Lukas Ziemba, English Language Arts Teacher and Head Speech Coach for the Norfolk Senior High School, was the recipient of the Dale E. Black Outstanding Young Teacher Award at the Nebraska Speech Communication and Theatre Association (NSCTA) convention. This award is given for such traits as enthusiasm for work, scholarly integrity, knowledge of subject matter, innovation, ability to motivate and stimulate students, worthy goals in teaching, and professional promise. The professional promise portion encapsulates involvement in professional associations, research, and writing. Candidates are also considered for their work in extracurricular activities.
"I am honored to have been selected for this award. In my three years in education, I have never experienced a "normal" school year. I also feel humbled by the students and staff that I work with each day. It is because of the excellent support in our English department that I have grown into an educator worthy of this award. If I have learned anything in my short time at Norfolk, it is that compassion and leading with a positive attitude can empower others to do the same. I'd also like to extend my thanks to four of my colleagues that have taught me how to be a better educator. Thank you to Peggy Belt, Chris Begeman, Deb Brunswick, and Taryn Retzlaff. Go Panthers!"
