On November 30, 2018, then-University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds announced that Galen and Marilyn Hadley, longtime champions of higher education's vital role in growing the state, are the recipients of the inaugural Presidential Medal of Service.

The Presidential Medal of Service celebrates a Nebraskan who has given significant service or support to the University of Nebraska and has promoted the impact that higher education has on Nebraska’s economy and well-being. It is the highest honor the President can bestow on a community member.

Nominations

To nominate an individual, please fill out the online nomination form. Nominations for the University of Nebraska’s Presidential Medal of Service will be submitted to the Office for University Affairs and then forwarded to the Interim President of the University of Nebraska, Dr. Susan Fritz.

The following guidelines are suggested in nominating the Presidential Medal of Service recipients:

• Nominees should be a Nebraskan who have provided significant service, support, or promotion of the University of Nebraska and the impact higher education has on Nebraska.
• Actions that could be considered “significant support” could include a combination of items such as testifying on behalf of NU, leading a letter writing campaign, speaking at a city council or county commission on a subject related to the University, or hosting an event to raise awareness of university impact among community members.
• The Presidential Medal of Service shall not be awarded to active faculty, staff, or administrators of the University of Nebraska or the University of Nebraska Foundation.
• The Presidential Medal of Service shall not be awarded to any incumbent of or candidate for any elective state constitutional office, including state senator, or to any incumbent of or candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate from the State of Nebraska.
• The nominations should be for the calendar year in which they were submitted.
• The nomination deadline is September 27, 2019.