Huskers who earned recent honors include Jonis Agee, Kwame Dawes, David DiLillo, Chuck Francis, Gabriel Houck, Gary Zoubek and Vincent Bachteler.

Faculty/Staff

• A book written by Jonis Agee, Adele Hall Professor of English, has been named a finalist for the 2017 High Plains Book Awards. Agee’s book, “The Bones of Paradise,” is one of three finalists in the Fiction category. Learn more about this honor.

• A collection of essays edited by Kwame Dawes, professor of English, won a gold medal in the “Writing/Publishing” category of the 2017 Independent Publisher Awards. The collection, “When the Rewards Can Be So Great: Essays on Writing and the Writing Life,” features an essay from Dawes and more than a dozen other writers. Learn more about this honor.

• David DiLillo, professor of psychology, was recently highlighted by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies as exceptional mentor. The association’s “Spotlight on a Mentor” program honors excellence in mentorship by highlighting exceptional mentors who are nominated by their students and trainees. Learn more about this honor.

• Chuck Francis, professor of agronomy and horticulture, was honored July 1 at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture conference with the NACTA Educator Award. The award honors educators for excellence in post-secondary instruction in agriculture and whose efforts represent the very best in agricultural higher education. Learn more about this honor.

• Gabriel Houck, lecturer in English, has won the 2017 Orison Fiction Prize for his story collection “You or a Loved One.” Orison Books will publish Houck’s collection and recognize him with a $1,500 honorarium. Learn more about this honor.

• Gary Zoubek, extension educator emeritus, has received the Hall of Fame Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. The award is presented annually to one person from each of the four NACAA regions. Learn more about this honor.

Students

• Vincent Bachteler, a senior PGA golf management major, will shadow a rules official at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina on Aug. 7-13. This unique opportunity was provided through a PGA of America contest. After completing a test, Bachteler was one of two students selected out of several hundred applicants. The test consisted of 40 multiple-choice questions presenting various rules of golf situations. Bachteler missed only one question and earned the highest score in the nation. Learn more about this honor.

This column is a regular Friday feature of Nebraska Today. Faculty, staff and students can submit achievements to be considered for this column via email to achievements@unl.edu. For more information, call 402-472-8515.