The Citation, inaugurated in 1949, is presented at each UNO commencement. The UNO Alumni Association’s highest honor encompasses career achievement, community service, involvement in business and professional associations, and fidelity to the university. To date, the award has been bestowed to 199 graduates.
Patrick Kerrigan retired from Fiserv, Inc. in 2009 after a distinguished 32-year career. He joined Information Technology in 1977 as its first employee and played a key role in developing core banking applications. He rose through the ranks to become Chief Operating Officer before the company merged with Fiserv in 1995.
A proud graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), Kerrigan earned a double major in math and physics in 1973. His career began as an application programmer for First Data Resources in Omaha, followed by three years as a Technical Representative with Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys).
Beyond technology, Kerrigan has long been active in real estate, starting with rental properties during college and later expanding into commercial developments, including a resort project in Barbuda. Today, he serves as president of The Palm Beach Holding Company, Ltd. of Antigua and Barbuda and chairs Solid State Networks, a Phoenix-based developer of high-performance software solutions.
Education is Kerrigan’s true passion. For decades, he has supported schools and universities through donations and advocacy for sustainable practices. He served 24 years on the Raikes School Industry Advisory Board at UNL, nearly half as chair, and regularly engages with Omaha and Lincoln schools to advance STEM education. Kerrigan has championed UNO’s “Bricklayer” software tool and contributed to initiatives at Roncalli High School, Marian, Creighton Prep, and others.
His philanthropy includes funding UNO Math Department mini-grants, faculty awards, and Saturday number theory classes for advanced high school students. He helped launch UNO’s data science program and supported research into cellular biochemical networks. Kerrigan has also contributed to the UNO Physics Department for over 30 years, most recently establishing the Kasher Scholarship in honor of longtime professor Jack Kasher.
Committed to affordable, impactful education, Kerrigan advocates for student cohorts and community-business integration to strengthen learning and lifelong networks. He credits UNO for shaping graduates who enrich eastern Nebraska and continues working to lower costs and improve educational outcomes.
Colleen Williams is an award-winning broadcast journalist and co-anchor of NBC4’s weekday newscasts at 4 P.M., 5 P.M., 6 P.M., and 7 P.M., delivering trusted coverage to Southern California for nearly four decades. Known for her calm authority and integrity, Williams has reported on defining events including the O.J. Simpson trial, the LA riots, major earthquakes, papal visits, and the 2025 Los Angeles fires. She has covered political milestones such as the 2023 Los Angeles Mayoral Debate and the 2024 California Senatorial Debate, and has reported from multiple Olympic Games, including Paris in 2024 and Atlanta in 1996, where she was present during the Centennial Park bombing.
Williams began her career in Omaha with WOW Radio and WOWT, where her first live shot was alongside Dan Rather and Walter Cronkite. Over the years, she has worked with legendary journalists like Tom Brokaw and Lester Holt, earning numerous Golden Mike Awards, Emmy Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Radio & Television News Association.
Her personal story reflects a deep commitment to service and family. She met her spouse, a U.S. Air Force pilot, while covering the Persian Gulf War; their son now serves as an Air Force pilot, continuing the family tradition. Williams is an avid hockey fan (Go Mavericks) and enjoys football — had life taken a different turn, she might have been a sports reporter.
Williams earned her degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), a connection shared by several family members. Her enduring presence and journalistic excellence have made her one of the most trusted voices in Southern California news, shaping the region’s media landscape and connecting with viewers across generations.
Eartha Jean Johnson, Esq., graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1983. Today, she is CEO of LegalWATCH, an award-winning Corporate Liability Training and Professional Staffing Company that specializes in training corporations on legal strategies. Johnson formed LegalWATCH in 1997 after practicing law for a Fortune 100 company and working for the United States Department of Justice and an international law firm.
She has conducted numerous training courses; spearheaded governmental audits; designed compliance programs; and negotiated settlements with third parties and governmental regulators across the United States.
Johnson uses the knowledge and expertise she acquired practicing law to train corporate executives about protecting themselves from liability and avoid mistakes that can often result in settlements, regulatory compliance sanctions, or litigation.
In addition to her degree from UNO, she holds a juris doctorate; a master’s degree in energy, environmental and natural resource law; and an associate degree in criminal justice. Johnson is certified in training and development and is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Tobi Mathouser earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2001 and was a recipient of UNO’s Goodrich Scholarship. Today, in her role as president and CEO of Goodwill Industries Serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, Mathouser oversees the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of mission programs, federal contracts, and retail operations. She began her career with Goodwill as a mission program coordinator in October 2006.
Since then, she has provided oversight in a variety of areas from Organizational Development, Federal Contracts and Mission Programming. Mathauser is a member of Vistage® Worldwide, Rotary Club of Omaha, and a trustee of the Business Ethics Alliance®.
Mathouser currently sits on the board of Daniel J. Gross Highschool, The Rotary Club of Omaha Foundation and the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Leadership Omaha and Goodwill Industries International’s Senior Leadership and Executive Development Programs, globally respected, award-winning programs designed to mold experienced leaders within Goodwill organizations.
She was born and raised in South Omaha, graduating from Gross Catholic High School and is an active member of St. Gerald’s parish. Together, with her husband Matt, they are proud parents to three children, Ian, Connor and Paige.
1949: Stanton W. Salisbury
1950: Margueritte Harmon Bro
1951: William L. Shearer
1952: Adolph J. Schneider
1953: W. Robert Jenkins
1954: L. Joe Arenas
1955: Roman L. Hruska
1956: George Pardee
1957: Glenn C. Cunningham
1958: Alfred J. Eggers Jr.
1959: Helen F. Hansen
1960: William H. Thompson
1961: Thresa Clark
1963: N. Murray Longworth
1967: William D. Brodbeck, Joe Hanna, Lawrence B. Rohde, Gordon Severa
1968: Jay L. Beecroft, Oldham Paisley, Milton Wolsky
1969: Jerome F. Kutak, Frank Mansell, Carl Palmquist
1970: J. Donald Butler, Oliver W. Hasselblad, J. Westbrook McPherson
1971: Margaret Fischer, Howard Sorensen, Norman Sorensen
1972: Einar Viren
1973: Richard T. Burress, Robert W. Turner
1974: Robert Brown, James P. Duff, J.J. Exon, Ruth King Soloman
1975: Gary Penisten, Don D. Pittmann, Eugene L. Step
1976: John W. Madden Jr., Sharon Gidley Marvin, Stan L. McClellan
1977: Robert G. Cunningham, Bryce Poe II, Herbert Sklenar
1978: Robert W. Bell, Edward C. Binder, Elmer Rhoden, Ralph Shaw
1979: Jerry R. Curry, John Estabrook, Patricia J. Matson
1980: Joann “Jody” Fike, Frank Menolascino, James P. Mullins, Raymond R. Nelson
1981: John S. Holland, John R. Maenner, Thomas M. Ryan
1982: D. Nick Caporale, Mary Caritas, Samuel Leftwich
1983: A. Mort Crim, Harvey L. Hayes, Robert L. Matthews
1984: John C. Gaffney, C. Mickey Skinner
1985: Robert M. Spire, F. Thomas Starkweather, Wanda M. Wollert
1986: Daniel L. Dienstbier, Barbara Evans Markuson
1987: R. Craig Hoenshell, Ruth Randall, John Schuchart
1988: George F. Haddix, R. Michael Moran, Kenneth L. Peek Jr.
1989: Chuck Hagel, Mary Dean Hunt Harvey, Sheila Anne Ryan
1990: Donald O. Aldridge, Ronald J. Burns, Lynn L. Phares, James N. Skinner
1991: Charles D. Platt, Ree Schonlau, Alfred G. Thomsen
1992: Lawrence Comine Jr., Bernice Stephens Dodd, David Sokol
1993: Fred Petersen, Charles Schmid
1994: Robert Hemenway, Margaret Lehning, Stephen Wild
1995: Margaret Robinson, Joe Edmonson, Nancy L. O’Brien, Rod Rhoden
1996: Clifford H. Hollestelle, Michael Kudlacz, Fran Flairty Marshall
1997: Tal Anderson, Connie Claussen, Mike Hill, Stephen Roberts
1998: Kenneth M. Bird, Howard Hawks, Michael McLarney, Carol Schrader, Johnnie Wilson
1999: Richard E. Collins, Kathleen Dodge, Jack Koraleski
2000: Russell C. Davis, Lawrence D. King, Patricia A. Lamberty, John E. Nahas
2002: James Zadina, Rodrigo Lopez, Karrin Allyson Schoonover, John Hancock
2003: Leonard de Barros, Steve Martin, EvaJon Sperling, Daniel K. O’Neill
2004: Guinter Kahn, Richard H. Christie, Robert C. Dahlquist
2005: Thomas H. Warren Sr., Winnie L. Callahan, James R. Young
2006: Michael D. Jones, Mike Denney, Magdalena A. García
2007: Timothy D. Hart, Robert L. Whitehouse, Richard D. Holland
2008: John E. Christensen, Sally Ganem, John A. Jeter
2009: Lloyd E. Roitstein, Dennis J. Duffy, Lori L. Hogan
2010: J. Terrence Haney, Robert Batt
2011: Katherine L. English, Laurie S. Fulton, Mark E. Grieb, Paul G. Smith
2012: Robert P. Houston, James W. Freeman, Penny Parker
2013: Gail DeBoer, Gary Johnson, Ron Withem
2014: Penny Sackett, Viv & John Ewing, Kevin Munro
2015: Pete Festersen, LaVonne Kopecky Plambeck
2016: Mary Lou Chapek, John L. Morgan, Barbara Weitz
2017: Todd Schmaderer, Steve Seline, Carey Hamilton
2018: Paul Critchlow, Ivan Gilreath, Janice Gilmore
2019: Anne Branigan, Ed Pechar, Mark Martinez
2020: Thomas Hagel
2021: Sandy Friedman, Travis Deyle
2022: Susan Brennan, Tony Kiehn
2023: Praveen Neppalli Naga, Lou Anne Rinn, Mark Steele
2024: Debra K. Anderson, Ph.D., Rolland “RC” Thompson, Reg Chapman, Jennifer Hamann
2025: Eartha Johnson, Tobi Ann Mathouser, Patrick Kerrigan, Colleen Williams