The University of Nebraska Athletic Department is proud to announce that Linda Olson is the recipient of the 2013-14 Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award. Olson will be presented with the award at the 2012-13 Nebraska Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet on Sunday, April 14 to be held at the Embassy Suites-Lincoln.
The Trailblazer Award was first given in 2000 to honor “outstanding support and generous contributions to women’s athletics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.” In 2007, it was renamed the Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award in honor of Dr. Barbara Hibner, a longtime member of the Nebraska Athletic Department and inaugural recipient of the award. Dr. Hibner passed away on March 7, 2007.
Past winners of the award, in addition to Hibner, include the Raimondi family in 2001-02, Ione Bowlin in 2002-03, the Betty Geis family in 2003-04, Carol Frost in 2004-05, Pinnacle Sports Productions in 2005-06, Dr. Joanne Owens Nauslar in 2006-07, current head softball coach Rhonda Revelle in 2007-08, the Stephen Rohman family in 2008-09, former NU volleyball head coach Terry Pettit in 2009-10, the Tom and Mary Hendricks family in 2010-11, Dick Herman in 2011-12, and JoAnne Martin and Ameritas in 2012-13.
Olson has been a key player for all Husker sports, both men and women since the early 80s. Olson is retiring as the University of Nebraska Athletics Certification Coordinator this spring. The certifying officer for initial and continuing athletic eligibility, Olson also serves as the liaison between the Athletics Department and the Office of Admissions, University Registrar and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Olson first began working with athletics when she was a graduation clerk in the Registrar’s Office in the early 80s. After she created the first satisfactory progress forms used for continuing eligibility, and worked with registration and admissions on individual eligibility for the first Prop 48 student-athletes in 1986, her job as Athletics Certification Coordinator was officially created in 1988.
Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst said, “Linda has been a vital component to our success for more than 30 years and it has been an honor and privilege for all who have had an opportunity to work with her.”
Associate Athletic Director for Academic Programs Dennis Leblanc agrees, “The Trailblazer Award is focused on someone who has done great things for women athletes, and Linda certainly fits that bill. I’ve known and worked with Linda since 1983 and I’ve witnessed first-hand her personal touch and caring demeanor as she has worked with hundreds of coaches, and thousands of student-athletes, prospects and families through the years. I appreciate her incredible knowledge and her meticulous dedication to her work and to our student-athletes. It never mattered to Linda where the student-athlete came from or what sport he/she was competing in, she gave her full attention and respect to each student-athlete she worked with.”
Overwhelmed with the award which was announced to Husker coaches and staff at the April compliance meeting. Olson said, “I’m at a loss for words to be receiving this honor. I’m honored to have worked with Barbara Hibner for many years and I’ve been at UNL long enough to see the advances in women’s athletics at Nebraska. It’s because of people like Dr. Hibner who cared so passionately about women’s athletics that Nebraska is able to provide our female student-athletes unique opportunities to be successful in academics and athletics. I’m humbled and honored to have had this opportunity to assist these women in their endeavors and to receive this award.”
“Because of Linda’s dedication and service, thousands of student-athletes from Nebraska’s women’s athletic teams have been successfully admitted and gone on to successful careers at Nebraska,” Leblanc added. “No one has given as much assistance directly to each of our 14 women’s athletic teams and students as Linda has,”
The annual Nebraska Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet is held each year through a generous donation made by Dick Herman and his late brother, Dale, whose shared vision was a special event to annually celebrate Nebraska’s student-athletes’ accomplishments in the classroom. The banquet, now in its 23rd year, honors the academic achievements of Nebraska’s student-athletes, recognizing more than 200 student-athletes each year with special academic medallions.