Pat Logsdon, Lis Brenden Receive 2016 GWSF Awards

Randy York N-Sider

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A longtime Nebraska Athletics administrator and a former Husker basketball point guard received 2016 Girls & Women in Sports & Fitness (GWSF) awards Wednesday night at the University of Nebraska Champions Club.    

Pat Logsdon(pictured above) is Nebraska’s executive associate athletic director and senior woman administrator. She received the Barbara Hibner Mentor Award, named in honor of the late Dr. Hibner, who served Nebraska Athletics for nearly three decades as the women’s director of athletics and senior woman administrator.

Lis Brenden (pictured below) was a high-school All-America basketball player from Oregon and four-year letterwinner for the Huskers in 1993-94-95-96. She received the GWSF’s Carmel Sheppard Spirit Award Wednesday night. The former head girls’ basketball coach at Lincoln Southwest High School, Brenden now teaches physical education and serves as assistant softball coach at Southwest. Her battle with cancer was a source of inspiration last fall for a program that she helped coach to two state championships, two runner-up finishes and four other state tournament appearances.

In her 37th year working at Nebraska, Logsdon was humbled receiving recognition in Dr. Hibner’s honor. “I’m honored to be recognized with such a great group of women,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Without  mentors, I absolutely would not be standing here today. I’ve been lucky enough to have mentors in my life and appreciate what they’ve taught me.”

Lis Brenden photo, courtesy Roger Elrod/Anderson Studio

Logsdon Learned from Her Parents and Sister; Osborne Instilled Confidence

Logsdon learned patience, guidance, love and support from her parents, who taught her to be kind, honest, sincere, gracious and resilient. Also known for her perseverance, strong work ethic and dedication, Logsdon thanked Tom Osborne for his professional influence on her career.

“As my boss, Coach Osborne was always a man of integrity,” she said, adding that he “instilled a confidence in me that allowed me to recognize my own potential. I learned that the best way to influence someone is to listen and hear what really matters.”

That source of wisdom helped Logsdon become a mentor for her younger sister, who taught Pat how to share, set an example and be compassionate, trusting and protective.

The highlights of Logsdon’s career haven’t been titles, promotions or accolades. Her highlights are “working for an extraordinary athletic department and with extraordinary colleagues,” she said. “I thank the Girls & Women in Sports & Fitness for this award and salute this organization for their development and advancement of women.”

Fifth from left back row, Nebraska executive associate A.D. and senior woman administrator Pat Logsdon is flanked by parents, family and nine colleagues.Dr. Joanne Owens-Nauslar (front row, far left) emceed Wednesday night's 2016 GWSF Awards Ceremony in Lincoln.

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