Leadership Lincoln Community Leadership Event Recognizes Graduates, Award Winners

Leadership Lincoln (www.leadershiplincoln.org) held their Celebration of Community Leadership event on June 16 at the Embassy Suites Hotel. This luncheon celebrated the graduates of the 2021-22 cohorts, recognized Leadership Lincoln award winners, and honored the community leadership of Duncan Aviation.

The 2021-22 cohort program graduates included 37 Fellows, 34 Executives, 15 Advocates, 25 Youth, and one Alumni. Jason Ball, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, was invited to officially congratulate these individuals on their achievement and extend gratitude for their commitment to service in the Lincoln community. The program started with a single leadership development and civic engagement cohort and has grown to four cohorts for adults and one for high-school students. Today, over 3,700 individuals have graduated from one of Leadership Lincoln’s cohorts.

In addition, Leadership Lincoln Executive Director Brendan Evans had the pleasure of recognizing the following award winners: Dr. Randy Bretz – The Bud Cuca Servant Leader of the Year Award; Dr. Colette Yellow Robe – The Melvin W. Jones Mentoring Award; John Chapo – The Distinguished Service Alumni Award; and Robert and Karen Duncan – The Leadership Pillars of the Community Award.

To conclude the event, Leadership Lincoln was excited to have Robert Duncan of Duncan Aviation give the keynote address. In 1985, Robert was the founding board president of Leadership Lincoln. Robert and Karen have actively helped in public and private ways to sustain and grow Lincoln. Robert was joined on stage by Steve Jordan, who, along with Carol Hunt, told the Duncan story in the book Always Trust Your Cape — The Soaring Story of Duncan Aviation. Robert and Steve gave the audience a preview of this inspiring tribute to one of Lincoln’s most dynamic companies.

Leadership Lincoln, Inc. engages individuals from diverse backgrounds by providing them with the knowledge, experiences, skills, and leadership tools that prepare them to become effective leaders within the community. Learn more at www.leadershiplincoln.org.

L-R: Robert and Karen Duncan, Brendan Evans