The UNO
Alumni Association bestowed its Citation for Alumnus Achievement upon UNO
graduate Lloyd E. Roitstein during the university's spring commencement May 8
at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
The Citation, inaugurated in 1949,
is presented at each UNO commencement. The association's highest honor, it
encompasses career achievement, community service, involvement in business and
professional associations, and fidelity to UNO. UNO Alumni Association Chairman
of the Board Mark Grieb presented the award to Roitstein, the 149th Citation
recipient.
Roitstein,
who earned his UNO bachelor's degree in education in 1971, is in his 17th year
as scout executive/president of the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of
America, the largest youth-serving agency in Nebraska with oversight of nearly
34,000 youngsters in 58 counties in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. The
council is among the nation's largest geographically and in number of youth
served. Roitstein has held leadership roles with the Scouts for 38 years.
"Lloyd is
a reflection of the university's commitment to community engagement, taking
what he has learned and changing the world for the better by serving others,"
said Lee Denker, president of the UNO Alumni Association. "He has dedicated
himself to the Scout mission of instilling values in young boys, giving them
the tools to make ethical choices and to reach their full potential."
Roitstein's dedication and leadership skills were
most evident last summer. On June 11, 2008, a tornado struck the council's
Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Iowa's Loess Hills, about 60 miles north of Omaha.
Four Boy Scouts were killed and more than 40 were injured. Roitstein was at the
camp soon after receiving news of the tornado, helping with search-and-rescue
missions and providing the Scout's public response to the tragedy in press
conferences and media interviews.
In August
he led scouts who were at the camp, parents and others to the White House for a
meeting with President George Bush. The Little Sioux Scout Ranch is being
rebuilt through a $1.8 million reconstruction effort.
An Eagle
Scout, Roitstein has been involved in scouting since age 8. His father was a
scoutmaster and member of the council board, and his mother served in a number
of leadership positions.
Roitstein's
first job with the Boy Scouts was as a district executive in Omaha from 1971 to
1974. He later became field director then director of field service for the
Mid-America Council (1974 to 1983) before moving to Belleville, Ill., where he
was scout executive for a nine-county area in southern Illinois from 1984 to
1988. He moved to St. Louis and was area director serving eight councils in
Iowa, Illinois and Missouri from 1988 to 1992, when he assumed his present
post. He is responsible for council operational goals to expand Scouting,
strategic planning, endowment development, council funding, board of directors
recruitment and other duties. Last year he received the BSA's Distinguished
Executive award.
Roitstein
grew up in Omaha's Dundee neighborhood and attended Central High School before
enrolling at then-Omaha University in 1964. He also served in the U.S. Army
reserves while in college. At UNO he served on the student senate and with the
Student Programming Organization and was chair of the Committee for Athletic
Promotion.
"If it
weren't for UNO I wouldn't be here today," Roitstein said in a 2002 UNO Alumni
Association publication, Profiles. "They stood behind me, and I matured a lot.
I learned a lot about organizations, leadership and supporting the community at
UNO. I got more than the traditional education."
Roitstein
also served as the last Ouampi, the mascot when the university's nickname was
Indians. As Ouampi, Roitstein performed authentic American Indian dances, which
he learned through Boy Scouts.
Roitstein
served on the UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors from 1997 to 2002. He
has served numerous other organizations as a board member or in other
capacities, including the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, Jewish Press of Omaha,
Jewish Federation, ServeNET, and Friedel Academy. He also has been a soccer
coach and has held school, synagogue and homeowner association leadership roles
He and
his wife, Debbie, have a son and daughter.
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