center

Duy Linh Bui

EXCELLENCE IN NON-PROFIT

Duy Linh Bui

Asian Community and Cultural Center

Kathleen Grossman

EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY

Kathleen Grossman

Down Under Pottery

Erynn Butzke

EXCELLENCE IN WOMEN'S ATHLETICS

Erynn Butzke

Nebraska Athletics

Kate Zulkoski and AshLea Allberry

FOUNDERS AWARD

Katie Zulkoski and AshLea Allberry

Rise Lincoln

Wid Salih

INSPIRE SCHOLARSHIP

Wid Salih

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student

Hannah Johnson

YOUNG LEADER'S AWARD

Hannah Johnson

Lincoln Formal Dress Store

2023 Award Winners

Sue Wilkinson

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (LARGE)

Sue Wilkinson

Ameritas

Amy Pfingsten

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (SMALL/MEDIUM)

Amy Pfingsten

Red Door Realty

Dr. Anne Hobbs

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Dr. Anne Hobbs

University of Nebraska

Jillian Thompson

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Jillian Thompson

Berries by Jillian

Officer Julia Sandman

EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Officer Julia Sandman

Lincoln Police Department

Betsy Anderson, PT

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Betsy Anderson, PT

Makovicka Physical Therapy

Paige Piper

EXCELLENCE IN NON-PROFIT

Paige Piper

BraveBe Child Advocacy Center

Leigh Esau

EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY

Leigh Esau

Foster Care Closet of Nebraska

Kelly Ross

FOUNDERS AWARD

Kelly Ross

ECHO Collective

Peyton Miller

INSPIRE SCHOLARSHIP

Peyton Miller

Undergraduate of Secondary Education, Social Sciences

Abril Rangel-Pacheco

YOUNG LEADER'S AWARD

Abril Rangel-Pacheco

Doctoral Candidate, UNL

2022 Award Winners

Donna Gould

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (LARGE)

Donna Gould

Monolith

Katherine Warren

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (SMALL/MEDIUM)

Katherine Warren

Kidglov

Dr. Vann Price

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Dr. Vann Price

Lincoln Public Schools

Miriah Zajic

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Miriah Zajic

Giving Realty

Pam Dingman

EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Pam Dingman

Lancaster County

Shannon Schultz

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Shannon Schultz

Nebraska LTC Pharmacy

Lori Seibel

EXCELLENCE IN NON-PROFIT

Lori Seibel

Community Health Endowment

Connie Duncan

EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY

Connie Duncan

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation

Ellie Hiser

FOUNDERS AWARD

Ellie Hiser

Books for Babies

Alaa Ismail

INSPIRE SCHOLARSHIP

Alaa Ismail

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Taylor Streich

YOUNG LEADER'S AWARD

Taylor Streich

Lincoln Southeast High School

2021 Award Winners

Lynn Roper

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (LARGE)

Lynn Roper

Merrill Lynch

Dr. Betsy Tonniges

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (SMALL/MEDIUM)

Dr. Betsy Tonniges

Primrose School of Lincoln at Wilderness Hills

Dr. Susan M. Fritz

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Dr. Susan M. Fritz

University of Nebraska

Stacy Orsborn & Stasi Grenfell

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Stacy Orsborn & Stasi Grenfell

Victress

Judi Gaiashkibos

EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Judi Gaiashkibos

Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs

Dr. Judith M. Burnfield

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Dr. Judith M. Burnfield

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital
Michaella Kumke

EXCELLENCE IN NON-PROFIT

Michaella Kumke

Food Bank of Lincoln

Karen Griffin

EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY

Karen Griffin

Olsson
Aakriti Agrawal

FOUNDERS AWARD

Aakriti Agrawal

Girls Code Lincoln
Deseree Chavez & Andrea Orozco-Lopez

INSPIRE SCHOLARSHIP

Deseree Chavez & Andrea Orozco-Lopez

Batool Ibrahim

YOUNG LEADER'S AWARD

Batool Ibrahim

2020 Award Winners
Diane Temme Stinton

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (LARGE)

Diane Temme Stinton

TMCO

Aletta McClendon

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS (SMALL/MEDIUM)

Aletta McClendon

Zen Salon and Physical Wellness

Dr. Helen Abdali Soosan Fagan

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Dr. Helen Abdali Soosan Fagan

University of Nebraska
Susan Larson Rodenburg

EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Susan Larson Rodenburg

SLR Communication
Patty Pansing Brooks

EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Patty Pansing Brooks

Brooks Pansing Brooks Law
Karen McGivney-Liechti

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE

Karen McGivney-Liechti

CHI Birth Center
Alynn Sampson

EXCELLENCE IN NON-PROFIT

Alynn Sampson

Food Bank of Lincoln
Holly Ostergard

EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY

Holly Ostergard

Crete Carrier
Evada Palmer

FUTURE BUSINESS LEADER

Evada Palmer

Zainab Funnah

FOUNDERS AWARD

Zainab Funnah

Videos

2024 Woman of the Year Finalists Video

2024 Inspire Awards Recap

Inspire Lincoln - 2024 Recap

Inspire Lincoln - 2024 Recap

Inspire Awards 2024

Inspire Awards 2024

Inspire Awards 2023 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2023 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2022 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2022 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2021 - Full Ceremony

Inspire Awards 2021 - Full Ceremony

2020 Excellence in Government Service Winner - Senator Patty Pansing Brooks

2020 Excellence in Government Service Winner - Senator Patty Pansing Brooks

2020 Inspire Founders Award Winner, Zainab Funnah

2020 Inspire Founders Award Winner, Zainab Funnah

Inspiring Interviews - Karen McGivney Liechti - 2020 Excellence in Healthcare

Inspiring Interviews - Karen McGivney Liechti - 2020 Excellence in Healthcare

2020's Excellence in Education Winner Dr. Helen Fagan

2020's Excellence in Education Winner Dr. Helen Fagan

Inspire Interview with 2020's Inspire Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Susan Larson Rodenburg

Inspire Interview with 2020's Inspire Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Susan Larson Rodenburg

Inspire Excellence in Nonprofit Winner, Alynn Sampson

Inspire Excellence in Nonprofit Winner, Alynn Sampson

2020's Excellence in Business (Large) Winner - Diane Temme Stinton

2020's Excellence in Business (Large) Winner - Diane Temme Stinton

2020's Excellence in Business (Small) Inspire Award Winner Aletta McClendon

2020's Excellence in Business (Small) Inspire Award Winner Aletta McClendon

2020 Inspire Future Business Leader & Scholarship Winner, Evada Palmer

2020 Inspire Future Business Leader & Scholarship Winner, Evada Palmer

2020 Inspire Excellence in Business - Large Winner: Diane Temme, TMCO

2020 Inspire Excellence in Business - Large Winner: Diane Temme, TMCO

Inspire Awards 2020 - Keynote Speaker, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

Inspire Awards 2020 - Keynote Speaker, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

2020 Excellence in Business Small/Medium Award Winner: Aletta McClendon of Zen Salon

2020 Excellence in Business Small/Medium Award Winner: Aletta McClendon of Zen Salon

2020 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Winner - Susan Larson Rodenburg, SLR Communications

2020 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Winner - Susan Larson Rodenburg, SLR Communications

2020 Excellence in Education Winner: Dr. Helen Abdali Soosan Fagan

2020 Excellence in Education Winner: Dr. Helen Abdali Soosan Fagan

2020 Excellence in Government Service Award Winner - Patty Pansing Brooks

2020 Excellence in Government Service Award Winner - Patty Pansing Brooks

2020 Excellence in Nonprofit Winner - Alynn Sampson, Food Bank of Lincoln

2020 Excellence in Nonprofit Winner - Alynn Sampson, Food Bank of Lincoln

Inspire Interviews video frame

2020 Excellence in Healthcare Winner: Karen McGivney-Liechti

2020 Inspire Excellence in Philanthropy Winner: Holly Ostergard

2020 Inspire Excellence in Philanthropy Winner: Holly Ostergard

2020 Founders Award Winner - Zainab Funnah

2020 Founders Award Winner - Zainab Funnah

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