The University of Nebraska Foundation is honoring Omaha philanthropist Ruth Scott and her late husband Bill, as well as retired University of Nebraska leader Susan M. Fritz, with its top awards.
The foundation announced the recipients on Nov. 1 during a Celebration of the University of Nebraska at the Coliseum.
The Scotts are the recipients of the Perry W. Branch Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service. The award is named for Perry W. Branch, the first employee and executive director of the University of Nebraska Foundation. The honor serves to commemorate the importance of volunteers to the organization.
Susan M. Fritz received the Harlan J. Noddle Award for Distinguished Development Service. The Noddle Award is named in honor of Harlan J. Noddle, a longtime University of Nebraska advocate and former chair of the foundation’s Board of Directors. The award is given to a university or foundation employee who provides exemplary service in development while demonstrating the values of initiative, honesty, integrity, compassion, commitment, foresight, tolerance and diligence.
During the ceremony, the foundation also announced the new Ruth and Bill Scott Medal, named in honor of the Scotts in celebration of their generosity and vision in advancing the University of Nebraska. The award will perpetually recognize their lifetime achievements in philanthropy by honoring others who embody a philanthropic spirit.
The Scotts are both alumni of the University of Nebraska and Ashland natives. Ruth and Bill are alumni of the University of Nebraska and Ashland natives. Ruth earned her bachelor’s degree in education in 1951, went on to teach school and later founded the Omaha Bridge Studio. Bill graduated in 1953 from the College of Business. He joined the Buffett Partnership in 1959 and Berkshire Hathaway in 1970, where he remained until the early 1990s.
Bill died in February at the age of 93.
Fritz is a three-time graduate, receiving her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from UNL. She co-owns and operates with her husband Fritz Family Farms near Crete, Nebraska, where the couple grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa and run a cow/calf operation.
Fritz was also the first woman to lead the university system after being appointed in 2019. During her tenure as interim president, Fritz championed university-wide priorities of student access and success, launching a statewide partnership focused on timely graduation, advocating to elected leaders for greater investment in scholarships and presiding over gains in student diversity.
