Miller Wins Gerard Award for Life Skills

Betsy Miller, a co-captain on the Nebraska track and field and cross country teams, earned the Gerard Scholarship of Excellence on Monday, an award that represents Nebraska’s highest individual honor in its nationally prominent Life Skills program.

Miller, a senior from Lodgepole, Neb., is the second winner of the Gerard Scholarship, described by Associate Athletic Director Keith Zimmer as “our version of the Heisman Trophy of Life Skills”.

Miller’s honor was the highlight Monday of Nebraska’s third annual Hero Leadership Recognition Breakfast at the university’s West Stadium club dining area.

“Betsy is one of Nebraska’s best all-time student-athlete leaders,” Zimmer said. “She’s done a remarkable job of balancing her athletic responsibilities with multiple academic leadership positions while maintaining excellent grades and contributing immeasurably to communities across the state.”

In 2007-08, Miller was president of both Mortar Board and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Mortar Board is a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. Nebraska’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Miller carries a 3.97 cumulative grade-point average in biochemistry and is a six-time first-team academic All-Big 12 selection. She co-captained Nebraska’s women’s cross country team in 2006 and 2008 and co-captained the Huskers’ women’s track and field team as a distance runner in 2006 and 2007.

“I may not have had tremendous athletic success, but I’ve been able to take advantage of every athletic, academic and extracurricular opportunity that has come my way,” Miller said. “Participation in intercollegiate athletics has been the greatest influence in my personal development and given me a strong sense of self-empowerment.”

The Gerard Scholarship for postgraduate study, made possible through former corporate executive Ivan Gerard of Omaha, will enable Miller to pursue a degree in an advanced leadership master’s program at Nebraska.

The Nebraska Athletic Department not only has provided a solid athletic and academic foundation for Miller, “but also has provided me with countless opportunities to reach out and help the community,” she said.

Miller’s community service activities include volunteering for book drives, the Alzheimer’s Association, Special Olympics and Saint Elizabeth’s Regional Medical Center. She also has made frequent appearances as a volunteer speaker for “School is Cool” and the athletic department’s "Tour of Excellence” series that takes Nebraska student-athletes to schools, hospitals and nursing homes across the state.

In his opening remarks at Monday’s breakfast, Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne emphasized how selfless service to others helps build a student-athlete’s character.

Zimmer said Husker student-athletes contributed more than 3,300 hours of community service in 2008. The Husker ConNect and Dimensions in Early Education team projects were featured and recognized at the breakfast.

In addition, 30 Nebraska student-athletes received Life Skills Hero awards for demonstrating outstanding leadership and citizenship and becoming role models in the process.

The Hero honorees were:

• Mary Kate Bird ? Women’s Golf
• Anthony Blue ? Football
• Aaron Brandt ? Men’s Track and Field
• CJ Bray ? Swimming and Diving
• Patrick Burke ? Men’s Track and Field
• Christine Costello ? Rifle
• Brad Doering ? Men’s Cross Country
• Amanda Gates ? Volleyball
• Erin Hannon ? Women’s Track and Field
• Roy Helu Jr. ? Football
• Kaleena Henning ? Bowling
• Tyler Hitchler ? Men’s Track and Field
• Alex Hupp ? Softball
• Mariah Hutchinson ? Swimming and Diving
• Nick Krenk ? Men’s Basketball
• Blake Lawrence ? Football
• Liz Marsh ? Women’s Cross Country
• Kellen McClure ? Men’s Track and Field
• Chantae McMillan ? Women’s Track and Field
• Marcus Mendoza ? Football
• Cory Montgomery ? Women’s Basketball
• Carly Peetz ? Soccer
• Josh Rusler ? Men’s Gymnastics
• Rob Sanders ? Wrestling
• Wiveca Swarting ? Women’s Tennis
• Nick Sullivan ? Baseball
• Brett Sundberg ? Men’s Golf
• Francois Van Impe ? Men’s Tennis
• Brittney Williams ? Women’s Gymnastics
• Victoria Zimmerman ? Women’s Track and Field