W.H. Thompson
Alumni Center
University of
Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE
68182-0010
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554-2444
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 1994
Contact: Anthony Flott
aflott@mail.unomaha.edu
(402)
554-2989
Three graduates receive UNO Alumni Citation
(OMAHA, NE) — The University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni
Association presented the Citation for Alumnus Achievement Award to three
distinguished graduates at spring commencement.
The awards are presented each year to graduates who have achieved
distinction in their fields. This year’s honorees are: Robert Hemenway,
chancellor of the University of Kentucky, Lexington campus; Margaret A.
Lehning, senior vice president of First Data Resources; and Stephen K. Wild,
chairman and founder of Financial Dynamics, Inc.
Robert
Hemenway
Hemenway graduated from UNO in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in
English. Three years later, he acquired his Ph.D. from Kent State University.
He first taught at the University of Kentucky as an assistant professor of
English from 1966-68, also serving as an associate professor and professor from
1973-81. He became chair of UK’s English department in 1981, leaving Lexington
five years later to become dean of Arts and Sciences at the University of
Oklahoma.
Hemenway returned to Kentucky in 1989 to assume his present post. As
chancellor, he oversees the operations of 12 colleges, 1,000 faculty members,
3,500 staff and approximately 21,000 students.
He also is the author or editor of seven books, including his
biography of Zora Neale Hurston, a black woman novelist, anthropologist and
folklorist. The book was listed by the New York Times among its “Beset Books of
1978.”
Margaret
Lehning
Lehning earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from
UNO in 1976, also acquiring an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She
joined First Data in 1990 as vice president of strategic planning. Recently,
she was named to head First Data’s Debit Card Services, which processes debit
card transactions for numerous financial institutions across the United States.
Prior to joining First Data, Lehning was president of Tracking Trend,
Inc., a private consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and
innovation. From 1978 to 1986, she filled several positions in corporate
planning at Internorth/Enron Corp.
Lehning, who speaks Korean and Spanish, has lived and worked in a
variety of international locations. She currently serves on the board of
directors for Girl’s Inc., Omaha 2000 Steering Committee and Nebraska 2000.
She also has volunteered her time with the YMCA, Girl Scouts, Women’s
Fund of Omaha Community Foundation, and Opera Omaha.
Stephen Wild
Wild attended UNO from 1968-73, becoming just the second student to
serve as a two-term student body president. In 1971, he was awarded the Student
Achievement Award, UNO’s highest non-academic student honor.
He has overseen the tremendous success of Financial Dynamics, a
national diversified financial services firm in Omaha.
Among its subsidiaries is Securities America, named last year as
Omaha’s fastest growing privately-held company. Last August, Securities America
also was listed as the fastest growing independent securities broker/dealer in
the United States, according to Stranger’s “Investment Advisor.”
Wild, a vigorous entrepreneur, has been involved in the start up of
more than 20 businesses since 1979. Education has continued to be an important
part of his career. In 1985, he initiated a program for Financial Dynamics
employees to be fully reimbursed for educational costs.
Wild serves on the Board of directors of the Child Saving Institute
and is a member o Christ Community Church.
