Drs. Maurer, Niemann receive Distinguished Development Service Award

UNMC’s top fundraising team recently received a surprise honor from the University of Nebraska Foundation.

UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., and John Niemann, Ed.D., senior vice president of the University of Nebraska Foundation, were honored Oct. 28 with the Harlan J. Noddle Distinguished Development Service Award.

From left: UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., John Neimann, Ed.D., Ruth Scott, Bill Scott and Nancy Keegan at a gathering last week where Drs. Maurer and Neimann were given the Harlan J. Noddle Distinguished Development Service Award for their fundraising efforts for UNMC.

“Working with these two honorees has been a happy experience for us,” said longtime university benefactor Ruth Scott, who along with her husband, Bill, presented the awards at the foundation’s annual meeting of trustees.

The Scotts have made multiple gifts to UNMC, including the lead gifts on new buildings for four UNMC colleges — medicine, nursing, public health and pharmacy.

A laughing matter

Ruth Scott stole the show with her humorous comments on the two award winners.

“John is always smiling because he collects the dollars,” she said. “Hal is always smiling because he gets to spend the dollars and the entire state of Nebraska is smiling because we enjoy the highest level of quality health care from our professionals — trained to perfection at UNMC.”

She added, “There is a song, ‘Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets,’ so John worked tirelessly by Hal’s side to see that whatever Harold wants, Harold gets.”

Continuing Noddle’s legacy

The award is in memory of Noddle, a longtime University of Nebraska supporter who served in various volunteer roles for the foundation, including chairman of the board of directors. Noddle died in 2005. The award, created in partnership with his family, recognizes a university or foundation staff member who exemplifies Noddle’s initiative, honesty, integrity, compassion, commitment, foresight, tolerance and diligence.

Chancellor for 13 years, Dr. Maurer’s vision and strategic plan has repositioned UNMC from a regional to a national center of excellence in the 21st century.

With the foundation since 1987, Niemann has been instrumental in developing long-term relationships with many Omaha philanthropists and supporters of the university.